As a Muslim, I am not very surprised at these stereotypes.
-Allah is God. We do not believe Jesus as God(only as a prophet). We do not believe in the Holy Trinity. We believe in one and only one God(Allah).
-The 5 pillars are good. One says there is one God and Muhammad is his messenger. Two says to pray. Three says to give to the poor. Four says to go to Hajj pilgrimmage to Mecca(if one is able to). Five says to fast during the month of Ramadan. How does this prevent one from being a patriot?
-The political part has nothing to do with Islam as a religion. Those are radicals. Iran(my native country) has a good reason to not like the US since they interfere so much in their politics in the past as a previous poster said. The so-called annihilation of Israel means that the state of Israel should have never existed in the first place. How would you like if somebody came and threw you out of your home?
-The beating of the women is not that simple. The women has to be given several warnings, and even when she is hit, it should be a non injury-sustaining blow(i.e. light slap).Taken from
here:
"[4:34] The men are made responsible for the women, and GOD has endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners. The righteous women will cheerfully accept this arrangement, since it is GOD's commandment, and honor their husbands during their absence. If you experience rebellion from the women, you shall first talk to them, then (you may use negative incentives like) deserting them in bed, then you may (as a last alternative) beat them. If they obey you, you are not permitted to transgress against them. GOD is Most High, Supreme.
At first glance this verse may appear as if promoting physical abuse of women. But when reading 4:34 carefully one realizes that it actually prohibits abuse and beating of women by using the best psychological approach. "
These supposed women-beaters do not follow the Qur'an corectly. They resort to violence quickly. As someone who gre up in a Muslim family(where my parents argue constantly), I can say nobody in my family has hit their spouse.
-Don't all religions say that people should follow them? This is a very weak argument.
-No part of the Constitution(to my knowledge) contradicts Islamic beliefs.
-Umm...there is freedom of religion even in the most strict coutnries(such as Iran). I've been to synagogues in Iran and Churches. Freedom of expression is existent in a true Islamic state(i.e. not any current ones), as long as it does not depict any holy figures(i.e. prophets or Allah) or any obscene materials(i.e. nudity).
-Iran is a so-called democracy(even though I don't believe so). A true Islamic governemnt would not be democratic, since it would follow the Qur'an. In this aspect you are right; Islam cannot coexist with a democracy. By Islamic beleif, democracy is not right. Islamic law is kept in place to prevent people from doing wrong things(take Roe v. Wade, abortion is legal; a public policy decision whcih would only happen in a democracy; by Islamic law abortion is illegal since it is the killing of innocent humans).
-Allah is never referred to as a father because that implies Allah has a son, whcih is not true under Islam. Two names are "al-rahman' and "al-rahim" which means "most gracious, msot merciful". There are many other names that refer to Allah in a loving manner. Again, Allah is the one and only God (no holy trinity).
-Islam is the fastest growing religion. Shouldn't that count for smething? You most often see people convert to Islam, rather than the other way around. This point is weak however, since majority rule is not always right.