"We need to recognise the 'other' and acknowledge that Muslim values do not pose a threat to the strategic values of western society. Muslims do not hate our values. They hate our policies. We need dialogue at all levels. And we need to demonstrate in practical terms that there is an alternative approach beyond laying waste to large segments of the region's landscape. We believe it is possible to find common ground on the basis of respect for difference and a toleration of others."

That is Alastair Crooke writing for the Guardian today. The article deals with the fact that we have such a one sided view of Islam and the Middle East. I for one am tired of this useless rhetoric of fear put out by our government and other governments. "Every act of Islam is terrorism." "Every Muslim hates our freedom and our values." "There is no negotiating with terrorists." This list just goes on and on, doesn't it? It makes me sick. When we disagree these days people tell us, "If you don't agree you can just leave the country!" When it comes to this subject I agree with Paul Street when he said, "'My country right or wrong' is Nazism."

We can't stop terrorism by blowing everybody up. End of story. The government knows it. The people of the Middle East know it. The American people just don't know it. It's the only excuse for why we let our government continue to engage in these evil actions in our name. It's the only reason we let our government detain these "terrorists" without trial and without representation on the basis that they are terrorists and get no trial and no representation. But hello, isn't a trial good for determining if somebody is guilty of terrorism or just a civilian picked up because of a misunderstanding? This is just stupid people. Wake up.

We have to stop justifying preemptive war. We have to stop justifying torture and abuse of human beings we won't even give status to as prisoners of war. We have to stop justifying our government going anywhere it wants and doing anything it wants. We have to stop justifying going against the will of every other nation on Earth, except Poland.