Anti-Mosque Hysteria Elsewhere, Too

[GostHacked]

Islam is innocuous?

He said mosques were innocuous.

[DogOnPorch]

Are you sure about that? It seems that from your viewpoint expressed thus far, you are the exact type of person most news agencies - and their advertisers - would be pandering to.

Best adjust your brainslug.

[DogOnPorch]

He said mosques were innocuous.

Thank goodness they are not associated with Islam.

[bloodyminded]

Islam is innocuous?

The mosques in question, mentioned in the articles at the beginning of this thread, are innocuous.

(Still having reading problems, are you?)

Unless you have secret information on them you're strangely unwilling to share.

[DogOnPorch]

The mosques in question, mentioned in the articles at the beginning of this thread, are innocuous.

(Still having reading problems, are you?)

Unless you have secret information on them you're strangely unwilling to share.

Anthropomorphism for buildings? Does it also have a 'pulse' I should know about?

[bloodyminded]

Anthropomorphism for buildings? Does it also have a 'pulse' I should know about?

Since when is "innocuous" by definition an anthropomorphic term?

Instead of relying on YouTube and on your own fanaticism for information, you might do a little research now and then. Word definitions are not difficult to find out.

Edited August 12, 2010 by bloodyminded

[punked]

The word means it should not cause offense. I think it is most often applied to objects and not people.

[bloodyminded]

The word means it should not cause offense. I think it is most often applied to objects and not people.

Yes, it is often applied to objects...as is shown in examples in dictionary definitions of the word, for example.

Unfortunately, DogonPorch has serious literacy issues.

Edited August 12, 2010 by bloodyminded

[Shady]

No...you're defending the idiocy of people frightened of peaceful Muslims and innocuous mosques.

It still makes me laugh that the most violent religion in the world gets referred to as a "religion of peace." And mosques are not innocuous. Islam isn't just a religious practice but also a political movement. With it comes issues such as Sharia Law. Which the Imam of the controversial Ground Zero mosque is a strong proponent of.

It's also funny that of all religions to vehemently defend. Liberals have picked the most intolerant, the most misogynistic, and the most homophobic of all. Perhaps Christians would get more support from the left if they adopted some of the more radical intolerant positions of Islam.

[bloodyminded]

It still makes me laugh that the most violent religion in the world gets referred to as a "religion of peace." And mosques are not innocuous. Islam isn't just a religious practice but also a political movement. With it comes issues such as Sharia Law. Which the Imam of the controversial Ground Zero mosque is a strong proponent of.

It's also funny that of all religions to vehemently defend. Liberals have picked the most intolerant, the most misogynistic, and the most homophobic of all. Perhaps Christians would get more support from the left if they adopted some of the more radical intolerant positions of Islam.

For Christ's sake...if you're not going to read the articles germane to this thread, why comment on it in the first place?

[Shady]

For Christ's sake...if you're not going to read the articles germane to this thread, why comment on it in the first place?

I'm reading what you've been saying, and it doesn't make any sense. So I commented on it. Nice deflection. However, keep up your forceful defense of the most anti-gay, anti-woman, and intolerant religion on the face of the earth. It's very amusing.

[bloodyminded]

I'm reading what you've been saying, and it doesn't make any sense.

What (exactly what) have I said that "doesn't make any sense"?

I'm curious about your reading ability, is why I ask.

So I commented on it. Nice deflection.

You deflect from the thread (in fact, whaven't even read the articles of which the thread is about)...and I'm deflecting?

Go visit a dictionary.

However, keep up your forceful defense of the most anti-gay, anti-woman, and intolerant religion on the face of the earth. It's very amusing.

Ok Shady, I'll spell it out for you: the OP contains links to articles about proposed mosques being built in various regions. Many people are disturbed by the presence of these mosques...not because of anything that's happened in these regions, but rather because, as the people are quoted as saying, "I'm scared to have my children around them," and "They are bredding grounds for terrorists," and other remarks.

that's even the case in the community where the Muslims in quesiton have been deeply involved (and not in a political way, so stop trembling) in the local community, holding interfaith services and Thanksgiving dinners and so on.

Y'all keep saying, "where are the moderates?" and "They need to make an effort."

Well, that's what these folks are doing...only to be met by fear and unreasoning hostility by the ignorant.

Edited August 12, 2010 by bloodyminded

[Shwa]

Best adjust your brainslug.

