Why is the western world scared of standing up to Islamic Fundamentalists?
144384
There is a difference between Islamic Fundamentalists and Islamic Fundamentalist  Terrorist's.  The terrorist'sare spread out between all the Muslim Countries, yet there is no country that is terrorist alone.  So we actually have a war against an ideal and not against a particular country.  The terrorist backing is growing and the fact that they use things such as the political cartoons as reasons to get thousands of people to protest over them.  One does not know exactly who the enemy actually is.  That is what terrorism is all about one minute everything looks completely innocent and the next you have been attacked and there is nobody left on sight to go after, they have died completing their mission.  Can we surgically remove all of this cancer on mankind without killing many innocent?  It is not very likely but it is the direction that we have taken this war.  We certainly have the weapons to remove all of the people of this region of the world several times over.  One must wonder if the terrorists are not also playing to the hearts and minds of the rest of the Islamic Fundamentalist's when many of the rioter's of the past week have chanted bin Ladens name and asked for retaliation against the western world to be carried out by him.  It would seem to me that our government certainly must be looking at these incidents very carefully.  I can not speak for the rest of the Western World, however I know that the U.S. has the power to destroy the world several times over and could certainly remove most Islamic Fundamentalist's in one swift blow and it is our restaint in wanting to be fair that keeps this from happening.  Most of today's terrorist activity is being aimed at other Muslims and not at the western world, which raises a whole list of other questions.  The answer to your question is the U.S. is not afraid of standing up to Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorist's, however that does not include the entire Muslim population in the world.
1127698
repressed religious hypocrital nazis and liars .....\n\nthey are afraid of everything..........\n\nexcept war and censorship..\n\nwhat a shame that we live in such a pitifully idiotic country..
86777
It's not Islam.  It's the state of Muslim nations which is in a struggle for freedom.  Muslim nations have directly and indirectly been, and in some cases, continue to be colonized by Western Nations.\n\nMuslims have not been able to fully practice their beliefs in about 100 years.  In many cases they have been oppressed by tyrranical regimes that are supported, militarily and economically, by Western countries.\n\nAs a result, desperation and extremism have been allowed to flourish in some parts of these countries.  If history is any indication, once these people are able to rule themselves by the Islamic Shari'a (jurisprudence), they will not have any animosity against anyone.\n\nWhat we are seeing today is reactionary.  If the West, especially the U.S., was to implement a more even-handed, fair, and truly pro-democratic foreign policy, there would not be a need for such extremist reactions.  Unfortunately, so far the West has viewed the Middle East as a region to serve interest of the West, even if it went against the interest of people of the Middle East.\n\nI must say that it is arrogant to think that what pleases the West (i.e. materialism) will be the answer that will please Muslim nations.  Not to mention, absolute freedom infringes on the borders of morality that Muslims live by. This is philosophical and idealogical colonialism at its worst, which is more dangerous than military and economic imperialism.\n\nWho are we to think that they're jealous of us?  If anything, Pope Benedict was correct in saying that Muslims criticize the West for marginalizing God and religion in everyday life.  The West is in dire need for an idealogical renaissance.  Morality has been replaced with greed and selfishness.  As a result, we say 'democracy' but act in the most fascist manner.\n\nIt's time for us in the West to wake up.  The presence of extremism in the world indicates that we are also extreme, but in the opposite direction.  We need to start refocusing on God, human rights, family, and the global community.  Then, and only then, will we not taste the sour fruits of our seeds.
452845
As far as I understand it, it is against their own religion.  Therefore they are being inconsistent and hypocritical.  Mohammed was a peaceful leader and yet they blasphemed his name themselves by rising up in such a violent way to 'protect' his good name during the incident of the cartoons.  What of the fact that they have slandered the Christian icon Jesus?  Yet, they don't expect Christians to rise up against them do they?  \nOr is that what they want?  Another holy war to make life interesting?  To lose their loved ones in bitter rage in the name of religions that have both preached peace and love (in spite of admitting only one God)?\nIf it were a matter of severe oppression and humiliation it would be understandable, but still not justified in the eyes of their own religion.  But it is not.  Muslims are accepted worldwide nowadays due to religious tolerance.  They are making THEMSELVES feared and hated through their own actions.  Should others rise up against their religion in the name of their own (as of old) and try to dominate them in the name of THEIR one true God?  Perhaps this would gain a grudging respect from Muslims and matters might calm down.
895188
God is not scared who do not believe in him and who also do not accept Koran as God's words nor believe Muhammad as a Messenger of God. Allah's men who have turned terrorists and believe in all these are hated whole over the world. So, what we can conclude is that some people misuse God's name to acquire respect and fear from the God fearing people. Otherwise, this Hell, Heaven and Allah's distinction as infidels and believers all these are sheer humbug! Figments of human imagination being sold as revelation.
