One further point...

It is very difficult to put a "fine point" on a topic like this, but the facts are the facts...

During a discussion I had at work, someone pointed out (rather astutely, I think) that the Caliphate of Cordoba in Moorish Spain was famous for its "open-minded" policies towards non-Muslims... specifically Jews... living under their rule. I, too, was aware that some regimes throughout history have been very tolerant of "infidels" living among them. Saladin was famous for his "benign" rule over the Christians and Jews of Jerusalem and Baghdad in the 12th Century. Does this show that Islam is capable of being the "religion of peace" that so many claim it is?

Cordoba, Grenada, Saladin's Jerusalem... all examples of Islamic tolerance? Let's look...

The Cordoba Caliphate of the 10th Century is often seen as the height of Muslim power in Spain, and it was during this rule that the long-standing laws governing "infidels" under Muslim rule were established. Christians were allowed to worship in their churches, but no NEW churches could be built, and no repairs to existing churches could be made. Nearly all Christians and Jews paid a heavy tax for not converting to Islam. Saladin adopted very similar laws in Palestine in the 12th Century for infidels living there, as well.

Now, is this out-right persecution? Perhaps not... but it isn't equality, and it was policy designed to throttle a non-Muslim population into near extinction in only a few generations. Modern Western cultures of Europe and North America that guarantee the ability of each and every faith to function and grow according to its own merits allow Muslims to live and prosper within them... but as the Muslim population grows to a majority, can this equality be expected to remain in place?

I find it rather telling that 40% of the refugees from Gaza are Christians... but Christians constitute only 2% of the entire Palestinian population of Gaza. Of the businesses that have suffered damage and destruction in Gaza City at the hands of Hamas "fighters"... more than 70% are owned and operated by Christians... NOT Muslims. Can any of the defenders of Hamas answer for this kind of proportional disparity in damage and destruction? These aren't buildings being blown up by the IDF choppers... these are being looted and burned by masked, armed Hamas "fighters" who we are told are fighting for the liberties and safety of ALL Palestinians.

I'm sure no one here can answer for this... but I'd love to hear it, all the same.