Toronto Star: A surfeit of martyrs

A very interesting article by Martin Reg Cohn for the Toronto Star who documents his travels accross different parts of the world-with a special focus on Muslim countries. While there is a slight bias in his article I still recommend it. Moreover I tend to agree with this following paragraph ( based on my experiences on my trips to Pakistan in the last few years):

"............In my travels across Asia, North Africa and the Middle East, I had always assumed that the fanatics were on the fringes. In fact, it was not only the foot soldiers of fundamentalism who had been peddling poisonous ignorance, but many of the best minds, as well — either for what they said or left unsaid. Most condemned the violence, but I found a surprising number who condoned it, excused it, or lapsed into denial. On assignment, I came across prominent, educated Muslims in every walk of life — scholars, doctors, politicians, generals who blamed 9/11 and other attacks on Israel's Mossad secret service while exonerating Al Qaeda. Quite apart from their readiness to vilify Jews,marveledled at the willingness of so many in the Islamic world to besmirch one another as apostles, infidels, or inferior Muslims. Equally, ultra-orthodox Jews excelled at self-hatred when vilifying their fellow Jews; Hindus excoriated their brethren of lesser castes or questionable orthodoxy; and Buddhists spouted insults at believers from rivsects.Fundamentalismism, like revolution, eats its own children........ Read more"