Saleem's post is correct in saying that there is no monolithic Islam. There are many tribal factions. He is also correct in saying that the main stream news media is unreliable on this issue. He, however, equates criticism of certain Muslim tribal activities with hatred. This is not true.

Honor killings, subjugation of women, brutal slayings, although these are not necessarily
the province of all Islam, this certainly deserves criticism. As well as school bombing.

Saleem's point is well-taken in that the so-called Western societies really don't understand the fanaticism of the Taleban but apply their value system to it by condemning it without seeing what it represents. There are factions in other countries that are just as ruthless and fanatical.

The answer is not a blanket diatribe or condemnation but an appeal to education and reason to prevail in place of blind "faith".

Once again, the conversation has denigrated into name-calling and as a result, facts on the subject have become obliterated.

If we are to have peace in this world, whether we agree with him or not, we have to acknowledge what Saleem has to say without the usual knee-jerk reaction that is so customary in the so-called "civilized" world.

I deplore the violence and brutality in Afghanistan but before we get to self-righteous about it I would suggest that we also remember what happened in Hiroshima and Nagaski and who was responsible for that. A few schools were bombed there too.

Stringsinger