Big Lin, you and I see this series of postings quite differently.
The first paragraph in the posting you quote is close to word by word by Mike. In my opinion, it applies here more to you than anyone else, as you have been more vitriolic in your comments to other posters here than anyone else. You (and I guess Mike) have decided that only your experience is valid. That only what you have determined as truth is the only valid truth. That others had better follow your positions or ‘suffer’ the consequences.
As I have said, it is your forum and you can do as you wish here. You can even, ask the questions and then provide the answers. You can make the assertions and determine that all ‘must’ accept them. That your answers and your assertions do not fit my experiences and knowledge apparently make no difference to you. And they most assuredly do not. It is singularly your way and no other and your comments to others are often less than civil. So be it, as this is your board and you can make this world where up is down and left is right and thick is thin, or anything you want.
I remember once you mentioned to me in a posting that others had declared you as an apologist for Islam, it is easy to see why. It is not in your content as we all have differing views, rather, it is in your attempts to debase the words of others and dismiss them as merely attempts to lie. If you are not an apologist for Islam, you give a good impression as one.
While I find this subject interesting and of current import, I also believe that it will not exist for much longer (less than ten years). Western Culture and Islamic culture are incompatible and will never mesh. The only impact of Islam on the West has been through the use of violence and in our age that is because they have been able to acquire modern weapons. That acquisition of these modern weapons have only been due to moneys received from the selling of their raw resource, crude oil. However, for a number of reasons that is coming to an end. As that happens the income in these single industry countries will dry up to a trickle and their impact on the West will also dry up. With their inability to grow the foods to feed their own people they will become increasingly dependent on alms from the Western Nations, the very nations they despise.
It is really too bad since there could have been some type of relationship developed with the West, but for that to happen, Islam would have to open up to the world and that will never happen.
I’m done with this thread.