Islam and Negative Patriotism

September 11, 2001 ignited anew the expression of patriotism in our world. As it has progressed, that patriotism, as patriotism does, has become both positive, as in the faith in Americans and their America, as well as negative, which pushes a view that others are 'bad.'

Those 'others' have, primarily, been Muslims, of course. While we all understand that the radical, strap-a-bomb-on-and-kill-a-crowd crazies arent the same as most Americans following Islam. It is entirely antithetical to the American ideal to have a 'negative' patriotism. However, 'Moderate' Muslims have become a 'target' of this phenomenon because of their seeming inability to answer tough questions about their religion and differentiate themselves from the fundamentalists.

Tough questions like: why do you support a guy, Muhammad, who beat his wives, led an army, and said "I am the prophet that laughs when killing my enemies.” (Hadith)? I have not heard any Muslim organizations explaining how Islam is a 'religion of peace' while involving facts like '1 in every 55 verses in the Muslim Quaran and Hadith are concerned with Allah instructing his followers to make war on unbelievers.' These are hard questions, but Islam has to answer them: it's part of the clash with modernity which the Islamic community is currently involved in.

When Christianity clashed with modernity, there was this little tiff called the Reformation which was followed by several wars (Protestant split from Catholic church). There was a lot of the stuff we're seeing today in Islam back in Europe when that was going on (citizen vs. citizen; a lot less destructive given that they had to duel with foils and muskets). Hopefully, there will be radical changes to Islam itself...or more Muslims will simply convert and be saved :)

---Please, Muslims (I know there are a few that read this!), if I have misrepresented Islam here, please comment and I'll add revisions. On that same note, please respond to the questions in how you think they ought to be addressed (please dont give the standard Medinian/Meccan line on the whole thing).---