What if they were Muslim?

[AmyWrites 593]

Of course they'd get sensationalized. Islam the new boogeyman.

It was communists some time ago, now it's muslims. The effects of being constantly told, whether directly or indirectly, that X group is evil lasts for decades. It's why some people still fart blood when they hear "communist" and certain famous people still use the term to scare others into believing them.

Same thing with Islam now and in twenty or thirty years people will still be afraid or hate Muslims.

I'm not a Muslim, but I'm sorry that these stories are being used as the sole representation of an entire faith and its followers. My situation is probably easier than yours, I'm a very successful Hispanic (well, half Hispanic, if that even means anything) and I'd like to stop having the media portray Hispanics as welfare draining, uneducated, gang banging and lazy wastes of life. I get how it feels to have a stereotype be what others see in you as a first impression.

IMO the best way to prove a stereotype wrong is to not act according to what the stereotype you supposedly fall in acts. Being angry and argumentative about it, while understandable, isn't productive into "proving" these notions about your given group of people wrong. By being a good, successful (and I don't mean simply financially), hard working person you are eventually going to make people STFU. Most people are bigoted and hateful out of their own (and sadly, sometimes chosen) ignorance. It's not worth your time to get angry over it; people who are stupid enough to make such a sweeping generalization like "All _______ people are evil" based on stories on people who are obviously from a more radical area/belief/etc aren't worth getting even a little bit annoyed over.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I watch Fox and I don't hate Muslims

Me, too. We are among the more highly evolved Fox watchers.

Of course they'd get sensationalized. Islam the new boogeyman.

It was communists some time ago, now it's muslims. The effects of being constantly told, whether directly or indirectly, that X group is evil lasts for decades. It's why some people still fart blood when they hear "communist" and certain famous people still use the term to scare others into believing them.

Same thing with Islam now and in twenty or thirty years people will still be afraid or hate Muslims.

I'm not a Muslim, but I'm sorry that these stories are being used as the sole representation of an entire faith and its followers. My situation is probably easier than yours, I'm a very successful Hispanic (well, half Hispanic, if that even means anything) and I'd like to stop having the media portray Hispanics as welfare draining, uneducated, gang banging and lazy wastes of life. I get how it feels to have a stereotype be what others see in you as a first impression.

IMO the best way to prove a stereotype wrong is to not act according to what the stereotype you supposedly fall in acts. Being angry and argumentative about it, while understandable, isn't productive into "proving" these notions about your given group of people wrong. By being a good, successful (and I don't mean simply financially), hard working person you are eventually going to make people STFU. Most people are bigoted and hateful out of their own (and sadly, sometimes chosen) ignorance. It's not worth your time to get angry over it; people who are stupid enough to make such a sweeping generalization like "All _______ people are evil" based on stories on people who are obviously from a more radical area/belief/etc aren't worth getting even a little bit annoyed over.

Thanks No anger here, but I believe in standing up to bigotry, and not just for people like me. As far as stupid people go, it doesn't really matter who you are or how you behave when it comes to what people want to think about your group. If you don't fit their stereotype, they'll find someone who does to represent you.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Of course they'd get sensationalized. Islam the new boogeyman.

It was communists some time ago, now it's muslims. The effects of being constantly told, whether directly or indirectly, that X group is evil lasts for decades. It's why some people still fart blood when they hear "communist" and certain famous people still use the term to scare others into believing them.

Same thing with Islam now and in twenty or thirty years people will still be afraid or hate Muslims.

I'm not a Muslim, but I'm sorry that these stories are being used as the sole representation of an entire faith and its followers. My situation is probably easier than yours, I'm a very successful Hispanic (well, half Hispanic, if that even means anything) and I'd like to stop having the media portray Hispanics as welfare draining, uneducated, gang banging and lazy wastes of life. I get how it feels to have a stereotype be what others see in you as a first impression.

IMO the best way to prove a stereotype wrong is to not act according to what the stereotype you supposedly fall in acts. Being angry and argumentative about it, while understandable, isn't productive into "proving" these notions about your given group of people wrong. By being a good, successful (and I don't mean simply financially), hard working person you are eventually going to make people STFU. Most people are bigoted and hateful out of their own (and sadly, sometimes chosen) ignorance. It's not worth your time to get angry over it; people who are stupid enough to make such a sweeping generalization like "All _______ people are evil" based on stories on people who are obviously from a more radical area/belief/etc aren't worth getting even a little bit annoyed over.

Communist were responsible for the deaths of over 70 million people. I'm not sure if I would want to use them for an example.

[TracyHamza 1]

Of course they'd get sensationalized. Islam the new boogeyman.

