I am one of many people on the internet who constantly go on about the 'Politically motivated Islamic Fundamentalist' Terrorist. I am always careful to precisely describe the target of my disgust. My target is always the Muslim, who is Politically motivated, along a sectarian fundamentalist line, that seeks to 'impose' his sectarian beliefs on the world.

As such, these people are no different to the Christian Crusaders, Various nationalities of Communists, and the arch demon himself, Adolf Hitler. Their desire is to rule, under the guise of their 'sacrosanct' belief system.

I am also one of those people who constantly criticises 'The Palestinian Cause', for I see this title as a misnomer. That cause has nothing to do with ordinary Palestinians, and everything to do with the power mongers ruling them. If the Palestinian leaders actually cared about the people, there would be less money in private (leadership) bank accounts and more 'living condition' improvement on the ground. Don't waste your breath talking to me about that being the fault of 'Israeli Occupation'.

The recent cries of 'Victory' coming from the Palestinians, over the exit from Gaza is just one example of plain old BS at its best, and it seems to have the full support of the media and those bloody minded and bleeding heart libertarians.

First fact of the day, is that the 'occupied territories', were not in any way stolen from the Palestinians but KEPT AS BOOTY by the VICTIMS of a war of outright aggression. That is right. The Israelis were the Victims, THE ARABS WERE THE AGGRESSORS, and the common Palestinian has been made the 'victim'.

Second fact is, that Arafat years ago refused to accept back the territories (97% at least), because of his hatred for Israel, and it suited his purposes for the Palestinians to be seen as victims and martyrs.

Third fact is, that in the eyes of the Arab Leadership, ALL OF ISRAEL is occupied territory. There will be no peace until one or other of the two sides is destroyed.

On this last point some may care to argue, but as recently as today, Hamas have declared their commitment to the destruction of Israel, and to date Arafat's political heir has shown he has no power to prevent it; or worse, is playing a game in which he pretends to be unable to stop the terrorists.

In the eyes of those belonging to this and that 'ism' who call themselves this or that 'ist', I am undoubtedly a racist and oppressor of the defenseless. I am anything but!

With all of the foregoing having been said, I know want to draw your attention to some issues about Islam, of which you may be unaware. I draw your attention to an article entitled: Four Years After September 11th: The Media Failure by Stephen Schwartz (himself a Muslim), in which he clarifies some issues for those among us who cannot tell the difference between Orthodox Muslims, and the Politically Motivated Fundamentalist Terrorists.

He points out that "in the current debate over the Iraqi constitution, it has repeatedly been stated with horror and condemnation in the West that the new national charter embodies the principle that Islam is a source of law, and that lawmaking shall not contradict the principles of Islam".

For many Westerners who are 'generally' ignorant of Islam, the idea of building a new Iraq upon Islamic law brings up visions of oppression and dictators. Mr. Schwartz goes on to dismiss this view, stating that all Muslims are required to obey local laws that do not contradict Islam, and points out that "Indeed, when it is said that law must not conflict with Islam, it is rather difficult to imagine what laws would do so."

He makes it clear that a state policy that contradicts Islam is one that would silence the call to prayer, and prevents the teaching and preaching of the religion, and indicates that neither Israel nor the United States of America give reason to any Muslim for disobeying the Government and its' laws.

Mr. Schwartz makes it plain that it is true, that there are some groups who see themselves as the saviours of the world and have preached that Muslims living in non-Muslim lands cannot and should not obey non-Muslim authorities or participate in non-Muslim politics. Nevertheless, he proceeds to give us insight into the 'normative' Islamic viewpoint.

• "But the Iraqi Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the Shia marja of the time, holds to the exactly opposite view, which is that of mainstream Sunnism as well: Muslims migrating to non-Muslim countries, if they have signed as minor a document as an immigration form, have given an Islamic oath to obey local laws that do not directly contravene Islam (as described above) and to live at peace with their neighbors. Muslims who cannot execute such an oath in good faith should not migrate to a non-Muslim country, according to Sistani and others".

The gist of Mr. Schwartz article is that much of what is reported in the press about Islam, is at best, ignorance, and at worst, propaganda. As he puts it:

• I could continue with a list of the lacuna about Islam found in Western media, but the experience would be depressing. What are the reasons for this problem? First, Western media are not engaged in "covering Islam," Rather, they are engaged in reporting on events that happen to involve Islam. There is an obvious difference. Second, reporters are first responders. Third, when they need expertise and analysis Western media often turn to academics and governmental experts whose knowledge of Islam is distorted or limited. Fourth, Western education for the past hundred and fifty years has concentrated on the gap between the two worlds rather than study of the real elements they have in common.

I would heartily recommend that you take at look at Mr. Schwartz' article, and become informed.

R.P.Bendedek

Email: rpbendedek@hotmail.com

The 'King's Calendar:The Secret of Qumran www.kingscalendar.com is a chronological study, of people and events listed in the Bible, Josephus, and The Damascus Document of the Essenes. It approaches the history of Israel and Judah from a purely mathematical Linear Causal viewpoint and both confirms and challenges many historical and archaeological assumptions in relation to the writings of Josephus, the Reign of Nebuchadrezzar, Moses and the Exodus, Jeremiah's Seventy year prophecy of the Babylonian Exile, Daniel's Vision of Seventy weeks, and discrepancies between the Septuagint and Masoretic Texts of the Bible.

2009: Magic City Social Commentaries