Why do Atheists defend Islam?

[Dystopia]

That's like saying that there's a distinction between America and Americans.

You might want to rethink the last part of your post. On second thought, you might not, since it's not in your nature. Anyway, it's idiotic, but I'm not the least bit surprised of that cropping up in that kind of context.

As far as the quoted part of your post goes, I do make that distinction. Otherwise I would have hated the guts of America during the Bush years. But having quite a lot of American friends and being able to judge a person and not their origin or affiliation, I rather blame the Bush supporters and not the whole group or nation.

Which, as usual, probably goes over your head.

Have you studied my genes to know my true nature? I don't hate America, but I will say this tough - If I ever said I hated America, I would gladly accept that Americans would react negatively to my opinion. There is an abstract distinction between a belief and its adherents, but in practice believers are merely incorporating and executing what belief and the ideas behind it are meant to be. Yes, there is an abstract distinction, but if you say you dislike Islam most Muslims will not like you and the same is true for any other religion - The comparison with bush is not accurate because I'm not talking about any person specifically, but whole groups of people Vs ideas.