by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

The furor over the inaccurately dubbed "Ground Zero Mosque" has done nothing but reinforce al Qaeda propaganda. This, Nawaz says, is because many commentators confuse traditionalist Muslims with Islamists. But Islamism is not Islam. Islam is a faith, which, like all other faiths, has a spectrum of progressives and conservatives fighting over interpretation. Islamism, on the other hand, seeks to impose an interpretation over everyone else through state law. Throughout history Muslims have rejected the (al Qaeda) agenda of enforcing one view of Islam over all society. Nawaz concludes that it is time to challenge misleading and divisive views that see Muslims pitted against non-Muslims.  Read an excerpt of the article below.

Islamism Is Not Islam
By Maajid Nawaz
Wall Street Journal, 8/29/2010

If Islamism came to conquer New York and built an emperor’s palace at Ground Zero, I would be worried. But Islamism is not Islam.

Islam is a faith. Like all other faiths it has a vibrant array of progressives, conservatives and everything in between fighting over which interpretation suits current times. In this regard, Islam is nothing exceptional.

Islamism, on the other hand, is the desire to impose any one of these interpretations over everyone else through state law.

Many commentators confuse traditionalist Muslims with Islamists. Like the Amish, Muslim traditionalists usually have few political ambitions. Their real cause is …

Tags: New York City, Religion, United States, OneVoice Movement //