I also agree with most of what you posted, I don't understand what you meant by *I understand that because your false equivalency of the effects of two religions require it* though.
I was beating up on you and I shouldn't have. My real point is that both cultures and religions have different aspects at this point in time and that cannot be ignored and the situation understood. Certainly Christianity had it's Inquisitions and Crusades for which I shall not attempt to justify. The problem of Islam as it is practiced and the consequences thereof remain. The Middle East version is tied to governmental rule, as in the days of the Holy Roman Empire. To challenge the Church meant death, something the governments of the day dare not interfere with. Likewise we have a culture which uses the power of it's religion and government to enforce the rules of the former by means I cannot accept, no more than the torture chamber of the Inquisition. That's where I disagree with those who try to make one like the other. In different times there is most decidedly an unsavory likeness, but it is today, not back then we have to deal with, and acceptance of violence upon others in the name of any religion is not something I can abide.
Even so, my definition of freedom is not democracy, since I believe that in the case of the US, democracy is far removed from freedom. Instead I value the concept of self determination. If the people of Egypt and other nations wish to live as they do then I accept if not approve. That ends when someone thinks that their rights extend to the domination of other peoples. I will not justify our actions of the various self interested plots which were intended to subjugate the ME for oil. They were an evil as well. I understand that our actions in deposing a democratically elected leader of Iran for British Petroleum was a causal link in extreme Islamic fundamentalism existing in the region. I'll go as far as to say that if Operation Ajax had never happened then neither would 9/11.
Even so, we are were we are, with Iran and Yemen now involved. There is a crisis coming and unless there is considerable thought as to how to prevent it other than despotism and force of arms then it's hard to see things getting much better.
The world is such a complex and interconnected place that it is impossible to foresee all ends, but the effort must be made, not platitudes and promises from politicians however well intended. They cut off other avenues of approach which does not meet standard party ideas and ideals. In America the marketplace of ideas has two vendors. I don't see that as a good thing. That's one reason I posted my ideas about energy elsewhere because it is a foundation of civilization. That's how I tend to look at things, not at the highest level of chaos, but the fundamental needs and desires common to people and civilizations. Think about tweaking one and follow it's effects outward and laterally to the other basics. Ahh well I digress, a common habit.
In short we need to recognize the immediate situation, remedy it, investigate the causes and act appropriately, in whatever means prudence dictates.
As far as the death penalty, I have real problems with it, but that is a somewhat separate issue.
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