Done. Brainslug comfortably adjusted. So let's get back to the question I asked:

I think that for someone, who can only discuss the issue in the most superficial of terms, would be an ideal candidate for the sensationalized 'news' surrounding the topic of Islam. You know, as long as it has a headline you are as informed as you need to be right? Then it only becomes a matter of what news source headlines you choose to scan, like those little headline flashes on FOX news channel or something.

[DogOnPorch]

Done. Brainslug comfortably adjusted. So let's get back to the question I asked:

I think that for someone, who can only discuss the issue in the most superficial of terms, would be an ideal candidate for the sensationalized 'news' surrounding the topic of Islam. You know, as long as it has a headline you are as informed as you need to be right? Then it only becomes a matter of what news source headlines you choose to scan, like those little headline flashes on FOX news channel or something.

Maybe I should start making-up stuff about you.

[Shwa]

Maybe I should start making-up stuff about you.

Nice headline!

[DogOnPorch]

Nice headline!

Did you learn that while in prison?

[Moonlight Graham]

Piss-off with your moralizing. There's a reason that Islam is in the news and it isn't li'l ol' me.

There's a also a reason why so many people seem to brush an entire religion with a broad stroke of "evil" when a small minority of extremists with perverted islamic interpretations go bonkers: they are ignorant.

Edited August 12, 2010 by Moonlight Graham

[DogOnPorch]

There's a also a reason why so many people seem to brush an entire religion with a broad stroke of "evil" when a small minority of extremists with perverted islamic interpretations go bonkers: they are ignorant.

You're free to pander to cults all you like as long as you don't go bombing my favorite Tim Hortons.

[Jack Weber]

There's a also a reason why so many people seem to brush an entire religion with a broad stroke of "evil" when a small minority of extremists with perverted islamic interpretations go bonkers: they are ignorant.

The sad thing is that moderate Muslims,if there is such a thing,have been terrorized by the Islamofascists soo much that they are scared to speak out...

This has allowed the entire faith to seem to be hi-jacked by the crazies...And the crazies are the only spokesmen left the rest of us are hearing...

[dre]

The sad thing is that moderate Muslims,if there is such a thing,have been terrorized by the Islamofascists soo much that they are scared to speak out...

This has allowed the entire faith to seem to be hi-jacked by the crazies...And the crazies are the only spokesmen left the rest of us are hearing...

I think it only seems that way to people that dont bother to think. Its also related to how we get our information... muslims only get in the news when they blow stuff up, pretty much. The 99.999 percent of them that just go about their lives trying to raise families, get food, build shelter etc, dont get media coverage.

The fact is... that if and when "moderate muslims" spoke out against extremism we would never even hear about it.

[Jack Weber]

I think it only seems that way to people that dont bother to think. Its also related to how we get our information... muslims only get in the news when they blow stuff up, pretty much. The 99.999 percent of them that just go about their lives trying to raise families, get food, build shelter etc, dont get media coverage.

The fact is... that if and when "moderate muslims" spoke out against extremism we would never even hear about it.

I disagree...

Moderate Muslims would be targetted and killed.They would be/are shown as an example by the Islamofascists to intimidate anyone into going along with the Islamofascist fundementalist agenda...

Someone like Salim Mansour or Tarek Fatah would be targetted for death for speaking out the way they can in the West.

[bud]

I disagree...

Moderate Muslims would be targetted and killed.They would be/are shown as an example by the Islamofascists to intimidate anyone into going along with the Islamofascist fundementalist agenda...

Someone like Salim Mansour or Tarek Fatah would be targetted for death for speaking out the way they can in the West.

it depends which country you're talking about.

for my school project, i interviewed both the heads of the canadian islamic congress and muslim canadian congress amongst many other political and religious leaders in the muslim community. there are many views, perspectives, beliefs out there and to throw blanket statements like "moderate muslims would be targeted", only adds more ignorance to the fire.

the same can be said about judaism and christianity.

[bloodyminded]

The sad thing is that moderate Muslims,if there is such a thing,have been terrorized by the Islamofascists soo much that they are scared to speak out...

This has allowed the entire faith to seem to be hi-jacked by the crazies...And the crazies are the only spokesmen left the rest of us are hearing...

You didn't read the poem on the other thread? That's written by a Palestinian, and he has a bunch of them. There are others like him,in Palestine and in other countries. There are genuine peace movements all over.

