Europe's Muslims seek change

So do us infidels.

It's nice to see calls for Islam to reform but there are many problems ahead.

But in quieter tones at a conference on Islam's future in Europe, there was agreement that any significant changes are still a long way off for Europe's 33 million Muslims at a time when the pressure for reform is mounting.

One of the main reasons, experts and scholars said, is the current realities of Islam itself.

The Quran has many passages about tolerance toward non-Muslims amid Islamic settings. But there is almost nothing in Islamic codes or religious texts dealing specifically with issues facing Muslims living as minorities in different cultures, said many at the conference.

That's because Muslims are not supposed to be in the minority. They are suppose to either convert or kill all non-believers. Which is what is happening around the world today.

Even amoung those Muslims calling for reforms, we get a glimpse of the mindset that is part of the problem.

Others suggested more outreach to Christian groups and churches in Europe to explore common spiritual heritage, or requiring teachers in mostly Muslim schools to introduce lessons that stress the children's European bonds.

"We should bring them up to understand that this is their home," said Ahmed al-Rawi, president of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe. "And that non-Muslims are part of their family."

Since Muslims are in the minority, shouldn't it be that Muslims are brought up to understand that Muslims are part of the non-Muslim family and not the other way round?

As for school lessons, the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) wants to edit european text books and censor out anything related to Jews.

Then there's the problem of integration.

But many noted that European Muslims also need to take faster and more tangible steps to root out bigger problems, including radical movements and a sense of cultural isolation often expressed by young Muslims.

This cultural isolation is imposed both by thier parents and themselves. This isolation is condoned by Europe via their multicultural polices as well as their appeasement of Muslims.

To further complicate the problem, throw in the toxic mix of the Left's and the media's unholy alliance with Islam. In their blind ambition for power, the Left have sided with Islam and have wound up supporting attacks on our most basic human rights.

All things considered, the road to Islamic reformation is going to be a long and hard one.
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