Are americans still naive about the culture of Islam? I ponder this question, and probably would say yes in most respects. This naivete often pervades the American media culture.

Islam in my opinion is an obvious paradox. It is both a savior of it's people and a destroyer. It creates boundaries for the followers in a region that is lawless and violently difficult to live in without the basic standards of humanity that Islam promotes. Since most Muslims have never read the Koran, as most Christians have not read the Bible, a word of mouth interpretation via the likes of men like Zawahiri results. But we can't ask or expect Muslims to give up their faith or depart from basic tenets that have been driven into their minds since birth. We have to promote and support a revolution of enlightenment. We have to challenge Islam to stand up and show itself to be honorable and take accountability for itself and it's effects on humanity. The pride that Islam shows with it's martyrdom and dogma needs to be a mirror turned on itself. AMERICANS WON'T WIN THE WAR ON TERROR, ISLAM IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN.

Neoliths like Zawahiri get so much press time in America, it almost feels like our media is a promoter of the religious divide. Americans and American media must seek out and promote the moderate Muslim voice. The Islamic youth gravitates toward media much like the American youth do to MTV. We have to make rock stars out of the enlightened Muslims.

A word of caution- Even though these moderate individuals may pose themselves to be moderate, they can still be Trojan horses or dogmatically anti West. Not all moderates are cut of the CLASSICAL liberal cloth. There should be lipmus tests Americans apply in this regard: A wish for a secular governance, acceptance of a Jewish state and high standards for womens rights. When a moderate Muslim adheres and promotes these standards, they can be called a moderate. What you will find is that most moderates promote a soft brand of fundamental Islam, not a true enlightened version.

If we are intelligent Americans we will test the convictions of our moderate partners and promote them as enlightened leaders in front of the growing numbers of Muslim media watchers.