Are Christians being persecuted?

Are Christians being persecuted? In some parts of the world, yes they are. But it is hardly an issue unique to Christians. Most religious groups are being persecuted somewhere around the world, and in some places it is the Christians who are doing the persecution. Many secular groups are also being persecuted by theists. Christians make the claim that they are constantly being persecuted for their beliefs. Yet they persecute others for not believing as they do. I can find stories of persecution or attack on almost every religious or secular group, be it Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Taos, Sihks, Pagans, Atheists, Agnostics, Wiccans, Jehovahs Witnesses, Mormons, Unitarians or Humanists. I am sure there are other groups I have missed here.

It is also a fascinating belief since for almost 1500 years, it was the Christians who did the bulk of the persecution around the world (and yes, Catholics ARE Christians). However, now that it is not longer acceptable to try and convert people by the sword in the Western world, and people are deciding that Christianity is not true, Christians are now crying that they are the ones who need protection. Ignoring any persecution of a group, whether it is religious or secular is a crime against humanity. However, until I see Christians being upset that Wiccans, Buddhists or Atheists are being persecuted, their protests ring rather hollow.
I also do not expect to see that Christians start to embrace other faiths or secular groups as equals. They want the world to help them, yet they dismiss the rest of the world as sinners lost to the devil.
Here are a few stories of other religions being persecuted.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20110419/OSH0101/104190369/Muslim-group-seeks-help-end-religious-persecution

http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_conf.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_pers.htm

http://marketplacechristian.blogspot.com/2007/11/have-you-killed-atheist-today.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehi940OHXjM

http://www.blackwebportal.com/nuforums/vm.cfm?Forum=14&Topic=6166

Now, do not take this as an endorsement of Islam or any other religion. Islam, especially these days, is just as guilty of persecuting others. In fact, Islam is one of the major problems in the world today. It is at a crossroad. It will either temper itself, or the Western world will shut it down like the mad dog it is acting like. Religious extremists are not going to be allowed to rule the world any longer. It is simply a statement of fact that Christians are not the only ones experiencing this problem.