Shocked, angry, saddened..

[Ruanaidh]

Graham, perhaps the term sociopath fits better. These people are insane.

Unfortunately insanity grants the possibility of some sort of defense. No, these people are quite sane, cold-blooded killers.

[jjoseph]

jjoseph I tend to disagree here. The problem IS exactly as has been stated: RADICAL Muslims. This world is big enough for any religion and any combination thereof. The problem is with anyone who thinks that their religion is better than anyone else's and in this case that by bombing and killing folks is the way to accomplish converting anyone to a particular belief. If everyone who is of a particular belief would just leave it at that then we would all be better off. (Gee, why can't we just all get along?)..... It just really hacks me off when people dont' seem to understand what is involved. A radical sect of ANY group that seems to think they can bend others to their will just makes me crazy and should be denounced by all; ESPECIALLY by other members of that sect. I don't care what group it is - Radical Meter Maids or Radical home owner's associations; this sort of thing should not be tolerated by ANYONE. I look upon it almost the same (ideologically) as the folks that want us all to wear pants and forget kilts. Ignorance.
Okay, I've probably gone over the top here; delete it if you need to. Geez, I do have to say I love this forum.

Well, you and I can certainly get along, Starbkjrus. No worries there. I hold to what I said though... the words were not untrue, but they create an identity in the public mind that I think is counter productive. We didn't refer to the David Koresh group as "radical Christians" and I lived in the area at the time. I hold to the opinion that a lasting peace cannot occur when our language is alienating to the very people with whom we need to build bridges, in this case the moderate Muslim community. Sometimes it's not the words, or even how we mean them. It's the perceptions they create as they move on without us.

Graham, my apologies to you. The center of this thread and conversation was and should remain our shared grief, shock and anger about this tragedy. For my part in the hijack, I'm sorry. I wish you, and all touched by this heartache, well. And while I'm wishing, I wish that some courageous soul might find a real, workable and just solution.