Esra’a: My sincere apologies, my “Zionist plot” was an ironic attempt to agree with you about “blaming them all”. I’d better stop right here before I make things worse.. Peace out.

You imply that you met “very many” Muslims who proved your generalizations wrong (the moderates, etc) – those who state that the terrorists don’t represent us and all. Then how come you still make generalizations on how Muslims think and feel? How many Muslims do you meet on an average daily basis, or on blogs, who actively blame “Zionism” for everything? Sure such people exist, but no more than people who blame “Islam” for the world’s ills. So why only condemn one corrupt ideology or conspiracy and not the other? Just strikes me as very hypocritical.

You’re not the only one being scared and offended, and you shouldn’t blame the rest of us for things that we are clearly not responsible for. To justify feelings of contempt and marginalize the Muslim community within Europe is completely wrong and must be condemned; and I am doing so now. Many Muslims make mistakes, but so do members of every other community, I do not see you being all offended and paranoid … probably because the media fails to create noise on such matters, we live in an age where only bigotry sells. Moderation, understanding, dialogue, interfaith, much of it exists around us – but it just falls down the drain. Apparently these things don’t excite or interest most people. They’d rather just make generalizations so they would feel good about themselves… really I don’t blame myself for getting so mad at these things. It’s very dangerous that we let people get away with this hatred and intentional misunderstanding. They just refuse to learn.

Mideast Youth is one of the few networks that stands up to the rights of those being silenced for their religious criticism in the Middle East (and surprise, none of it has to do with “Zionism.”) Whether be it oppressed religious minorities or imprisoned ex-Muslim bloggers, you can be assured that we will stand up for them – so there are no double standards here, just honesty and respect for everyone’s rights. It therefore bothers me that people not recognize what many Muslims are risking their lives in achieving. It is insulting and disrespectful to reduce our issues to this false blame on “Zionism” and only shows an intense misunderstanding and unawareness on your part.

I really need to improve my English skills.

Probably your thinking skills, too. Generalisations bore me. Got anything else?

that drawing the Prophet/questioning Islam if you like, is NOT part of a Zionist plot to humiliate every living Muslim

That’s by far the most ridiculous and ignorant remark I’ve heard here in a very long time. How paranoid are you that you feel this way? Do you not read often?

You really don’t know much about the Middle East, do you? And yes dear, I mean apart from what you see on mainstream TV.

And by the way, it’s ironic people only see how certain Muslims are with their pointy fingers, but no one bothers to point out the utter stupidity of those yelling “Muslim conspiracy!” at every opportunity either. Such an argument is just as tedious and retarded. Everyone questions Islam, especially Arabs, Iranians, or ex-Muslims (or skeptical Muslims) in millions of blogs and through many ways, even within this forum. Hardly ANYONE considers it to be a “Zionist” plot. How embarrassingly unaware that you resort to such a foolish conclusion.

I’ll let you go back to your scheduled paranoia now. Pssst, Muslims are after you! *gigglez* hide ur flagz

RandallJones: “No moderate Muslims were interviewed. This only helped to increase the animosity between Muslim and non-Muslims.” I know, I met very many.

There are many more men who have blown themselves up because a family member has been killed, had their homes destroyed, had their country bombed, or had a family member jailed and tortured.

How do you think people from the Third world feel when Western countries preach human rights and democracy, yet go around engaging in regime change (even of democratically ones)and supporting brutal dictators and kings who do their bidding?

Halalhippie wrote, “Back to the topic: some inappropriate GayJesus pics. No need for riots and boycotts, two words: “so,what ?” will do.”

Many Muslims felt the same way about the Muhammed cartoons, but the mainstream media chose to focus only the violent protests and death threats. No moderate Muslims were interviewed. This only helped to increase the animosity between Muslim and non-Muslims.

How many times do we have to say it? It is irrepresentative of us, our beliefs, values, and our culture. Please accept this and move on. We face more terrorism from our Muslim brethren than you ever will in your country (hanging? rape? torture? imprisonment? not even comparable to a burned flag); and we will always defend your rights and will do our best to prevent such things from happening in the future by continuing to protest such idiocy as loudly as possible. But you need to encourage us, and help us as well, instead of sitting around and pointing fingers, repeatedly and hatefully.

I’m always alarmed at the hypocracy of such people. They’re offended. So what? In a democracy, everyone gets offended. Criticism goes both ways. A few people decided to burn a flag and cause a riot, and suddenly, all Muslims are evil and their religion must be perished so you can live in rainbow planet with the teletubbies. How utterly simplistic – please don’t tell me you have such an overwhelmingly narrow mind. I’m sure you know better than this, and that criticism is always in order when you mock or criticize someone else. You give us your criticism quite often, deal with ours. Simple as. Why is that such a problem?!