Will The Silent Majority of Muslims Please Speak Up?

[sambro]

Having seen yet another anti-muslim rant on AB I felt compelled to ask this question. I believe that as usual, it is the VOCAL MINORITY of muslims who shout the loudest, egged on by the media of course to grab the headlines. These people do the SILENT MAJORITY of muslims no favours. In fact I think it has the opposite effect. and turns frightened , ignorant people into racists.I have met a lot of muslim people due to my work, and have found them to be not very much different to us natives of England. ( I am sure I will have offended SOMEONE with that description) They just want to get on with their lives, just like the rest of us. They have a sense of humour , love of family, are well educated. They contribute a lot to society. Unfortunately these people do not make the headlines. Only those with extremist points of view do that. As a consequence, the general public think that ALL muslims hold extremist views.
I must add that PC , whilst in theory is a good thing. It really has taken away the right to free speech, which causes resentment and fuels racism, the very opposite to what it was meant to do. It is almost impossible to have a debate these days without being accused of some ......ism.

[sambro]

I am beginning to wonder what I have started here. I started my thread because it annoys me that all muslims seem to be percieved as terrorists. The vicars post about what happened to his son proves that it is individuals who are bad not people as a whole. My comments about asylum seekers and other immigrants I hope will not be taken as proof that I have a grudge against them. I have not. I liken my concerns to a ship putting to sea without enough lifeboats.( Does that make sense?) I do have concerns about the future though. I sometimes wonder if we can ever live peacefully in a multicultural society, with all our prejudices. Does muticulturalism create harmony or promote division? I dont know. I suppose it is human nature. I mean if northerners and southerners cant stand one another, what chance does someone from overseas stand? Its a weird world.

[sambro]

I have just realised my faux pas! You are going to bombard me with comments about you being a southerner and your best friend is a southerner now. Please dont !!!!

[China Doll]

LOL! Poor you sambro.

Honestly, some of the nicest people I know are northern... as are some of the most sarcastic ;0)

I don't think anyone is taking your comments to heart and making pressumptions about you as a person. (Well I'm not anyway). Debate is good and healthy. As is a sharing of viewpoints.

I don't think anyone will be calling you anything ending in 'ism' or 'ist,' you have concerns, that's ok. I think the general theme seems to be that if you have concerns then it's always good to check them out and just see how legitimate they are.

Enjoy the (pixelly speaking) discussion for what it is.

[ludwig]

Sambro, I think there are alot of people who feel the same as you, and I would agree with much of what you've said (despite the fact that you called me a loser on another thread :-).
I also believe you are right to be slightly paranoid about being perceived as a racist, because that is what can tend to happen to anyone who even remotely touches on these emotive subjects.

[sambro]

Ludwig - are you sure? Loser is not a word I can recall ever using . I am sure it was much worse than that!! lol
I think I am learning to read between the lines on some of these threads. Things written down can often be taken the wrong way. It is a lot more difficult than speaking, dont you think?

[China Doll]

Oh yes!

And if you're a sarky mare like myself that doesn't always carry well either...

[andrea81]

I think you make an interesting point sambro, the part where you say:

".......... In fact I think it has the opposite effect. and turns frightened , ignorant people into racists"

I think you've actually put things into perspective as I for one do worry about this country and are among the 'ignorant' I suppose! But I have to say that I have never felt this way until the bad press of redical Muslims and hope that the SILENT MAJORITY of Muslims can have a voice too as I'm sure that this will bring more harmony to the country!

[China Doll]

andrea, the media in this country has a lot to answer for.

[andrea81]

Yes China, I do agree, they seem to be able to make us think in a similar way and are able to print false 'news'! I really can't understand how this can happen.

Maybe they should start putting the news papers in the 'fictional' section of the newsagents!

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, i agree with you on some points.
I agree, not all muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are muslims.
The facts are everywhere to be seen...

[MrBen5]

The media only report what they get told off their reporters and informants.
Its wrong to blame the media for people changing their minds.
Everyone should be educated enough to differentiate between fact and fiction.
But on another note, if it was up to me, i would ban the media from the middle east where our troops are serving...

[China Doll]

They can't make you think in a certain way andrea, you have a duty to question what you read if you become so concerned about something it makes you feel a bit fidgety.

Equally, they can't print false news (libel laws) but they can put misleading tags on there... 'a source close to,' 'reports indicate,' 'anonimous claim that' etc... What the media can do is sensationalise.

If you ever read a story and think that it can't possibly true, well then the chances are taht you may be right about aspects of it.

And don't forget, media is only owned by peolpe. People are subjective and bias.

Get yourself a copy of Private Eye. Somewhere between that, the papers, the news and your own opinion will be an approxamation of the truth! ;0)

[sambro]

MrBen5 - All terrorists are NOT muslim !

[Sweep2k]

sambro wrote:

"I must add that PC , whilst in theory is a good thing. It really has taken away the right to free speech, which causes resentment and fuels racism, the very opposite to what it was meant to do. It is almost impossible to have a debate these days without being accused of some ......ism."

It'd be great to lay this one to rest.

Your free speech is not under threat and never has been. With the exception of holocaust denial, nobody is stopping you from expressing any view you like. However, they might disagree with it, and challenge you. As they're free to do. I can't really see what's wrong with that. If they're talking rubbish, put them straight.

Are you suggesting that people shouldn't be allowed to voice their disagreement? Should they keep their opinions on what you say to themselves to protect your 'free' speech? Do you see the irony there?

[Shadow Man]

Sambro,

"Not much difference to us" ???

Errrrrr, maybe not from you, but I hope you are not implying that "us" includes decent Englishmen like me!!!!

For starters:

I do not worship a foul God and his boyfrond mohammed.

I do not stone people to death for being gay or outspoken.

I do not publically hang women for being adulterous.

I like to see womens faces

I do not rape children in the name of my God.

I do not rape women who are not of my religion

I do not starve myself for a month every year.

I eat pork.

I do not pray 2000 times a day.

I love the West and its associated freedoms

I am not a terrorist.

I do not have a silly beard with no moustache

I do not scroung off the government

I have never been involved in terrorism

Thank you for NOT saying this evil and wicked faith is like US!!!!!

[andrea81]

Sweep.... When you put it like that, I can see what you mean. I guess we all can have our opinions and if it's not the same as others, it's not wrong.... just different!

[China Doll]

The Danish cartoonist I believe would.

Gromit posted a link recently about the cartoonist's take on the threats but I'm bu88ered if I can remember where!

[MrBen5]

Hmmm sambro, have you any facts to prove otherwise about the statement that all terrorists are muslim?

[China Doll]

Do you?