Too many pots calling kettles black

Stan G is correct that it’s too simplistic to solely blame Islamic terrorism on religious ideology. If you read Osama Bin Laden’s comments, you’ll see he was enraged at America because of its one-sided support of Israel and for its involvement in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Although his politics were influenced by his religious views, he was responding to America’s political policies. And it’s interesting to note that we only use the word “terrorism” when Muslims kill innocent people. In his book “End of Faith”, Muslim-basher Sam Harris argues that the difference between Americans and Muslims is that Americans feel badly about their atrocities. He gives My Lai as an example. Give me a break!

Although there were several My Lai-type massacres in Vietnam in which Americans committed horrible atrocities, only one soldier, Lt William Calley, was ever punished. His “punishment” was spending three and a half years under house arrest. He then profited from his crimes by hitting the lecture circuit and writing a book. He was an American hero.

Either we condemn all human-rights abusers – the junta, Thaksin, Abhisit, the Americans, the Israelis, the Islamic State, etc – or we’re hypocrites to condemn any of them.

Eric Bahrt