<p>Based on the etymology, "Islamophobia" would be the fear of Islam and things related to it.<br /><br />I am not afraid of the ideas conveyed in the Five Pillars of Islam. I am not categorically afraid of the roughly 1 billion people who profess to believe in said ideas. However, I am very afraid of the 10-15% of such people who quite literally want me to convert or die.<br /><br />I am also troubled by the fact that, even though only 10-15% of this billion-member community are "extremists" in this way, in some countries, polls still show that over 80% still think it's okay to kill former Muslims for apostasy.<br /><br />Identification of this fear as a "phobia" like agoraphobia or arachnophobia suggests that it is irrational, possibly based on some psychological disorder. I can attest that it certainly may be for some, but not for me. I have no such disorder. I simply recognize that the "extremist" segment of the Muslim population is roughly ten times greater than the entire population of my religion - and that, while our "extremists" might be rude to you, theirs will blow you up.</p>
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