Why the Islamic World Hates Us

Let me preface my remarks by acknowledging that not all Muslims hate the U.S. or the Western world. Not all adherents to Islam want to see us vaporized. I'm well aware of that. I'm also aware that not all Japanese soldiers relished torturing prisoners during WWII, not all Italians love spaghetti, and not all communists sport Van Dyke beards like Lenin. The point is, that's irrelevant. What is germane to the discussion, though, is that Islam is a religion in conflict with all other religions--particularly that of Christianity, which has been its chief opponent, historically. Further, judging by the doctrines and agenda it espouses, its followers largely are our enemies. The very nature of this religion sets it against everyone else.

That said, I believe there are three basic reasons that most of the Islamic world loathes us:

1. The Western world is not Islamic. The United States, Europe, and South America all have long histories steeped in Christianity. Islam has never been a dominant force in the West--though that may change in the near future, if the study of European demographics has any significance. Needless to say, this fact in and of itself creates contention between the two regions, since the ultimate goal of Islam is global rule through Sharia law.

2. The U.S. is a grave threat to future Islamic domination. Militarily, the U.S. is the most powerful country on earth. In the past two years, two predominantly Islamic countries have had long-standing regimes overthrown by our military. I realize Iraq's ruling elite was secular in its outlook, but the populace was Islamic, in the main. Also, Hussein's pan-Arab vision followed a similar path to that of Islam's expansion. Since the U.S has little tolerance for forced religious conversion, beheadings of helpless prisoners without trial, or terrorist tactics (the Islamic method of gaining attention du jour), I don't see a lasting bond of friendship usurping our current relationship with the Middle East, The Bush Administration's PC portrayal of Islam notwithstanding.

3. The United States is the world's most staunch supporter of Israel. We've always been in their corner, at the very least agreeing with their right to exist in the region. Our government has taken many wrong turns in its relationship with Israel, giving the "Palestinians" far too much creedance and respect; but it is unquestionable that Israel has no more formidable--or loyal--friend. Since Israel is hated and reviled almost universally throughout the Middle East, putting two and two together is far from rocket science.

Can we do things to exacerbate this hatred? Sure. Have we commited such acts? Perhaps. But keep in mind that these people hated us long before the current Iraq war, and they will hate us long after it is a receding memory. Worse, they subsist on a daily diet of propaganda and outright lies about us. So whether the injustices they've suffered are perceived or genuine matters little in terms of their future actions. Personally, I think most of them are false or self-inflicted, but I digress.

They'll kill us, if they can. If the Islamic world had been as strong as the U.S. is, now, for the past two hundred years, the world would be a very different place.