If you are serious, read a few of these http://www.pewglobal.org/2006/06/22/the-great-divide-how-westerners-and-muslims-view-each-other/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/themes/west.html http://www.truthbeknown.com/islam.htm http://www.danielpipes.org/comments/139795 http://www.newenglishreview.org/Nic...d_Westerners:__The_Psychological_Differences/ The last one is an ok overview of suicide bombings, but there are better. If you bother to read any of this material, as I have, than you will have a clearer understanding of where my opinions are derived.
Oh and so you dont attempt to say that it the fault of Americans..here is some European views http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkin...tween-muslim-identity-and-western-citizenship http://islamversuseurope.blogspot.com/2013/07/growing-tensions-between-muslims-and.html http://www.rense.com/general92/mtu.htm http://www.futureagenda.org/pg/cx/view#382 http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan-hindu-grave-exhumed/25130744.html http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ne...slamist-extremists-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=42916 http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/dougla...-europe-is-dishonest-about-islamic-extremism/ http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/2367/european-muslim-no-go-zones
While I'm glad you are reading up on the subject, you didn't answer why you think people strap on a suicide vest. The only link you supplied that talks about suicide bombing started with this: Cripes. Upon further inspection, that whole "academic journal" is a wing of the World Encounter Institute, whose mission statement is...
Look, I'm not asking why people put on suicide vests because I don't have any idea. I want to know what you guys think and why.
The answer to the thread title, is, of course, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thou_shalt_not_make_unto_thee_any_graven_image Only in the last 40 years have some Muslims, of the liberal side, allowed themselves to be photographed.
Read it for the purpose of learning how Mohammad teaches the people of Islam how to live, and how to deal with the other people, the non believers. Pay attention to how they are to deal with any slight against a mans honor or other perceived transgressions. All Americans should know these teachings and who can issue a Fattwa calling for Jihad, Who should fight in the Jihad. How is a Jihad concluded, all things we all need to know.
Why don 't you just go to a local Muslim center or temple and ask someone? After 9/11 I would think a lot of Middle eastern folks would not really want westerners taking photos of them or observing them in anyway that would single them out as a cult. Stereotypes like these are dangerous.....fill in the blanks!
Sorry, I was too busy reading the bible so I could figure out what Christians thought about wearing mixed fabrics. Sorry, reading the Qur'an and assuming you know how it applies will only encourage misunderstanding. Schools of Islamic interpretation are plentiful, complex, pedantic, add very influential in Muslim society
