Islamic group to build mosque adjacent to ground zero

[al Roumi]

Who is talking about al-queda? Well, extremists is a vague word. But you don't need to send a message to the non-extremists (people without any radical beliefs). Because they don't have the radical beliefs.

I disagree, AQ's propaganda is intended to win it more support from the majority of Muslims - who are not extremists. AQ's narrative of a global oppression and exploitation of Muslims is intended to convince Muslims that the West is out to get them. If you don't counter that message, and engage with the majority who are not "radicalisaed" or "extremist" then you basicaly give AQ the run of the green.

You are acting as if there is al-queda, and regular muslims. You say that the al-queda can't be talked to and the vast majority of muslims need help "resisting" extremism. I disagree with that. You are skipping the group of people who have radical beliefs, but are not violent. They are the ones who need to targeted in the war of ideas.

You are on to something here, but it's also very tricky. For starters, how do you define a non-violent extremist? I guess the non-violent bit is the simplest, but some opinions in this thread would have any Muslim not eating pork and drinking beer as an extremist, or indeed wearing a hijab! Secondly, on exactly what would you engage with these "extremists"? Their grievances against the west, Palestine/Israel? Honestly, it would have to be of that order. Or maybe the focus should be on non-violent resolution of conflicts? i.e. finding a way to reconcile the west with morw hardline Islamic principles -I don't mean adopting them ourselves, but learning to live alongside each other. Again, resolution of this type would imply a measure of compromise on both sides, hardly an easy sell with Org patrons either I fear!

Watch the 60 minutes video I posted a few pages back. That guy is doing just that. He travels around the world giving talks and holding seminars where he tries to talk people out of the belief (and show them how to talk others out of the belief) that america hates muslims, or that the 9/11 attacks were a conspiracy by the americans to give them an excuse to go to iraq and wipe out all the muslims there. He isn't building a $100 million dollar interfaith cultural center and hoping that people with radical beliefs stop by so he can convince them.

Different strokes for different folks. Maybe this centre for cultural exchange isn't just about "educating muslims in how to live in the west", but also about educating westerners in how to live with muslims? Surely exchange is a two way process, not just a dictation of terms...