It was communists some time ago, now it's muslims. The effects of being constantly told, whether directly or indirectly, that X group is evil lasts for decades. It's why some people still fart blood when they hear "communist" and certain famous people still use the term to scare others into believing them.

Same thing with Islam now and in twenty or thirty years people will still be afraid or hate Muslims.

I'm not a Muslim, but I'm sorry that these stories are being used as the sole representation of an entire faith and its followers. My situation is probably easier than yours, I'm a very successful Hispanic (well, half Hispanic, if that even means anything) and I'd like to stop having the media portray Hispanics as welfare draining, uneducated, gang banging and lazy wastes of life. I get how it feels to have a stereotype be what others see in you as a first impression.

IMO the best way to prove a stereotype wrong is to not act according to what the stereotype you supposedly fall in acts. Being angry and argumentative about it, while understandable, isn't productive into "proving" these notions about your given group of people wrong. By being a good, successful (and I don't mean simply financially), hard working person you are eventually going to make people STFU. Most people are bigoted and hateful out of their own (and sadly, sometimes chosen) ignorance. It's not worth your time to get angry over it; people who are stupid enough to make such a sweeping generalization like "All _______ people are evil" based on stories on people who are obviously from a more radical area/belief/etc aren't worth getting even a little bit annoyed over.

BRAVO...well said...and thank you

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Communist were responsible for the deaths of over 70 million people. I'm not sure if I would want to use them for an example.

She's right. Communism is the former boogeyman. With the fall of the former Soviet Union, the retirement of Fidel Castro, and our rising debt to Communist China, there was a vacuum which hatred of a competing religion seems to fill.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

She's right. Communism is the former boogeyman. With the fall of the former Soviet Union, the retirement of Fidel Castro, and our rising debt to Communist China, there was a vacuum which hatred of a competing religion seems to fill.

The US goes where the money and oil are. Choosing enemy's depends on who has what we want atm.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

The US goes where the money and oil are. Choosing enemy's depends on who has what we want atm.

Not so with new media. It creates needs that drives traffic to their door, and Muslim terrorists fit the bill quite nicely.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Wondering why you think that taking a stand is odd :whistle:

Anyone who cares if you are a Muslim deserves your comments regarding being stupid or bigots. Unfortunately you choose to toss those comments around a bit too freely.

When religion forms the basis of a terrible act it makes it into the news. The articles you quote prove my point but not yours.

[웃 910]

Here's yet another difference. You're not seeing "young boys" manipulated into strapping explosives to their chests and blowing people up. That is UNHEARD OF in western culture. Can you see this "MILD" difference?

3 HOURS AGO!

Deadly Suicide Blast Hits Bus Stand In Pakistan

April 4, 2011

A suicide bomber walked up to a bus stand in northwest Pakistan on Monday and blew himself up, killing at least six people a day after a blast killed dozens at one of the country's most important Sufi shrines.

Authorities said Monday's attack in the militancy-plagued district of Lower Dir was carried out by a bomber who appeared to be a young teenager. Sunday's suicide bombers who targeted the shrine in the Dera Ghazi Khan district of Punjab province were also described as young teens.

Young boys, often with little education, have been increasingly recruited as bombers by militants.....

http://www.npr.org/2...and-in-pakistan

Edited April 4, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[_Simpson_ 250]

Police: Pa. man, 70, stoned to death by friend

Friday, March 18, 2011

(03-18) 20:28 PDT Media, Pa. (AP) --

A 70-year-old man was stoned to death with a rock stuffed in a sock by a younger friend who alleged the victim made unwanted sexual advances, authorities said.

According to the criminal complaint, John Thomas, 28, of Upper Darby, a Philadelphia suburb, told police he killed Murray Seidman of nearby Lansdowne because the Bible refers to stoning homosexuals.

"I stoned Murray with a rock in a sock," Thomas told police, according to the criminal complaint. Thomas was arrested and charged with murder Friday.

According to the complaint, "John Thomas stated that he read in the Old Testament that homosexuals should be stoned in certain situations. The answer John Thomas received from his prayers was to put an end to the victim's life. John Thomas stated that he struck the victim approximately 10 times in the head. After the final blow, John Thomas made sure the victim was dead."

"He is a deeply religious man. Or so he says," said Lansdowne Police Chief Dan Kortan.

Delaware County Medical Examiner Fredric Hellman ruled that Seidman had been dead for five to 10 days before Thomas started banging on doors in the hallway of Seidman's apartment building on Jan. 12.

Police said Thomas, who is the executor and sole beneficiary of Seidman's will, returned to the apartment and pretended that he had just discovered Seidman's body.

