There was plenty of great architecture built by tyrants and their subjects, and even vile dictators have built some impressive buildings and skylines.
When it comes to the values of our society it is hard to find them expressed in nations where Sharia law is in effect. It is obviously true that people who are Islamic, but don't subscribe to the radical versions of Islam may also share Western values and believe in the same things American conservatives do. That's why they are the victims of attacks just like others opposed to radical Islam. Captain Khan is almost certainly in that category.
Among those skyscrapers are many people with values antithetical to the values our nation is based on. There is no reason to import their ideas to our nation, nor should we be anxious to subsidize their lifestyle by buying their oil.
People who share our values, and goals for the future should be welcomed to our nation. People whose goal is to institute a government based on religious tyranny should look elsewhere.
I agree 100%, however, I believe (as I know others do) that there is a specific problem with Islam in this respect. According to their religion, it is perfectly acceptable for a muslim to denounce Islam, appear to embrace Christianity, and appear to embrace the values (or at least what they used to be) of American society, all the while being 100% deceitful in order to burrow into Western societies with malignant intent.
If an 18 year old Buddhist comes here from a foreign country, even a hostile one, and says he wants to be an American, believes in our political system, and will adhere to our laws and societal norms, I wouldn't even blink, and would welcome him with open arms.
If an 18 year old Jew comes here from a foreign country, even a hostile one, and says he wants to be an American, believes in our political system, and will adhere to our laws and societal norms, I would say "Welcome!".
If an 18 year old Shintoist comes here from a foreign country, even a hostile one, and says he wants to be an American, believes in our political system, and will adhere to our laws and societal norms, I would donate money to help him.
If an 18 year old Hindu comes here from a foreign country, even a hostile one, and says he wants to be an American, believes in our political system, and will adhere to our laws and societal norms, I would not stand in his way.
If an 18 year old Wiccan comes here from a foreign country, even a hostile one, and says he wants to be an American, believes in our political system, and will adhere to our laws and societal norms, I might not like his religion (whatever that is) but I would not oppose him.
If an 18 year old Christian comes here from a foreign country, even a hostile one, and says he wants to be an American, believes in our political system, and will adhere to our laws and societal norms, I might offer to sponsor him.
If an 18 year old Muslim comes here from a foreign country, ESPECIALLY a hostile one, and says he wants to be an American, believes in our political system, and will adhere to our laws and societal norms, I cannot bring myself to trust him.
My personal philosophy on this is that I would have to examine each muslim in context. If I worked with a muslim student, got to know him over a long period of time, I would have to take into account what I knew of him and judge him on that. I might be wrong, and misjudge this person, and I would have to live with that, but having worked with and gone to school with Muslims, I can personally see no other way myself.
If I knew an Iraqi who had worked as a translator for our forces, had fingered bad guys on his own, had credentials to show he hated the radical islamists and/or had the scalps to prove it or personal endorsement of US Military he had worked with, I would take that into account as well.
Furthermore (and this is my opinion as an American citizen) any Muslim who is already here as a US citizen, must be accepted fully and treated as such, even if we may end up being wrong about a given individual, and they end up causing us harm. We must do that.
But to to allow a 18 year old muslim from Syria (AN "UNACCOMPANIED CHILD" AS THEY MIGHT BE DESIGNATED BY OUR OWN GOVERNMENT!)...NO. No. I would not just accept thousands of these "children". I think it is madness, and I think it is going to result in the deaths of Americans whose own taxes paid are used (agains their will and common sense) to bring un-vetteded military age men here and pay for their upkeep. AND THEY CANNOT BE VETTED.
Do I take joy in the fact that they can't be trusted, and we should DENY them entrance into this country? I don't. I wished we lived in a different world where we COULD take them in with open arms and give them a chance at a new life as an American.
While we never hear of people blowing up crowded market places shouting "Praise Buddha", "Praise the God of Abraham", "Praise my Ancestors", "Praise Vishnu", "Praise The Horned God", or contrary to what liberals would have you believe, "Praise Jesus", WE DO hear someone yelling "Allahu Akbar". We hear this at nearly every mass atrocity perpetrated throughout the modern world.
If we weren't so damned suicidal, we WOULD prohibit immigration of muslims from any country, but particularly, any muslim country. But because we are run by pea-brained liberals who think that because we love, trust, and intend to treat them well, they will love, trust, and treat us well...the mere logical and commonsense suggestion that we should avoid welcoming them en-masse into our country to live amongst us, well, that is the furthest thing from their minds.