The Burr in the Burbs

I was just viewing a lecture on iTunes University about the rise of Islam.  The instructor made a point from the get-go of saying how very tolerant early Islam was toward the Jews and Christians they conquered by force.  His evidence of Islam’s tolerance is that Jews and Christians were permitted to exist.  He then explained that in ancient Islamic societies, Muslims were not taxed.  Only Jews and Christians were taxed.  But Islam was very tolerant.

How ’bout we reverse the table?  Let’s only tax Muslims in our country.  From now on, let’s say that Jews and Christians don’t have to pay taxes.  But we’re being tolerant because we do allow Muslims to exist.  Why is the bar always set so much lower for Muslims?