It seems there are a couple of things Mr. Totten does not understand. One's anecdotal experience is not the whole story. Some people will smile to your face, then stab you in the back.

But then most people just smile to your face and leave it at that. Yeah, Mr. Totten's blog is always an interesting read. I suspect his first-hand experience is more of a corrective to cybermalaise than not.

I like the quote, "The plural of anecdote is not evidence."

Michael Totten is a non jewish male. While not exactly on the "favorite things" lists of most Muslims, he also isn't on the "To kill immediately" list either. He might feel a little differently about the religion and its peacefulness if he had a different perspective. (I bet his Jewish photographer does.) Just because someone is nice to one person, doesn't mean that they are automatically nice to everyone else.

And one difference between those cultures and ours --(which may (ironically) have first been described to me by Mr. Totten-- is that in the Middle East, people try to manipulate your perceptions in private conversation but express their real intentions in public. Over here we do it the other way around.

You shouldn't expect anger or intolerance from a Middle Easterner at a private lunch. But that night at the committee meeting, speak thoughtfully.

Also, everything we read about Totten makes him seem like a notably engaging guy in interpersonal contacts. (I didn't mean that to come off as backhandedly clever. He seems like a sincerely nice guy who's handshake, in the western sense, is golden. I'm not sure how that currency applies elsewhere)

Man, you've ruined Lawrence of Arabia for me forever.

About three weeks ago, I was talking to a friend of mine who lives in Miami. He asked me how home schooling my son was going. I told him it was great and that today the kids had done some research on the internet about the hanging of Saddam. They were interested in the trial and read about it. One of the kids found the actual video of the hanging. This prompted them to wonder about Islam. We ended up having a stimulating discussion about the religion. The kids thought the 72 virgins thing was hilarious; but then the conversation turned more serious when we talked about indoctrination. Anyway, I told my friend that the kids started researching Islam and commented how scary and threatening it was. That led to a discussion on the war, among other things. Anyway, so my friend says something like, "Why didn't you talk about the good parts of Islam? It is the religion of peace." We ended up having a lengthy discussion and, ultimately, he was appalled about my views and said that one of the reasons he loved me so much was because of my good nature, but now I was turning into a judgmental hypocrite, and he was sad for me. Honestly, I really didn't do a good job arguing my point, mainly, because it was my first time sharing these views aloud. I ended up emailing him some links. He hasn't called me or emailed me since. I'm not exactly sure why I am sharing this, but it does amaze me how people react to the knowledge about Islam. Many people who are Muslim have told me that they have no knowledge of the Koran’s dictate to kill non-believers.

Regarding Muslims who say they have no knowledge of the Koran's evil statements, it seems a degree, on a much lower scale, of House Amish (who worship in homes and are more "traditionalist") versus Church Amish (considered "progressives"), or Christmas Christians (who don't go to church, or really participate in the religion, but have a tree and give Christmas presents).

Here's another problem. (And I am still learning). The lady who said she used to be a practicing Muslim, but now came back to her Christian roots blah, blah, blah....but had never heard of dictates to kill....blah, blah, blah.... and, after I showed her (online) actual text from the Koran, she still said something like, "No, that's not what real Muslims are all about." You can look at Christianity and think about what's-that-dude's-name who bombed all the abortion clinics for Jesus and say, "That's not a real Christian." So, my point is (oh my god I know I sound like a real moron...but I am really interested in knowing more about this)that it is hard to discuss the problem when most people won't or can't recognize the potential threat. It's like people don't believe or can't conceptualize America being at risk.

I thought Dubyu was protectin' y'all!

You can look at Christianity and think about what's-that-dude's-name who bombed all the abortion clinics for Jesus and say, "That's not a real Christian.

The difference: In the past couple of decades, there have been maybe five Christian nutbags running around killing abortion doctors. They're lone wolves. Pastors are not standing up in front of their congregations inciting murder of the infidel.

> Nancy Rommelmann is an extraordinary person; at once exceptionally kind, exceptionally fair, and nobody's fool.

You forgot "...and gorgeous".

You're right!

What a fine, insightful post, Amy.

Thanks, Curtis.

Horse's mouth. Go read throught the treads. Or better yet register and converse. The "General" and "Current events" forums are the most interesting.

http://www.ummah.com/forum/index.php

Paul - They say that movie is very long

It has an intermission! And an overture! Both of which died about the same time as the movie palace. Fantastic movie, though.