[Fish]

Originally Posted by Abraham

This report, specificly targetted on the Dutch situation, came under immediate criticism not just from Ayaan Hirshi Ali, but from major political parties.
Our Foreign Minister Ben Bot (=Ben Blunt!) stated that the Dutch position towards the Islam and its problems needed no adjustment and that talks with Hezbollah and/or Hamas would only be possible if they were prepared to recognise Israel, existing treaties and would denounce violence.

Although I'm (also) critical about the report, it has to be seen in a Dutch perspective.
A recent study amoungst so-called 'Muslim' youth in Amsterdam found that 90% dit not visit a mosque and was not interested in studying the Quran. They consider their Muslim affiliation to be a social and cultural thing.
Especially young 'Muslim' girls are doing well at school and in jobs.
Muslim young men without a proper level of education and without jobs are prone to asocial and criminal behaviour, but it is seldom religion-related.
Devote Muslims - especially girls - do well in society and see their religion as a personal thing.
A neglectable minority of these fundamentalists can be considered extremists.
The study found that most young 'Muslims' want to have a job, make money, buy a car or start a business. The study predicts that out of these yongsters a middle class of young 'Muslims' is devellopping.

If this study is correct it shows that 'Muslims' are not one homogene group but that there are several deep divides amoungst then. I can imagine that 'Muslims' for whom Islam is not much more than a cultural thing and a social background are as sick of being confronted with "Muslim extremism" and with "Muslim violence" as with the generalisations these terms imply towards themselves.

I remember that at a national demonstration in Amsterdam against the famous cartoons, last februari - about 300 - 500 Muslim youth showed up, most of which started rioting and vandalising shops. The majority of young Muslims, while not condoning the cartoons, didn't care enough to show up. Some Muslim organisations even advised Muslims not to go because they feared that Muslim troublemakers would give the whole Muslim community a bad name.

I think you mean negligible there, in that case don't. Small, yes, not negligible.