The trouble with Islam today by Irshad Manji

I completed reading that book. That was fast. 2 days, naah, 3 days. Did I like the book? No. It's a sort of personal agenda. It started off well. But reduced into a personal campaign kind of thing. Full of opinions, one sided instead of hard facts.
I am sort of obsessed with books on Islam, Pakistan. No, not after 9/11.
Let me make this post bigger by writing about my experiences with muslims. I spent first 3-4 yrs in a muslim neighbourhood. Was too small either to hate/ love them. But one guy basha and his family liked me a lot. So say my parents. After that moved to a city where muslm population is about 40%. Had Muslims on the ground floor while we were in first floor.
Became aware that, they are different. Their food was different, even utensils looked different. Clothers, language, behaviour.... Had a fight with muslim boy over a rubber ball at the age of 10 or so. He was trying to grab mine. Hated him since then. For next 5 yrs atleast. Curfews happened occasionally due to religious clashes. Being at impressionable age, they were villains.
At the age of 15 saw a beautiful muslim girl. Classmate. Silent adoration. Kushwant Singh said in his autobiography that, if you love somebody from other community, your whole perspective about community changes. How true. They were my friends. And played cricket with them. Saw no serious issues with them.
Then Babri happened. Clashes happened. Not in my vicinity. Bombay blasts... Feelings harden a bit. Getting influenced by right wing propoganda.
Then 4 yrs of professional education. Don't remember anything that's concerned with Muslims. Probably because, the place practically had none. Stereotypes remain. But books help understand better.
Immediate job after education. A muslim roommate. As brilliant as I was ;) in some respects. (I know , that was to inflame you) He hated India, he talked about ummah sort of thing. It was fun arguing with him. Others had issues. By then, I was above these things.
I believe arguing about religion takes us no where. We should just keep our eyes open, learn new things to defend, to prosper. Moslems have issues. I am not talking about religion here. I am talking about high illiteracy, lack of democracy, bad leaders, lack of freedom of expression,fanatics...
So do others. Advani, Bush's god, oil companies, dictators, separatists, left radicals,AIDS, sick Africa,....To blame a religion or country for all problems of world is stupid. No religion is perfect. If it had been so, there was no need for other religions.