And I can tell from some of the responses on that thread--like from people who clearly and unambiguously want an Islamic enemy, who cherish the "clash of civilizations" narrative--that "the rest of us" hear only what we choose to hear.

Hell, this thread is also about moderate Muslims--and the hate and ignorance they're facing.

Not by other Muslims.

Edited August 12, 2010 by bloodyminded

[dre]

I disagree...

Moderate Muslims would be targetted and killed.They would be/are shown as an example by the Islamofascists to intimidate anyone into going along with the Islamofascist fundementalist agenda...

Someone like Salim Mansour or Tarek Fatah would be targetted for death for speaking out the way they can in the West.

Thats not true. Its happening all over the world, and the moderates are winning. Instead of being the major political movement it was characterized as after 911 violent jihadists are an isolated group, that is actively persecuted in almost every muslim country.

Al-Azhar University in Cairo, one of the worlds leading centers of Islamic learning has been routinely comdemning extremism and jihadism for a few years. The Darul Uloom Deoband movement in India that spawned the origional radicalism that Al Qeada is based on now routinely opposes Islamic Jihad. Those are a few examples.

In 2007 one of bin Laden's most prominent Saudi mentors, the preacher and scholar Salman al-Odah, wrote an open letter criticizing him for "fostering a culture of suicide bombings that has caused bloodshed and suffering, and brought ruin to entire Muslim communities and families." That same year Abdulaziz al ash-Sheikh, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, issued a fatwa prohibiting Saudis from engaging in jihad abroad and accused both bin Laden and Arab regimes of "transforming our youth into walking bombs to accomplish their own political and military aims." One of Al Qaeda's own top theorists, Abdul-Aziz el-Sherif, renounced its extremism, including the killing of civilians and the choosing of targets based on religion and nationality.

And its having a dramatic effect on muslim public opinion...

London School of Economics professor Fawaz Gerges has analyzed polls from dozens of Muslim countries over the past few years. He notes that in a range of placesJordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Lebanon, and Bangladeshthere have been substantial declines in the number of people who say suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets can be justified to defend Islam. Wide majorities say such attacks are, at most, rarely acceptable.

The shift has been especially dramatic in Jordan, where only 12 percent of Jordanians view suicide attacks as "often or sometimes justified" (down from 57 percent in 2005). In Indonesia, 85 percent of respondents agree that terrorist attacks are "rarely/never justified" (in 2002, by contrast, only 70 percent opposed such attacks). In Pakistan, that figure is 90 percent, up from 43 percent in 2002. Gerges points out that, by comparison, only 46 percent of Americans say that "bombing and other attacks intentionally aimed at civilians" are "never justified," while 24 percent believe these attacks are "often or sometimes justified."

A smaller percentage of Mulsims believe that attacks on civilians are "often or sometimes justified" than the percentage of Americans asked the same question.

The problem is that westerners know JACK SHIT about whats going on in the muslim world. They hear about the sensational stories, and acts of violence and terrorism and thats pretty much it. Beyond that they know how many nose jobs Michael Jackson had before he died... they know which hollywood celebrities are cheating on their spouses, and what date SAW 15 is coming out.

They know only the information that market execs at media corporations thing is usefull to generate ratings in order to sell ad space.

Theres a good read on this here...

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/02/11/the-jihad-against-the-jihadis.html

Edited August 12, 2010 by dre

[Jack Weber]

it depends which country you're talking about.

for my school project, i interviewed both the heads of the canadian islamic congress and muslim canadian congress amongst many other political and religious leaders in the muslim community. there are many views, perspectives, beliefs out there and to throw blanket statements like "moderate muslims would be targeted", only adds more ignorance to the fire.

the same can be said about judaism and christianity.

The same can be said for Judaism and Christianity....

Hmmmm...

I don't see hardline evangelicals calling for the murder of the "infidel" United Church of Canada for it's stance on gay marriage or the Palestinian question or it's stnce on Global Warming...

I see peole leaving the United Church's congregation...Which is the civil thing to do...

Admittedly,there have been a few(stressing the word few) nuts in the Right to Life movement...

How long do you think Tarek Fatah or Salim Mansour would last in the Islamic world for asking the average Muslim to be introspective about the unanswered historic ills currently besetting the faith or to stand up against the Islamofascists who are the real opressors within Islam?