Can we PLEASE take a breather from Muslim bashing??

Question

OK. I understand that people are up in arms (almost literally from todays board) but can we please put a few things into perspective. Sudanese fighters have declared war on France's peacekeeping troops as they are due to go over to help refugees stuck between Chad, Sudan and Darfur. The problems in Sudan go far beyond Islam and a teacher. It is an extremely contentious region. Realize how many refugees are dying on the border and how many are trapped there trying to get out of Darfur (250,000). I feel that we are taking very complicated issues and oversimplifying them just to attack the Muslim people. Our country invaded an Islamic country and since you'd have to note that unrest around the world has only grown and it's not just with Islamic nations. Russia, China, North Korea.... not Islamic countries. This is a larger problem than just a teacher and a teddy bear but do you think it just gives you license to attack? I hope not. Thoughts? Thank you.

Is ANY bashing justified, honestly? I know people want to go 'but he said', 'but we're picked on too', 'but I got reported' and it goes on and on. I just wanted to bring a little kindness that's all. I guess that's not working.

It seems that politics and religious strife go hand in hand so I beg to differ about the 'other issues' not being imperative to the religious ones.

'Take that rebel?' I see. One picture is supposed to draw away from everything else I said.

Pitchy: the problem is OIL. Oil and China and arms supplied by China to protect the oil pipeline they laid down.

Scissors: How many Muslim civilians have died since we went into Iraq and Afghanistan? 10,000's of thousands. I don't agree with violence against anyone but I'm certainly starting to see a reason why coming onto this forum may not be a good use of my time anymore.

Shawn B: I needed that. I don't mind being bashed. Maybe I'll asked some yoga questions.

Answer 1

And the reactionaries come out of the woodwork. Cries of "but they do it!" and "but it's okay because [insert stereotype here]!" or, "[group A] bashes [group B]!"

FFS, people. The percentage of Muslim terrorists is similar to that of Christian terrorists (or have you forgotten about Christian Identity, the KKK, clinic bombers, et al?). There are a few extremists out there giving the decent, peaceful majority of Muslims a bad name. You know, like Fred Phelps gives Christians a bad name?

Why can't you people stop stereotyping, stop insulting, stop HATING each other for once? We're all human beings; act like it!
Every day, there's a hundred new bigoted questions & comments on this site, all from a bunch of intellectually lazy chimps who refuse to educate themselves about other people. I guarantee that if people would stop flaming & trolling over stupid, pointless BS, Y!A's comment count would drop by half.

I don't care if you're atheist, Muslim, Christian, or pagan. I don't care if you're black, white, latino, or Asian. I don't give a damn about your political party, your sexuality, your gender, your marital status or your freaking nationality.
All I care about is that, whether we disagree or not, you try to respect me, and you expect that I'll do the same for you.

Moral people don't hate. Ethical people don't stereotype. Decent people don't justify intolerance.

Rant over.

Answer 2

My dad's brother died right in front of him when he was like 15 because he was put in a hospital where some nurses were Muslim when he had namonia. And he was a Christian. I'll leave the details out. Also my Grandfather was a Christian preacher in Afganistan and was stabbed while preaching by Muslims once. He lived and went onto helping Christians seek refuge in churches. He always taught everyone to turn the other cheek and not fight (a losing battle anyway.) But more importantly to not lose themselves by bending their faith to play the Muslims' game.

What if there was no religon? We'd still be fighting over oil & supplying enemies with weapons to kill each other. Anyone who is fighting, bullying, or supplying weapons are on the same page as the people instigating violence against anyone. I bet most of the people who are pissed off at Muslims always get pissed off at the drop of a hat and have absolutely nothing to do with this whole damn war thing. If you wanna change the world with rants of hate seek mental help and stop calling yourself a Christian. I'm sure whatever dead horse is being beated by what you are doing is gonna come back from the dead and seek vengence after all its been through.

Answer 3

Thank you for your post, as I am absolutely for eductating one's self before making statements, especially generalizations. The most education I've detected regarding Islam from the Muslim bashers is the news and as I've warned many, many times the news isn't there to inform you about all the facts. The news is there to earn a profit, and will only show news and from a certain perspective, that will get you to watch or read their product. It is nowhere near the "whole picture" as some would have you believe.

And some of your additional comments reminded me of something a five-year old would say.

Answer 4

Strange what some call "bashing"? This is an "open" forum where people from all walks of life can FREELY state whatever their "opinion" is. It is difficult to get ANY group of people to totally agree on ANY subject, let alone religious beliefs. If you do not approve of what someone is saying then the "correct" response here would be give them a "thumbs down". Simple, eloquent and easy. All people have a right to their belief systems, and to express that belief, but in so doing you are going to absolutely come up against opposition. It is the way of our sinful nature. But to call it "bashing"??....Nahhh...I just see it as expressing opinions which I consider VALUABLE in many ways!

Answer 5

What they're doing in Sudan doesn't encompass all of Islam. We tend to forget also that Christians are still executed Muslims in the Former Soviet Union just for the crime of being Muslim.

Eggnogstics haven't been bashed in a few days. I'm up for it.

Answer 6

Yogini...I couldn't agree more. Bashing is useless and counter-constructive. I'm impressed with your knowledge regarding world affairs. I find it too depressing to keep up with the horrors of the world, so thanks for doing it in my stead. We can't overlook the media that stirs up storms of diversion to take our attention away from the larger indecencies that are perpretated by the power mongers around the world. We are one humanity sharing a worldly experience. That "other" is ourselves; more compassion and useful input would add to a better experience for all. I bow to your loving heart. Blessed be... I am Sirius

Answer 7

We are not 'bashing'. That implies we are being irrational and critical just for the sheer hell of it. What we are doing is protesting - and quite rightly. If ANY other religion was inciting this kind of insanity, people would be up in arms. Why is Islam exempt?

Let's keep speaking our minds until the teacher is safe at home in the UK again, how about that? Because even as we debate the topic, there are crowds of livid Muslims in Khartoum screeching for the teacher to be killed, and wielding clubs and knives.

Answer 8

No bashing I agree Sudan is a backwards place they should just deport this woman and be done with this story

Answer 9

Like it or not, it is a Muslim problem, the majority of the problems in the area are caused by fanatical Islam. This is what happens when religious radicals get a little taste of power.

Do you think the genocide in Dufar would be an issue if everyone there was of the same religion? Sure there are tribal conflicts, but for the most part you have Muslim militants doing horrible things in the name of Islam.

Islam is a disease and we desperately need a cure.

Answer 10

You're right! I thought I was in the wrong section - Usually this section is nothing but atheists bashing Christians.