840553
They're not going to because they condone terrorism and everything it stands for. They cry foul should someone outside ths islamic faith should so much as cast a critical eye on their religion, then come here, sponge off the government claim every benefit known to man, and then protest should someone print cartoons of the so called "prophet" mohammed. muslims cry foul that they are not being treated fairly, but don't cry foul whenever terrorists from the muslim community kill hundreds to thousands of innocent civillians.
95776
Islam contains a large amount of intense venemous hatred for non-muslims. Quran and Hadith are filled with this hatred, which has always been easily tranformed into physical violence since the creation of Islam. Mohammed himself was a terrorist in his time, when he ordered to kill those who left Islam. He took part in many battles against people just for the reason they did not accept Islam...........So don't be afraid to question these fanatics. Your greatest weapon against them is TRUTH and they will try to prevent it by attacking you and your questions, or getting them removed as "abusive" people are getting fed up with these creeps. You will find many who will offer you their support.
6307
As long as you're okay with being suspected of being a terrorist every time you travel, life is just fine for Muslims in western countries.\n\nedited to add:\nMost people understand that most Muslims don't support terrorism or want to destroy the West.  And I don't think there's widespread discrimination in day-to-day life.  America is a melting pot, so there are lot of people from different backgrounds.  But if you're a "Middle Eastern looking" male, and you try to drive a truck across a bridge or through a tunnel in NYC, you'll be stopped.  If you get on a plane with a few friends, other passengers will get nervous.
109619
more than clash of cultures, ppl should understand that to muslims allah and the prophet mohammad are scared, the "freedom of expression" shouldnt be offenssive to ANY religions or ANY beliefs.
262458
I never found it important for Muslim world to annihilate Western world. \n\nNothing can destroy Islam. Talking about hatred? How much hatred does your question hold?
136147
I don't think westerners are antagonistic to Mohammad. We're antagonistic to those who perpetrate violence in his name. These people are evil and must be called such by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
155044
The west is already at war with a small segment of Islam. The question is, will Islam go to war with itself and extinguish the radical element, or will mainstream Islam join the radicals.\n\nPeople should recognize that huge percentages of muslims are non practicing and don't even go to mosque. This is especially true in Europe where some estimates show 80% of the muslim population not really formally participating.
84842
It is simply because they have a different culture and social background. For example, they might find the relations between a man and a woman outside marrige is unacceptable while in the Western Culture it is. So it's not a matter of hatred but a matter of being different. The best thing to do is to respect each other culture and accept diversity.\n\nIf Islam anti-western then no one in the Islamic world will welcome some of the western civics or mordernisation.
626568
basically FEAR>>>>scared that they might not be RIGHT...\n\nand then there Are those who take their religion seriously and heavy WITHOUT condemning others....those are my kind of people.\n\nlive for the joy and peace...:)
430740
Yes it is scary about what is happening, coming from a Muslim perspective where I would have to deal with Anti-Islam at work on a daily basis.  Often I would think about just quitting but, upon further reflection, it would occur to me that I would get the same crap no matter where I worked.  I am not one to just sit quiet about things either, so I started standing up.  What occured to me is just what you wrote, that it was all nothing more than a lack of knowledge of Islam.  Once people understood Islam, they were very considerate.  I do think that our gov. is using Islam the same way they used communism before to instill fear in people so they can continue with their policies.  It is sad however, I was born and raised in the US, and over night, I all of a sudden felt like a stranger in my own country.
544795
we were scared because people don't have any idea of what Islam is and who are those terrorism are. \n\npeople don't know that those terrisist attacked Muslims country first before attacking Trade world center. in Egypt they were fighting terrorism. \n\nthe problem is many Americans do not really know too much about what's going on around the world. they have no clue of who are those people are. they think they are Muslims.... but before 9/11 Muslims were suffering of them. and even many people though that those terrorists were working for Israel to destroy them. \n\nand when 9/11 happend. Muslims were scared of people reaction. because people just don't know .
200169
In a free society, there is no such thing as the "right" to not be subjected to offensive things. \n\nIf you read the newspaper, browse the web, watch TV, etc. you will be offended in the West. \n\nYou do have the right to protest (peacefully), picket, rally other people to do the same.\n\nIf their "deen" (a Muslim word for faith) is strong, they shouldn't worry about what some non-Muslim has to say about their religion.\n\nYes, I've seen the cartoons. They're a lot less offensive than what the OFFICIAL newspapers of some nations such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, etc. say about Judaism