http://www.opposingviews.com/users/american-values American Values is a non-profit organization committed to uniting the American people around the vision of our Founding Fathers. Centuries ago, our Founders boldly proclaimed to the world a distinctly American faith in democracy; a faith rooted in the self-evident truths that "all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." We believe these liberties need to be upheld and cherished, especially given how closely divided our country seems. Our vision is a nation that embraces life, marriage, family, faith, and freedom. We work for streets without bullets, schools that prepare our children for success, laws that protect our people and a government that serves its citizens. We can get there. But we need to start now. http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/does-islam-promote-violence For most Americans, Islam was a religion that lived on the periphery of their lives, a culture they caught glimpses of in movies and television shows. Then came the tragic events of 9/11, and suddenly the Western world was desperately grasping to understand a religion they knew precious little about. With all the questions swirling around the true nature of Islam, none has been asked more than this: Does Islam promote violence? Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:46:08 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/does-islam-promote-violence http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/is-torture-ever-justified As newspapers and documentary films continue to discuss waterboarding and other controversial treatments of suspected terrorists, the debate over torture remains intense. Some insist that desperate times call for desperate measures, but others are baffled that such methods could exist in a civilized society. Is physical persuasion ever an appropriate means of interrogation? Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:45:12 -0500 http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/is-torture-ever-justified http://www.opposingviews.com/counters/muslim-youth-taught-intolerance-and-violence-in-religious-schools The problem is not that Islam's teachings are misunderstood but rather that they are taken literally. And a new report from the Center for Religious Freedom of the Hudson Institute reveals how textbooks used to teach children in Saudi Arabia promote... American Values Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:07:07 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/counters/muslim-youth-taught-intolerance-and-violence-in-religious-schools http://www.opposingviews.com/counters/not-quite-a-double-standard Although there is some truth to your statement, I believe the media too often fail to "connect the dots" between religion and acts of violence committed by Muslims.  Often times, the mainstream media bury or omit information about a... American Values Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:05:17 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/counters/not-quite-a-double-standard http://www.opposingviews.com/counters/moderate-muslim-leaders-must-stand-up The problem, however, is that opinon polls often suggest that a disturbing share of Muslims condone not only violence but, more specifically, terrorism--violence against non-combatants--as a means to political or economic ends. Also, as I mentioned... American Values Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:05:00 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/counters/moderate-muslim-leaders-must-stand-up http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/all-human-life-has-dignity Just War Theory begins with an acknowledgement of the moral abhorrence of war.   In the same way, any theory on torture must be rooted in the recognition of the moral abhorrence of torture. From a Christian perspective, all human... American Values Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:41:57 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/all-human-life-has-dignity http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/a-grave-threat The first condition is particularly interesting. A war may be just if the damage inflicted by the aggressor would be lasting, grave and certain (think of a rogue nation threatening to use a nuclear weapon in its possession). In the same way... American Values Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:41:15 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/a-grave-threat http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/intent-and-just-war-theory The media’s conversations about torture often focus on the methods of interrogation—on which methods may be permissible and which should be off limits. Less time is devoted to perhaps the most fundamental factor in issues of violence: intent. American Values Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:40:22 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/intent-and-just-war-theory http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/a-culture-of-death In many Muslim nations, children grow up learning to love death as much as we love life.  Psychologists have said that there currently exists a “cult or martyrdom” in parts of the Muslim world.  Anne Speckhard has written: “From a... American Values Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:47:02 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/a-culture-of-death http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/muslim-outrage-part-of-intimidation-campaign There is overwhelming and disturbing proof that a deep culture of violence, a culture of death, pervades much of the Muslim world.  But the most revealing aspect of the Islamic world's violent reactions to perceived slights against their faith... American Values Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:46:59 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/muslim-outrage-part-of-intimidation-campaign http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/a-minority-view Unfortunately, the Muslim world's support of faith-based violence is not limited to governments and their non-state proxies. Consider a June 2006 Pew Global Attitudes poll that showed a majority of Muslims in Jordan, Egypt and Nigeria, as well as... American Values Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:46:52 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/a-minority-view http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/muslim-religious-leaders-promote-culture-of-violence That some Muslims have an appetite for destruction is not surprising given the tendency of prominent Muslim leaders to foment hatred of the West. In 2006, following Pope Benedict's remarks at Regensburg about the relationship between faith and... American Values Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:43:44 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/muslim-religious-leaders-promote-culture-of-violence http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/islamic-terrorism-a-faith-based-initiative Of course, correlation does not imply causation.  And it is reasonable to ask:  Is Islam itself the impetus for violence, terrorism and instability across the Muslim world?  According to those who commit the violence, it is.  A... American Values Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:43:39 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/islamic-terrorism-a-faith-based-initiative http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/violence-pervades-muslim-world Terrorism and violence are a fact of life in many Muslim nations.  In a recent survey on global conflict, Monty Marshall and Ted Gurr of the Center for International Development and Conflict Management found that of the 24 major armed conflicts... American Values Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:43:33 -0600 http://www.opposingviews.com/arguments/violence-pervades-muslim-world