What if other ideas were defended the same way?

[Thumpalumpacus]

I think that too often in the minds of non-Muslims, criticizing the religion becomes stereotyping all Muslims for the atrocities committed by a tiny fraction of them, in the same way that many foreigners thought that all Americans shared Dubya's retardation, for instance.

I agree with you're saying about sacred cows; nothing should be immune from reasoned criticism. But the level of bigotry in America is such that some folks will seize upon anything in order to castigate entire groups of people. Care should be taken in order to avoid fueling those fires.