When Does An 'Ordinary' Muslim Become An Extremist?

[naomi24]

We're often told that there is a difference between 'ordinary' Muslims and extremists, so ignoring those who call for violence and Islamic domination as they march in support of Palestine, but thinking only of the Muslim school children and their parents and supporters who are making news by intimidating students into adopting the hijab, to observe Islamic fasting rituals, and to withdraw from some school activities because they are considered 'haram';   the student who is battling her school in court (at the taxpayers' expense) for the 'right' to pray during school hours, the protestors outside schools, causing one to close early in order to protect staff and pupils, and those who are threatening teachers to the extent that they fear travelling on public transport, one of whom is still, after a very long time, in hiding.   The people who are responsible for all of this carry on their regular everyday lives living among us.  Are they 'ordinary' Muslims - or are they extremists? 

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // Moving on ...... all this support for Islam but still no one had told me how they reconcile that with its treatment of women and gays. //

I don't support Islam, so I can't help you on that one.

[naomi24]

Jourdain. A deafening silence interspersed very occasionally with the odd vague rumbling of 'Not me Guv'.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - I don't believe I have seen any posts on this thread, or any other, that 'support' Islam in its repressive actions.

Hence the absence of responses to your request. 

[Redhelen72]

Is this the battle for the last word? 😜

[andy-hughes]

Redhelen  - I think the debate is carrying on.

[Redhelen72]

But it was never about debating it was always about hate!

[royfromaus]

Would you be happy under sharia, Redhelen?

Do you think it is Islamaphobic to say you don't want sharia and you don't want to see Islamist lunatics baying for sharia on our streets? 

[naomi24]

andy hughes, //I don't believe I have seen any posts on this thread, or any other, that 'support' Islam in its repressive actions...

Some people here are defending Islam - that cannot be denied.  I would like to know how, considering its philosophy, which one would assume the defenders are au fait with (roy has mentioned Sharia), they justify that?  RedHelen told me there is another side but, as yet, has declined my invitation to educate me by elaborating further, preferring instead to restrict her input to attacks on a personal level.  She is now describing criticism as 'hate', and in some respects she's right but for very wrong reasons.  I can't speak for others but for myself, I do hate the way some adherents of Islam are attempting - and in very many instances - succeeding - often with dire consequences - to impose their backward 7th century mindset upon the free-thinking west; I do hate the way some adherents of Islam are intimidating and frightening people in school playgrounds and elsewhere;  I do hate the way some adherents to Islam demand exception from rules that apply to everyone else, and I do hate the way Islam treats women and gays.  Will any of you tell me why you don't?

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - I cannot speak on behalf of anyone else, but since you have asked me specifically, I am happy to answer you. 

The aspects of Islam you have pointed out, I gate every bit ad much as you do - possibly more since my wife has spent periods of time on the Emirates on the receiving end of the repugnant attitudes of some Muslim men towards women, and here as well, when she was Deputy Head in an inner city school with a majority Muslim intake.

But declaring a hatred of Islam because of some of its deviant members, is like hating Christianity because of abusive priests, or hating Budhism because of the Burma Railway.

I don't believe it is rational to simply lump all Muslims together with the deviant minority.

I do not support Islam, because I don't support any religion, but I don't condemn the majority because of the actions of the minority. 

That's ignorant bigotry, and we see far too much of it on here, stoked by fear, ignorance, self-righteousness, and general hostility towards anyone who is different. 

[Countrylover]

Good post Andy.  

[andy-hughes]

Thank you.

[Countrylover]

And ditto

[Redhelen72]

Here's a thought many of the anti Moslem on this thread have in the past made rude remarks and wished bad thoughts against women, gays and transgender.

so how are you different from those you attacking?

[naomi24]

//is like hating Christianity because of abusive priests, or hating Budhism because of the Burma Railway.//

 

Just one snag with your analogy.  Neither Christianity nor Buddhism endorses any of that.

 

//That's ignorant bigotry, and we see far too much of it on here, stoked by fear, ignorance, self-righteousness, and general hostility towards anyone who is different. //

 

That repetitive nonsense is designed solely to shut people up. 

[naomi24]

RedHelen, I don't know who you're talking about or to.  Would you care to answer my question? 

[Countrylover]

Here we go again!

[royfromaus]

 Redhelen72

 

Here's a thought many of the anti Moslem 

__________________________

Islam...anti Islam

[Redhelen72]

Roy the op is when does an ordinary moslem become an extremist!

[Redhelen72]

I am responding in general to the OPs constant harping 

[naomi24]

RedHelen, you're evading every question.