Looks like I'll get some differing opinions here, but any suggestions on books or any other sources to start getting a better understanding of all this friction/the realities of the Islamic faith?
Three good books I've read this year:
Iran at the crossroads - Amin Saikal. A good brief history of Iran. A bit date/name heavy, but reasonably easy reading.
Paramedic to the Prince - forgotten the authors name. A poorly written book, but heaps of interesting anecdotal accounts of life in Saudi Arabia. Really easy reading.
Infidel - Ayan Hirsi Ali. She's a very influential right wing figure in European politics and Muslim refugee. A very interesting story.. It does get a bit preachy at the end, and there's a one really gnarly bit that made my stomach turn.
The problem many westerners have is they believe that every non-democratic country around the world would benefit from becoming a democracy. This is a rather narrow minded point of view to have. It may work for us, but for them it is often a completely different situation. There's too many cultural differences, etc. for it to work in many foreign places. I also think it is not our job to go sticking our noses into foreign countries business, telling them what we think they should do, and occasionally fucking things up for them just because we think differently. And IMO democracy isn't that great of a governmental structure, but at this point in our history it seems to be the best we have.
There's a lot of truth here I think. That's not to say the international community shouldn't pressure countries with poor human rights records, etc. But I think most countries given long term relative stability will find an equilibrium point where the majority of the population is treated fairly, and hopefully there is enough stability that the minority can exist in peace/without being murdered.