Thomas had no comment as he was led out of the Delaware County Courthouse on Friday. Seidman was a longtime worker in the laundry department at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, where he was "very popular," Kortan said.

"As far as we are concerned, he was a model citizen," Kortan said.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/03/18/state/n094345D97.DTL

You're looking at this all wrong Sofiya, most of us are not picking on Muslims. A lot of the attention that the Muslim extremists receive is due mostly to the huge number of Muslim extremists and atrocities that they commit. Are you willing to admit that there are far more Muslim extremists than Christian extremists?

[Amby 490]

Sofiyya - I was never around Muslims growing up, I think there was one Muslim girl in my school and she was from the only Muslim family in the town I grew up in. I never hated Muslims, but I gained a better understanding of Muslims in general when I moved to England because I was around them on a daily basis. I think part of the reason some people are afraid may be because it's fear of the unknown. I don't think that is the reason for everyone, but I think it could be for some.

Edited April 4, 2011 by Amby

[웃 910]

Another "slight" difference you might find NEVER OCCURRING in western civilization:

Here is a "protest" against the qua'ran burning (in the US we call this a war zone)...

Here's yet another difference. You're not seeing "young boys" manipulated into strapping explosives to their chests and blowing people up. That is UNHEARD OF in western culture. Can you see this "MILD" difference?

3 HOURS AGO!

Deadly Suicide Blast Hits Bus Stand In Pakistan

April 4, 2011

A suicide bomber walked up to a bus stand in northwest Pakistan on Monday and blew himself up, killing at least six people a day after a blast killed dozens at one of the country's most important Sufi shrines.

Authorities said Monday's attack in the militancy-plagued district of Lower Dir was carried out by a bomber who appeared to be a young teenager. Sunday's suicide bombers who targeted the shrine in the Dera Ghazi Khan district of Punjab province were also described as young teens.

Young boys, often with little education, have been increasingly recruited as bombers by militants.....

http://www.npr.org/2...and-in-pakistan

Edited April 4, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Thanks, Amby. You're right that part of it is fear of the unknown, but some don't care who they know, they're more focused on fitting into the majority than standing out. They're not afraid, just hateful and focused on gaining or maintaining their perceived superiority. What absolutely amazes me are people who think that articles and news reports reflect the total reality of entire countries and civilizations. They don't even know their own history, much less those of the folks they are targeting.

That's why Muslims are defined by many westerners by the terrorists among them, and why western White women are believed to be bed hopping sluts by many overseas. What they believe is formed by the most predominant messages relayed second and thirdhand by people they trust most, people like them. Other messages contradicting that are difficult to accept; stereotypes are easy. Intellectually lazy types insist that those who don't promote the same views, even when those views are formed from firsthand experience, are a threat to their order.

You see it here, people who don't know Muslims, who are ignorant of Islam, are the most persistently pushing their limited knowledge on those who have firsthand knowledge; those who are not like them. They're more interested in protecting their worldview than they are in engaging in an honest exchange of ideas. I just can't relate to intellectual laziness. I'm drawn to curious people. I'm also too motivated to learn firsthand. Besides, I used to be a journalist. I know how lazy a lot of them are and how profit driven the business is. That's why I dont make it a habit to post articles to get a discussion started. It's too often a set up.

Sofiyya - I was never around Muslims growing up, I think there was one Muslim girl in my school and she was from the only Muslim family in the town I grew up in. I never hated Muslims, but I gained a better understanding of Muslims in general when I moved to England because I was around them on a daily basis. I think part of the reason some people are afraid may be because it's fear of the unknown. I don't think that is the reason for everyone, but I think it could be for some.

Edited April 4, 2011 by Sofiyya

[웃 910]

I think you mix Muslims and Muslim terrorists together and that is the problem (I know you probably think that is what we/I do)...

For example, I have stated before that Muslim terrorists (although are not 'real/good' Muslims) only make up a very small percent of Muslim population. Maybe 1 out of 80,000.

I (and I assume most others) have no problem with regular Muslims.

You seem to get offended by the facts that extremist Muslims are terrorizing people by blowing themselves up on a daily basis.

I don't get upset if you talk bad about Stalin or the KKK...He/they were/are scum.

But taking out religion from the occasion it seems very clear that the suicide bombers are causing much more damage to human life and society than non-suicide bombers.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

How many threads have been started here about Stalin or the KKK? How many threads have there been about everyday Muslims who aren't terrorists? When there is a discussion about Muslims or Islam, is it negative or positive, and why? This isn't a matter of being offended. It's a matter of how I don't just give lip service to how most Muslims arent terrorists, I go beyond that. Others, not so much. I don't feel a need to get in their box.

Edited April 4, 2011 by Sofiyya