Reply to: We should be apoplectic with rage about this

[xoggoth]

The vast majority of muslims are peaceful tolerant people. The only bit that gets the publicity is the extremists.

Unfortunately it is practiced in some backward countries which need dictatorial rule to hold them together.

The main branches of Islam, like all religions, have normal distributions of belief but there is no getting away from the facts that it is also a political, not simply a religious, creed, and that that distribution is greatly skewed towards religious conservatism when compared to Christianity.

There are 21 Officially Islamic states and almost as many that are pretty close to it. In "secular" Bangladesh for example there is no chance whatever of any non Muslim rising above the lowest rank in government. How can you have democracy or equality for all if laws and even rights to citizenship are governed by Islamic law?

According to polls published in The Guardian, over a third of young Muslims in the UK support the idea of Shariah law and almost a third that converts from Islam should be executed. Those are not tiny minorities. How many Christian young men think in a similar way?

I agree we should not cast all Muslims as extremists, that is counterproductive, but we need to face up to the extremist problem and stop this PC pretence about the nature of Islam.

[d000hg]

The vast majority of muslims are peaceful tolerant people. The only bit that gets the publicity is the extremists.

Unfortunately it is practiced in some backward countries which need dictatorial rule to hold them together.

The vast majority of Christians don't like to talk about their faith in case it offends someone, even though that's in direct conflict with what Christianity teaches. I don't know if Islam is a peaceful religion or not but looking at what the nominally Muslim by culture majority say won't tell you; just as with Christianity the majority who would say they belong to that religion actually wear it as a label as they go about their lives, rather than living by it.

[TestMangler]

And the vast majority of Christians and Hindus and Buddhists are peaceful and just want to get on with their lives. But the religions themselves are not inherently peaceful, nor are all practitioners.

The problem is that extremists tend to dominate, because they care more. They care enough to die for their beliefs. We moderates don't. They win.

Moderators !

[NotAllThere]

And the vast majority of Christians and Hindus and Buddhists are peaceful and just want to get on with their lives. But the religions themselves are not inherently peaceful, nor are all practitioners.

The problem is that extremists tend to dominate, because they care more. They care enough to die for their beliefs. We moderates don't. They win.

[BrilloPad]

The idea that Islam is a peaceful religion is clearly horse-feathers, and that is also perfectly acceptable, in my view, to discuss.

The vast majority of muslims are peaceful tolerant people. The only bit that gets the publicity is the extremists.

Unfortunately it is practiced in some backward countries which need dictatorial rule to hold them together.

[NotAllThere]

As much as I do not wish to rock the boat - isn't the it a bit hard to discuss this in isolation from the fact this is being perpetrated by a quite clear racial demo graph?

No, because the fact that this was carried out almost entirely by members of the Pakistani community, and was in a large part due to their misogynistic, parochial culture, fueled by their interpretation of Islam, and was glossed over by idiotic "multicultural" sensibilities is well established.

To go on a general rant about Muslims and Pakistanis on the back of this, however, is not on. Unfortunately, there are a few morons who post here who will use this case as a platform to stir up racial hatred.

If you really find that hard to understand, then I suggest your stay off the topic.

The idea that Islam is a peaceful religion is clearly horse-feathers, and that is also perfectly acceptable, in my view, to discuss.

[TestMangler]

As much as I do not wish to rock the boat - isn't the it a bit hard to discuss this in isolation from the fact this is being perpetrated by a quite clear racial demo graph?

No, not at all, their peaceful religion is irrelevant. Please don't mention it again

[SimonMac]

do tell......

my interest is piqued

Alas you may be waiting a while for that nugget of information!

[original PM]

The stereo type for the town where I was born is far worse, believe me!

do tell......

my interest is piqued

[original PM]

I'm not 'whining'. Just seeking clarification of inconsistency.

So, this serious topic is OK for discussion as long as the race element is completely ignored. OK boss...thanks. I understand now

As much as I do not wish to rock the boat - isn't the it a bit hard to discuss this in isolation from the fact this is being perpetrated by a quite clear racial demo graph?

[BrilloPad]

I would venture that most people on this forum are reasonably intelligent enough

Are you sure about that? I know you are - but plenty who are thick or intelligent and acting stupid.

[TestMangler]

Are your really so stupid? (I don't think so, I just think you're just stirring). Have you not noticed that there are certain individuals who post here who are clearly racist? That is who the warning is aimed at. Further, the warning is not that generalisations will be stamped upon or that they are, in and off themselves, racist, but rather they would come under more scrutiny. But you knew that as well.

Fact is, you and a few others don't like the ways the forum is moderated, and every now and then feel some compulsion to whine about it. Tough. If you don't like it, feel free to post elsewhere.

Frankly, I think the topic is too serious to by hijacked by a racist scum.

I'm not 'whining'. Just seeking clarification of inconsistency.

So, this serious topic is OK for discussion as long as the race element is completely ignored. OK boss...thanks. I understand now

[Churchill]

Tch a wooly back or something ;-)

Only kidding

The stereo type for the town where I was born is far worse, believe me!

[Churchill]

Are your really so stupid? (I don't think so, I just think you're just stirring). Have you not noticed that there are certain individuals who post here who are clearly racist? That is who the warning is aimed at. Further, the warning is not that generalisations will be stamped upon or that they are, in and off themselves racist, but rather they would come under more scrutiny. But you knew that as well.

Fact is, you and a few others don't like the ways the forum is moderated, and every now and then feel some compulsion to whine about it. Tough. If you don't like it, feel free to post elsewhere.

Frankly, I think the topic is too serious to by hijacked by a racist scum.

This topic hasn't been hijacked by "a racist scum" - that isn't down to your moderation or penchant for editing people's posts.

I would venture that most people on this forum are reasonably intelligent enough to not engage with blatantly racist posters thus enabling you to safely wield your ban hammer.

There's no need for your blatant "you will respect my authoritah"!

[original PM]

I'm not a "Manc".

Tch a wooly back or something ;-)

Only kidding