Islamophobia

[anotheoldgit]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/10/islamophobia-tory-party-britain

In view of the terrorist attacks inflicted upon the British people in the name of Islam, have we every right to show fear, hated and prejudice against the Islamic religion?

[pixie374]

No.

[andy-hughes]

No.

You cannot assume that every follower of any faith adopts the same behaviour in its name.

If you did that, you would assume that all Christians think that God hates homosexuals, and soldiers deserve to die, because the Westboro Baptist Church says so.

All Germans are not Nazis, all Japanese are not Kamikazi pilots.

People are individuals, if you lump them together, then you risk underlining the attitude of the terrorists - that all Westerners are infidels and deserve to die.

[anotheoldgit]

pixie374

Why not?

[dannyk13]

Definitely not.

[dannyk13]

AOG, Because you cannot blame the whole of Islam for what individuals do.

[pixie374]

Why would "prejudice" ever be helpful? Or even hate or fear? Being fearful of violent criminals would be reasonable. But you are grouping everybody into a category depending on a religion, instead of on how people actually are.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - // pixie374

Why not? //

There are two possible reasons why you are asking that question - the first is that you believe there actually is a case of backing fear, hatred and prejudice, and the second is that you are attempting to stimulate a discussion.

I'd like to think it is the second.

[andy-hughes]

pixie and I cross-posted, but you have her answer.

If you think this thread is going to go anywhere, I would seriously doubt it - anyone with a brain and an ounce of humanity cannot condone wholesale bigotry, it's simply not the way a civilised society operates.

[Sqad]

No, but i can quite understand Islamophobic feelings based on past history of attacks against the west and the fact that Islamisation of the west is happening.
Illogical, but quite understandable.

[pixie374]

I think it is, to be honest. Aog knows that controversy will get a lot of interest. He isn't daft :-)

[andy-hughes]

Sqad - // No, but i can quite understand Islamophobic feelings based on past history of attacks against the west and the fact that Islamisation of the west is happening.
Illogical, but quite understandable. //

I'd agree that it is illogical, but take issue that it is understandable.

To accept that it is 'understandable' is to condone and support it by inaction - prejudice should be challenged at every opportunity, indifference is fuel to hatred.

[Sqad]

A-H

" anyone with a brain and an ounce of humanity cannot condone wholesale bigotry, it's simply not the way a civilised society operates."

Unfortunately Andy, the brain doesn't always work the way that you would want it and if you had a relative that had been beheaded or killed in an attack by Islamic terrorists, your attitude to Islam might be illogical and bigoted but quite understandable. Our brains often act in a non conventional way due to explained and ill understood pathways.
We are all different Andy.

[douglas9401]

Forgive them, they know not what they do.

[pixie374]

Yes, sqad... people do look for "patterns" as an instinct and to keep themselves safe. But that does depend on how you "categorise" people. I see a terrorist as a violent criminal (at best), if you see them as a "religious follower" then that is the difference x

[Sqad]

Pixie....LOL....quite.....and religions consist of both......the trick is identifying the wheat from the chaff.

[Spicerack]

The majority of Muslims want an Islamic world with Sharia law.
They might not be terrorists but largely agree with the terrorist's aims. Anyway, this is just being used as a diseraction from Labour's antisemitism. (and why are Labour now antisemitic, I wonder)

[ummmm]

Of course it's understandable. It's understandable in the same way that someone involved in a car accident has an irrational fear of cars. Luckily most of us don't have first hand experience of terrorist attacks so we think rationally about it.

[douglas9401]

"...someone involved in a car accident has an irrational fear of cars..."

Oh aye, that someone.

[anotheoldgit]

All Germans were not Nazis?????

Perhaps not but it is obvious you have not seen footage of the vast crowds greeting their Fuhrer on his triumphal return from France, back to Berlin.

All Japanese were not Kamikaze Pilots ????

Again quite obvious they had to be able to fly an aircraft for starters,
many killed with their feet firmly on the ground, some even after the war ended.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Yes
I'm not PC. I admit to feeling uneasy when someone who looks like a Muslim with a back pack gets on the train, or a group of young Muslim men congregate in a shopping centre.
Many feel the same I'm sure - many say nothing for fear of being called Racist. Their Religion is exclusive and they DO have contempt for any other Religion, however 'jolly' your corner shop chappie is they hold you in contempt.
This is my opinion and don't expect many to share it but there you are.....