Why are people afraid of those that practice the Muslim faith?

Question

They get their heads into such a spin.... the mosque thing, the veil thing..... on and on it goes.

Did we ever hate the Irish in the same way for a small minority of evil terrorists among them?

Insightful as ever Mikeman. I'm flattered that you appear to follow me around and answer my questions. (I use the term 'answer' loosely)

Insightful as ever Mikeman. I'm flattered that you appear to follow me around and answer my questions. (I use the term 'answer' loosely)

David C, I encourage you to read 'A Brief History of Islam'

Mikeman... are your panties all twisted up?

Answer 1

Who says anyone hates them?

Its a suspicion thing and that's human nature. I recall people saying they would be wary of people with Irish accents at the height of the IRA bombings. Unjustifiable maybe but its human nature. Its a survival thing.

You could ask exactly the same question about 'Hoodies'. Why are we afraid of them? Because some people have been attacked by groups wearing hooded tops. Now we're meant to assume all youths in hoods are out to attack. No one is banging on about discriminating against them thought are they!

I do think thought that the media (or certain parts of it at least) hype it up more than they have ever done before.

Answer 2

Noboby cared too much about veils in the seventies and Muslim Asians were so tolerant then, they would go to the police if their children (mostly boys) had suffered a beating from 'Paki-bashers'. Us Brits (especially the current screaming media) didn't feel disgust at the bullying then, nor were afraid of the Muslims who would turn the other cheek thinking the gangs would eventually grow up in time. Funny how times change, with Brits claiming how hateful the Quran is after reading certain verses (usually given to them in a tabloid).
Mikeman - you let yourself down with your TIOCFAIDH AR LA! Remember the mid seventies when ALL Irish was battered by the press (and by the public) - no matter what religion they belonged to...and thanks to people not unlike you, some people still see all Irish as 'terrorists'.

Answer 3

The behavior of radicals and some not so radical Islamics has come to define the religion since few in Islam will stand up and shut the radicals down. When Pat Robertson said we should assassinate Hugo Chavez (though, in retrospect, he was probably right) Christians of various denominations spoke out and shut him down. That is not happening in Islam.

Lenin once said, "Ten men working together can make a thousand tremble apart." At the beginning of the Russian Revolution, there weren't but 50,000 or so hard core Bolsheviks that took over the country of millions. Ditto for Nazi Germany. It only takes a handful to bring tyranny to a nation and terror to the world.

If Islamics want respect rather than loathing, they must act to eliminate the radicals.

Then there are the beliefs antithetical to freedom.

Answer 4

Indeed it does, Its been getting worse for years, esp after 9/11. I myself am not afraid of anyone who practices Muslim or any other faith, what i object to is they way they try and get everyone else to practice their faith whether they belong to another faith or not. I am an Athiest as i believe there is no God/Uber Being or whatever, everything you can see, Earth Animals, Humans etc has evolved over billions of years, God didnt make us.

Muslims only care for themselves which in a way is right but they have no right to preach their faith on anyone. Most of the Muslims want a peaceful life, its a small minority who want to change the world.

On the Irish comment... My father was stationed in N.I back in the 60's and 70's, he lost a few friends to the IRA bombings/Shootings, He hates the IRA but likes the rest of the Irish people.

I was nearly killed by an Iraqi at work 2 years ago after he was tormenting me, i pinned him against a wall told him to quit it, turned away and he came at me with an iron bar shouting ' I KILL YOU!' He was later sacked and deported back to Iraq... good riddence i say.

Answer 5

Its not that people are afraid of those who practise the Muslim faith its people are afraid of those who kill in the name of there faith.. The UK in general is even more respectful and diverse than most other countries in that we respect other religions and places of worship and allow cultural dressing and have done for many years, however you will not find that same respect in most middle eastern countries in particular in respect to females and there clothing..

The Muslim faith has admitted its self it needs to be more open and helpful to the authorities in seeking the fundamentalist..

As for the IRA that's very different they see them selves as a military organisation seeking a political stance and more than often striking at military or government targets. Not the public. During the 70s - 80s many Irish families living in the UK lived in fear of attack were often set up on in the streets and dragged in by the law, so yes they were treated that way but i imagine allot worse as back in those days everything wasn't PC.

Answer 6

(1) We don't understand it.

(2) People's minds are poisoned by what the press will have them believe. The press can find 20 terrorists and tell you they're all Muslim but they dont find the other million (thats just a figure off the top of my head) Muslims and tell you what good people they are because terrorism is news good Muslims aren't. And suddenly people are thinking that all Muslims are terrorists and are therefore afraid of them.

(3) The veil thing was again created by the press and Jack Straw. Rightly or wrongly he refused to see veiled Muslims in his surgery and the news/the Muslims took issue with it. I kind of see Jack Straws point of view on this and it has nothing to do with being anti-Muslim on either his or my part. What he was saying was that if he's giving people advice he wants to see the reaction on peoples faces as they are getting it as it may depend on what he's going to say next.

(4) Mosques? Dont see why. As long as they're not making a public nuisance of themselves. The same people accept churches don't they? Probably afraid of change.

Answer 7

The Irish have not dotted our landscape with mosques where they rail against the United States and all "infidels." Study the faith and you will understand the fear that you should have.

It is ignorant to ignore the brazen rhetoric of the Imams around the world and in our own country. How many religions in the world today sanction the kind of violence and destruction that is common-place in the Muslim world.

It is not just a few. Polls has demonstrated that the hatred and support of the violence inflicted on innocent civilians by what the media calls "extremists" is strong and unwavering.

Even those who claim to be moderate refuse to criticize those perpetrating the horrendous acts being committed in the name of Allah through jihad. In fact, they openly praise them.

Can you cite a single verse out of the Qua ran? Do you have any personal contact with anyone who practices Islam . . or even anyone who knows someone who practices that faith? If not, perhaps you can admit that only those ignorant of the facts take the position that the "fear" is unjustified.

I am not so much fearful of Islamic people as I am wary. Even if they treat me politely, they hate me and must eventually kill me if I refuse to convert. It is written in the Qua ran and espoused by virtually every Imam on earth.

Answer 8

because unfortunately you cant tell the difference between the fundamentalists who take the religion and twist it for their own murderous needs. you only have to look at the demonstrations led by muslims who declare us all infidels and that we should die. its to do with integration. no one is asking them not to practice their faith. but only to let us practice ours whatever it may be. it is a barbaric religion as are parts of almost every religion. that is a fact that cannot be escaped. at a time when terrorism whether through media or personal experience is a threat then everyone is on their guard and cannot be blamed for viewing ppl with suspicion. to say afraid insinuates that we live in fear of them. that simply isnt true. we're suspicious of them as they are of us.

Answer 9

I'm not afraid of them. I regard all religious people as nutters to be laughed at.

And yes, the Irish suffered quite a bit under British rule and beyond. Why do you think there were already special terrorist laws in England before the whole middle east thing kickied off?

Answer 10

Because it's a human instinct to create ingroups and outgroups, and to project all perceived problems onto 'others', even when it's demonstrably illogical.

And yes, the Irish suffered similar levels of racism and prejudice during the 70s and 80s. It's an ugly side of our society that we should long since have moved beyond.