“Yes, there is. Though it is not supposed to be there.”

Being raised up in Indonesia as a non-Muslim, I have a lot of Muslim friends that is a perfectly “democratic” as what the west would portray a “civilized Muslim” should be. Thus, I can confirm your statement:

“We have lived peacefully with Islam for hundreds of years in Indonesia”

until recently, alas… Indonesia can’t help but to be affected by Arab nations like it or not, since there is such a strong spiritual tie to the nation (we go “naik haji” every year). We see Arabs as “big-brothers” and would heed our ears to their teachings. If they are to go extreme, we will more likely than not be affected in one way or another.

Globalization and the internet also helps the spread of extremism in a rapid pace, hence, so is the Islamophobia. Both parties are to be blamed for this phenomenon. But to balance the picture I would like give an example of why our world is trapped in this vicious cycle of blame.

A Danish newspaper published a cartoon of Mohammad. To the Muslims, it’s an insult to the prophet. To the west it’s considered freedom of speech and serves as rebuke for terrorists. The Muslims were outraged by the ignorance of the west and reacted with violence. The west were dumbfounded by the reaction of the Muslim world compared to the terrorist acts committed worldwide.

At the same time, not to long ago before the Danish cartoon incident occured, Muslims destroyed Buddha statues in Afghanistan that were considered historically important to the religion. To the Muslims its the cleansing of Idols. To the west and Buddhist, it is a portrayal of insolidarity of Muslims to other religions. The difference here is that no act of violence were conducted by the Buddhist. Thus, caused the image of Muslim to be more unfavorable in the media.

So sadly enough, I can understand why Islamophobic existed. It’s not going to be an easy task to get rid of misconception of the west about Islam due to a handful of irresponsible-and-extreme-zealots. Nevertheless, everybody under the banner of Islam would share the same labeling.

It is just so ironic that the extremes and the phobic has one thing in common, they both don’t understand what Islam is all about.

So let’s all do our part in ending this vicious-cycle of mistrust. The west should educate themselves more about Islam, and the Muslims should actively discourage extremity. It wont be easy and there wont be an instant result, but at least its a start…

It is Islamophobia that give birth to the present World’s ironies. More ironic, it suffered by those in the world power, just for illusion that enemies are every where and scary stuffs are out there.

Yes it is created by the West. But it is themselves who suffer.

It is Islamophobia that give birth to the present World’s ironies. More ironic, it suffered by those in the world power, just for illusion that enemies are every where and scary stuff are out there.

Oh, yes, there is. It is a fear of Islam so intense that you loose heart and give up in advance defending your country, your values, your culture.

Islamophobia deserves complete extinction, fast.