TYPECASTING MUSLIMS AS A RACE

[Ban Hammer 13,644]

All I'm saying is when you declare hate and war on the entire muslim population because of bin laden then you're no better than he is. He does the same things against the west because of a few westerners.

I don't know what goes on in Australia... I'm not Australian... but I know for a fact that never have I said that I sympathize with terrorists

I'm all for Saudi style punishment of terrorists.... public heading

[Veiled Princess 1]

All I'm saying is when you declare hate and war on the entire muslim population because of bin laden then you're no better than he is. He does the same things against the west because of a few westerners.

I don't know what goes on in Australia... I'm not Australian... but I know for a fact that never have I said that I sympathize with terrorists

I'm all for Saudi style punishment of terrorists.... public heading

beheading ... I can't type

[peezey 0]

The problem with this is that as soon as anyone here (VJ) makes a comment about "Muslim Terrorists", they are labeled "Racist". So, if the Muslims themselves are calling people racist for being suspicious of Muslims, then who has really labeled them as a "race"?

I have and have had acquaintances, friends and co-workers with multi-ethnic/religious backgrounds (including Muslim) and I have no problem with any of them because they are not 'extremists' of any kind.

What I personally think should happen within the Muslim community around the world is for the majority mainstream and moderate Muslims to make sure that the extremists in their midst are identified and dealt with. They (the terrorists) are bringing shame on their religion and are badly affecting the view that non-Muslims have of that religion. In other words, moderate Muslims should police their own community for the common good.

So far as 'race' goes, I think that this immaterial in many ways as there are Muslims in many different countries around the world. I feel that it's countries and continents that define 'race', rather than religion.

Neil.

Hmmmmm....do you go around explaining and educating people about the fringes of your own race? Do you find that to be your inherent responsibility?

[peezey 0]

If the terrorist were to stop doing their killing in the name of islam then maybe people would stop looking at all people of islamic faith with fear.... the same thing happened in Northern Ireland... white catholic and white Prodistants killed each other in the name of religion so it was the religion that got the bad name and all the people who practiced those religions were thought of as possible terrorists....

IMO

Kezzie

Why is it, though, that Irish-American Catholics didn't feel any compulsion to speak out and separate themselves to "amke sure" the world knew the Irish were on the fringe? Because it was evident. The same is the case with terrorists. We choose to be ignorant of this and perpetuate racism using hostile language such as "msulim terrorist" instead of "terrorist."

[peezey 0]

Muslim leaders to be VERY pro-active and vocal in condemning those people ( terrorists) and their actions.

I remember after announcements came of people arrested in suspected terror plot in UK, the British Muslim Council (that is what they're called, right?) were a lot quicker to act with their statement of condemnations about the ideas.

I don't know about in the States but in the UK I feel they were far too slow to act (after 9/11), they were horribly quiet for a time and me (having met no muslims at that time) felt very uneasy. I remember this because I was looking for reassurance, and it did come and put people like me at ease but I feel for many the damage might already have been done.

Observing the more culturally mixed area where I live now, I had some ( very minor) bad experiences with muslim (dressed, these observations were made by their actions and what they were wearing) customers when I was working in a shop. Although I always smiled (and not a fake cheesy smile just trying to seem welcoming) they generally looked angry at me, spoke few words and talked their own language amongst themselves, it was very uncomfortable.

Maybe this is my perception but I think it is a bit rude to speak your own language when openly dealing and communicating with others, like a deliberate act of exclusion.

who knows what these people (usually mothers with small kids, such is the shop) endured though? They might have judged me also on what they thought of white British people in the area, that we were all judgemental, rude and obnoxious. This whole region is quite badly blighted with violence and crime, I've no doubt some families have suffered consequences of racism.

This saddens me because it can only lead it a downword spiral: the muslim people make the perceptions from others, who form a negative opinion passed onto people like me, that if I was less thoughtful would pass off as negative opinion on all muslims.

So you're saying a group that is already marginalized and just trying to go about their own business now must speak out on behalf of a billion msulims? What other tests should we present to them while we're at it.

Why don't you list out all the things you don't agree with that your government or affiliation of your choice does, and then let's go down the line and mark off each time you openly spoke out so as to prove you aren't going along with what you dont' agree with.

[peezey 0]

Any group...be they Christian, Jew, Pagan or those of the peach pit worshipping religion - ANY group that established a violent and pronounced history based on death and destruction in the NAME OF FAITH should be stereotyped and profiled until their actions continuously DEMONSTRATE PEACE.

And when this is done in the NAME OF DEMOCRACY, what then?

[peezey 0]

Well said. The sad thing is that decent muslims just can't seem to grasp the concept that American (non-muslim) soldiers, American so-called infidels are putting their life on the line, many of them christians, to secure their freedom from terrorists. Yet, these soldiers have barely received a thumbs up for it. Its not about oil, hence the $0 made from it so far yet the trillions of $$$ spent on improving their security and living standards..

Are you kidding? This is not what soldiers are doing, but keep telling yourself that. And, muslims didn't ask for the fraud that's been perpetrated on the world, this war on terrorism. I didn't ask for it either, and I'm not muslim.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Wow Peezey. It's a blast from the past, but....

"You go, girl !"

[ace13 0]

Whether or not the are "real" muslims or really follow islam is not the point. They use it as an excuse for their actions

[Identity 0]

islame is just another cult. At least the scientologists don't whine about everything.

[melly 0]

You been hiding under a rock or something? Or are you just missing a large part of your brain?

[peezey 0]

Whether or not the are "real" muslims or really follow islam is not the point. They use it as an excuse for their actions

And this has what to do, exactly, with the other 1 billion muslims on the planet?