You do have a point, many have no idea what is being taught by Imams, or even what an Imam is for that matter.

Fortunately, this is my field of expertise.

Imams are Shi'i leaders. Shi'i Islam works a little more like Christian Catholicism, in that it invests spiritual authority in a living charismatic leader, who although not a prophet, is capable of issuing theological judgments that are seen to be divinely inspired and essentially infallible.

As a result, to non-Shi'i, it often seems that Imams simply say whatever they want and cloak it in divine authority. While this is not the case, Shi'i doctrine certainly is less stable.

Sunni Muslims, however, do not have Imams, per say. Instead, ...

You do have a point, many have no idea what is being taught by Imams, or even what an Imam is for that matter.

Fortunately, this is my field of expertise.

Imams are Shi'i leaders. Shi'i Islam works a little more like Christian Catholicism, in that it invests spiritual authority in a living charismatic leader, who although not a prophet, is capable of issuing theological judgments that are seen to be divinely inspired and essentially infallible.

As a result, to non-Shi'i, it often seems that Imams simply say whatever they want and cloak it in divine authority. While this is not the case, Shi'i doctrine certainly is less stable.

Sunni Muslims, however, do not have Imams, per say. Instead, Sunni theology is largely determined by a complex network of legal schools, with each "judge" working with in a stylistic lineage characterized by certain traditional positions.

This also provides a certain amount of flexibility, although the emphasis is on textual interpretation. The Hanifi School, founded in Iraq, is the oldest and also most liberal. It is also the most widespread outside of the Arab world. Your neighborhood mosque probably is part of the Hanifi School.

There is a lot of debate and exchange of ideas between these schools, and they actually emphasize the importance of tolerance of local traditions.

Fear of Muslims, paranoia about what they are teaching, and the presumption that as outsiders they pose a threat to society is exactly the kind of thinking that got us in this mess in the first place.

But see, I feel like we have to reject Marine Le Pen's essential proposition: that we our culture is threatened by diversity. Isn't it obvious that all these cultures, European, Middle-Eastern, or Arab, are a product of synthesis, not isolation?

And what doe Mmme. Le Pen mean for us to do? She says it is easier for someone with the name Marine to get a job in France than somebody named Fatima, and that's the way it should be. But doesn't she realize that it's easier for someone named Mary to get a job in Nebraska than someone named Marine? Is she seriously welcoming the idea of universal discrimination against all that is foreign?

Ethnicity is not a fortress. Society has no bastions behind...

But see, I feel like we have to reject Marine Le Pen's essential proposition: that we our culture is threatened by diversity. Isn't it obvious that all these cultures, European, Middle-Eastern, or Arab, are a product of synthesis, not isolation?

And what doe Mmme. Le Pen mean for us to do? She says it is easier for someone with the name Marine to get a job in France than somebody named Fatima, and that's the way it should be. But doesn't she realize that it's easier for someone named Mary to get a job in Nebraska than someone named Marine? Is she seriously welcoming the idea of universal discrimination against all that is foreign?

Ethnicity is not a fortress. Society has no bastions behind which we can retreat. There are no limits to xenophobia. We can either accept the rest of the world, or destroy ourselves.

Although I'm with you, Fast T Friend, we should remember that what we see as idiocy, other people see as the Truth, and what we see as the Truth, they no doubt see as idiocy.

If we can't learn to live with seemingly bad ideas, and even respect them for the fact that someone else believes them, then we are making the problem worse not better.

ouyangwulong, lots to say on the issues you raise, and yes, it is anything but simplified. yet, keeping it short I will say:
1. life works through diversity, societies too, at times, and at times societies or parts of them embrace seclusion for various purposes.
2. sometimes diversity threatens certain agendas and views, I'm quite certain that's how Ms. Le pen feels in these regards.
3. I personally do not accept Le Pen's view as expressed in this clip. I don't think these views are very intelligent or beautiful, or even that they will survive. However - I don't have the need to call her views or my opposition view 'idiocy' or 'truth'.
4. as to respect, i don't really think it is advantageo...

ouyangwulong, lots to say on the issues you raise, and yes, it is anything but simplified. yet, keeping it short I will say:
1. life works through diversity, societies too, at times, and at times societies or parts of them embrace seclusion for various purposes.
2. sometimes diversity threatens certain agendas and views, I'm quite certain that's how Ms. Le pen feels in these regards.
3. I personally do not accept Le Pen's view as expressed in this clip. I don't think these views are very intelligent or beautiful, or even that they will survive. However - I don't have the need to call her views or my opposition view 'idiocy' or 'truth'.
4. as to respect, i don't really think it is advantageous nor attractive to respect what i conceive as bad ideas. I may respect the people who hold them, under certain circumstances. But that depends...
Sorry for the brevity and somewhat dry lingo