What does the moderate in "moderate Islam" refer to.
According to Merrriam-Webster, the different meanings of moderate, used as an adjective, are:
1 a : avoiding extremes of behavior or expression : observing reasonable limits b : calm, temperate
2 a : tending toward the mean or average amount or dimension b : having average or less than average quality : mediocre
3 : professing or characterized by political or social beliefs that are not extreme
4 : limited in scope or effect
5 : not expensive : reasonable or low in price
6 of a color : of medium lightness and medium chroma
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moderate
I think the reference is to meanings labeled 1a and 3 respectively. The view assumes that Western civilization is the standard civilization, the status quo, and Islam must conform to it. Despite being a Westerner in thought, I find this assumption disgusting. In sheer number of adherents, Islam may have more adherents than Western civilization, which I have used to refer to a secular, techno-scientific society. Many Americans won't be adherents of the above-mentioned "Western civilization", especially the Evangelist creationists. Use of technology, without accepting science, cannot be a differentiating factor for "moderate Islam" as most "radical Islamicists" are avid users of technology.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Anarcho-capitalism: Succint Description of my Opposition
1- Anarcho-capitalism (AC) says that abortion is fine as the mother is fully within her rights to expel a predator.
Does one have the right to expel a guest for no reason. No, one doesn't. And the child is a guest whom the mother willingly invited. And the fetus has to be assumed to be conscious from the date of inception otherwise those who oppose the statement have to show how the fetus became conscious.
2- AC says that only rights are property rights
I murder a child in an area which no one claims to be his/her property. If the child is not his/her parents property then no property right is infringed (assuming child is not working). So murdering a child is ok.
3- AC claims that parents rights over their children are limited
I capture an animal. Don't I have the right to kill it, torture it, or recapture it if it runs away. When I can have such rights over a creature which can exist independently of me, why can't parents have such rights over their children who, unlike most things available in market, are created from their bodies and only their bodies.
Does one have the right to expel a guest for no reason. No, one doesn't. And the child is a guest whom the mother willingly invited. And the fetus has to be assumed to be conscious from the date of inception otherwise those who oppose the statement have to show how the fetus became conscious.
2- AC says that only rights are property rights
I murder a child in an area which no one claims to be his/her property. If the child is not his/her parents property then no property right is infringed (assuming child is not working). So murdering a child is ok.
3- AC claims that parents rights over their children are limited
I capture an animal. Don't I have the right to kill it, torture it, or recapture it if it runs away. When I can have such rights over a creature which can exist independently of me, why can't parents have such rights over their children who, unlike most things available in market, are created from their bodies and only their bodies.
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