What prevents us from being happy? Is it a wild animal? Is it a natural disaster?

If we are to defeat this extremist mindset, we have to penetrate their thinking, and in effect co-opt their strategy by doing what they do only better, and thereby beating them at their own game. If they are ideological about Jihad; we should be ideological about Common Sense. If they invest peanuts in charitable handouts; we should invest some serious dollars in jobs. If they sell a vision of hope for martyrdom, or paradise, or what have you; we should sell a Vision of Hope for Peace, Prosperity, and Freedom. At every turn we will cut them off at the pass, and beat them at their own game, by marginlizing them in the eyes of their own people.

The extremists will not be able to capture the public imagination once people begin to imagine a better life for themselves. And once a young person is making a living, and providing for his family, he will be much less inclined to join the bandwagon of martyrdom and extremism. The extremists will then begin to feel the lonliness of being out of step with the will of the people. The will of the masses will not be deterred. Give the man on the street a sense of hope, a stake in his future, and he will give you back his heart in return.

Please don’t hesitate to comment on my website. I think you have a lot to offer in this regard.

I agree with you. A comprehensive solution of dialogue and economic-social reform is needed. It should start from the grass roots. With a strong base of people, it would get the attention of local and national governments.

It requires the same approach that a community would deal with a local gang. It includes more than just security and police efforts.

The youth of the world, throughout history have always been a key to long term prosperity with peace and freedom. These youth are searching for identity as they become engaged with society. Joining gangs and extremist ideology often provides a voice for them. An identity. A purpose. But often with an unbalanced twisted reality. This is not exclusive to youth. Many older and so called wise men engage in this and are trapped in the identity vacuum.

By providing alternative solutions to violence, we can inspire an entire generation with opportunities of social and economic change.

But I think you are still right to suggest that even in the most oppressive societies, people still have an obligation to make their feelings known, in ways that they deem appropriate. The trick is to empower them to do that. And to empower people you need a plan. You can’t just criticize them for not speaking out. That will not work. You need to empower them by selling them on a vision of hope. Once people can envision the possibility of hope, they are more likely to speak out, and to take a risk in order to make the vision real. It’s something along the lines of what Dr. King did with civil rights in the U.S.

I personally believe in Selling a Vision of Hope. You are welcome to check it out at http://www.sellingavisionofhope.org I try to sketch out a step by step approach as to how you could create facts on the ground which speak louder than words, and which will inspire people to speak out, and to speak truth to power. You are welcome to register and comment as I consider each and every comment a valuable contribution to the ultimate goals of peace, prosperity, and freedom.

What’s the deal with Kawthar (Sudan)comments:

“Also, haven’t you considered that not engaging in terrorism is a form of condemnation?”

“It is impossible to expect the world’s 1.2 billion Muslims to individually condemn terrorism. Many religious leaders – whom Muslims depend on for decrying violence – have done just that.”

So! Let’s see, if you don’t rape, you are not condoning it. Are you kidding me? What kind of logic is that? It’s called appeasement. See the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMLJJEDDDGc&feature=related

When Hitler, a supposed Christian, engaged in genocide, a lot of the Christian world turned there heads and did not engage. They were wrong. Not until the European continent was in jeopardy that people started to wake up. This man was killing his own brethren. He is insane. Hitler was the worst terrorist the world has seen since the Roman Empire.

Now we are confronted with another global challenge. The Islamic terror networks claiming with authority of God, permission to rid the world of so called Infidels. It spans the entire globe. It is a serious problem. It could cause WWIII. People of the World have responded poorly. Now some of the worlds militaries are involved and more innocent people are dying. In Iraq, the US invasion has opened up a hornets nest. It was a bad idea. The vast majority of the Iraqis did not ask for invasion. People need to stop the violence, by not only not engaging in terrorist retaliation, but by advocating peace. Openly condemnation of the evil merits of so called Muslims must be done. Lay down the arms. Call for a truce. Including the US. People must stand up and say enough. Take back your neighborhoods. Flush the terrorist out by not harboring or appeasing them. That should be done over the entire globe. People in the US have risen up and condemned both the terrorist and the US foreign policy. That is the greatness of freedom of speech. So with this freedom of speech, prove Mr. Wilder wrong, by words of merit and not words of hate or silly videos like “Schism (The Bible version of Fitna)”. A film to try to explain to non-Muslims, specifically Christian how they as Muslims felt in watching Fitna. There are plenty of examples of atrocities by Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhist, ect… What is the point? 2 negatives do not make a positive regarding emotional distress. People should advocate peace and engage in discussions of solutions.

“I didn’t watch this movie myself but I read here and there to figure it out. ” Then why bother posting an elaborated response?

Dear Tom,
Then I didnt write criticism on the movie. I wrote the reflections, reflexes and reactions such a movie could have; With no advocacy, not muslims and not christians! I wrote about its side effects!

Did these all bother you?

Such movies better be ignored than to write criticism on them!