[Thalatash]

I originally created this nation to try and balance human and civil rights with the requirements of Islamic Law - kind of a tall order. Generally, this has made Thalatash a more conservative state, but in recent weeks, I've tried pushing the envelope a bit, making things more progressive than the Authoritarian Democracy it frequently wound up being. Religious tolerance is a more recent issue, but the real dealbreaker for Thalatash is likely to be gay rights. It's an issue that's going right around the world, but Islamic Law slams the door firmly on it, so there's likely going to be some heated internal debate about it.

[Grosseschnauzer]

What I've wondered when Thalatash first moved into the IDU was how an "Islamic Republic" was going to reconcile residency in a region that had a fundamental principle of "secular government."

Guess we'll find out sooner rather than later. Of course, in the real world there's Turkey and Bosnia, so maybe you can find a role model.

[Federation of Disjunction]

Personally, I'm hoping to learn a lot from you as I don't know anyone who studies Islam. I've known Buddists, Hindus, Taoists, Jews, Christains, and even some atheists but never a Muslim.

I did greatly respect an inteview I heard on public radio with one of the most respected Muslim leaders (can't remember his name for the life of me) who resides in England who said that Christians need to increase their knowledge of Muslims. He also stated that Muslims need to understand that all Christians are not anti-Muslim and that they should learn more about the Christian people as well.

While this sounds eminantly logical to me, I think there are many who would not be able to say that they are practicing his advice. Therefore, I would like to support any theological discussion you would be willing to have, be it surrounding gay rights topic or others. Also, since I'm interested in learning I would like to ask you questions if you don't mind. Of course with the understanding that if anything makes you unconfortable, we can discontinue that topic.

What do you think?

[Thalatash]

Certainly an interesting thought.

[Federation of Disjunction]

OK, so I'll take your comment as at least considering my proposal and will ask this question: What do you think is the basis for radical/violent Islamic fundamentalism?

Is it socioeconomic? I.E. I believe if someone has enough love and money then they are satisfied with life and much less prone to acts of violence regardless of race, culture, or religion. Do you think this is true in the Middle East or am I applying a narrow United States outlook to this question?

If it is true then the problem seems to be the distribution of wealth, resources, education, personal freedom, etc. If not, I'm curious to hear your assessment. What do you think?

[Thalatash]

"OK, so I'll take your comment as at least considering my proposal and will ask this question: What do you think is the basis for radical/violent Islamic fundamentalism?"

The singular belief, as with any radical/violent fundamentalism - that you are in the right, that faith and religion are on your side - and that those who do not share or support your views are tainted in some way, and deserve at the least contempt - and at the worst death and eternal damnation, a mistaken and deluded view that has sadly, been repeated throughout history, by many.

"Is it socioeconomic? I.E. I believe if someone has enough love and money then they are satisfied with life and much less prone to acts of violence regardless of race, culture, or religion. Do you think this is true in the Middle East or am I applying a narrow United States outlook to this question?"

The idea of "having enough" of something is something of a misnomer - how much is enough? The United States is a massive economic power - with a reputation for acting the part of the proverbial 900-pound gorilla. A lot of the rest of our species lives in varying degrees of poverty, indeed, this is the case just about everywhere. How well-fed can a nation be when even the dirt-poor are fat?

As to being "prone to acts of violence?" Humanity has not survived these millions of years by being frought with pacifists - violence is a simple fact of human nature, in my observation - and it gets sublimated and masked (poorly) and in rare cases, mastered or at least controlled - but it remains a constant.

"If it is true then the problem seems to be the distribution of wealth, resources, education, personal freedom, etc. If not, I'm curious to hear your assessment. What do you think?"

Ah, it's interesting - the reality of the distribution of wealth and resources and freedom and education, among many other things.

The answer to that question has seemingly a thousand answers for every person.

Worthy of a doctoral thesis, that one.

[Thalatash]

It'll be interesting to see how the internal conflict within the nation turns out... I've been doing some planning and thinking on this one.