Some discussion points

[Dulcinea]

In addition to Raven's suggestions, I recommend tolerance.org. It is the most excellent web project of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

[Raven Soul]

The problem I have is that most people are ignorant to the facts. With every Muslim waging Jihad, there are fanatical Christians. For every Muslim we have lopping off the heads of our American brethren, we have Christians blowing up abortion clinics. For every bomb that blows up because of a Muslim, we have Christians blowing up places in Oklahoma and Atlanta and other various areas around the world. For every western business destroyed because of a cartoon, we have churches being burned down in Alabama. For Muslims that kill woman and children, we have our own people here killing their own woman and children.

Islam is no different then every other religion. Some are very strict to their own observances, however it states in the Koran that “treat everyone as I would treat myself”. While the vast majority believes in this mentality, just like religions around, people will take things to the extreme in the name of religion. People have been doing this for centuries, not only Muslims, but every religion. Whether it was the Crusades, The Salem Witch Trials, the troubles in Northern Ireland, which are partly rooted in Catholic/Protestant differences, the Rwanda genocide which was mainly between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority or the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina was among three different faith groups, Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Serbian Orthodox. There are fanatics in every religion and it is unfair and uncalled for to base the vast majority of Islam into the few that are maniacs.

My problem is the amount of hate being generated on this board and then it to be called fact. Since we left Cincinnati.com because of the racist tripe being lashed about white people, I find it funny we are the ones that are now calling for genocide and the end of an entire religion, based solely on the actions of the few. Gary’s racism is a severe injustice because it imposes a stereotype on millions of innocent individuals. Even if 100,000,000 Muslims believed in the ideology of the jihad against the West, that would still leave 1,500,000,000 that do not believe in the jihad in the world today.

I appreciate the link Gae and that is something I am going to have to read over the next couple of days. I also appreciate the supporting words on my posts, I really do apprecaite it!

[Piña]

[quote]Originally posted by gae:

I really get lost, though, when people of Pina's persuasion tell me that I should be understanding and compassionate.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pi?a's persuasion? Which particular "persuasion" might that be?

As to the understanding, in the context of your comment, and compassionate claim, where in this argument have I asked anyone to be either?

This is not about compassion. It is about seeing people as people and not just some convienent stereotypical characterization.

It is about not condemning an entire class of people for the actions of a few.

It is about realizing that if we are to counter the actions of those who hate us that we need to see them for all thier characteristics and associations. That seeing them as just Islamic and neglecting to consider that they share many of the same traits that we consider honorable and good will only lead to continued misunderstanding and conflict.

We need to see them as people with as much diversity within thier religion as their is among any other belief.

The American's aren't the one's beheading people on TV. We aren't the one's sending suicide bombers into shopping areas. We're not flying airplanes into buildings.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Most Muslims aren't the one's beheading people on TV.

Most Muslims aren't the one's sending suicide bombers into shopping areas.

Most Muslims aren't flying airplanes into buildings.

And if we want it to stay that most Muslims don't intend us harm maybe we need to start trying to understand what they are actually about instead of taking the intellectually lazy path and thinking they're all one and the same.

[travelinman]

Beirut sorry for Danish mission attack

Lebanon has apologised to Denmark after thousands of rampaging Muslim demonstrators set fire to its diplomatic mission in Beirut in the most violent of worldwide Muslim rage over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

Ghazi Aridi, the information minister, said early on Monday, after a late Sunday emergency cabinet meeting, that the government had unanimously "rejected and condemned the acts of riots ... that harmed Lebanon's reputation and its civilised image and the noble aim of the demonstration".

"The cabinet apologises to Denmark," Aridi said.

The interior minister, who is responsible for the police force that failed to stop the protesters, submitted his resignation at the session.

The parliamentary opposition and even some cabinet colleagues of Hassan Sabeh, the interior minister, had demanded he step down, but the government appeared divided, saying it only "took note" of the resignation offer.

The government also called for a speedy investigation.

Furious crowds

Almost 30 people were injured as furious crowds on Sunday stormed and set ablaze the building housing the Danish consulate, despite the presence of riot police who had initially used tear gas and batons to keep protesters at bay.

"I submitted my resignation to the government after criticisms were raised," Sabeh said after the cabinet meeting on Sunday.

Rioters trashed the Danish
consulate and set it on fire

He said he had refused to give security forces the order to fire on the protesters because "I did not want to be responsible for any carnage.

"Despite the intervention of more than 1000 members of the security forces, we were unable to impose order because of the determination of the protesters, who numbered several thousands."

source

[travelinman]

[travelinman]

Cleric Announces $1M Bounty on Cartoonist
Feb 17 4:37 PM US/Eastern

By RIAZ KHAN
Associated Press Writer

PESHAWAR, Pakistan

A Pakistani cleric announced a $1 million bounty for killing a cartoonist who drew the Prophet Muhammad as thousands joined street protests after Friday prayers.

Denmark, which first published the cartoons, temporarily closed its embassy and advised its citizens to leave Pakistan.

Prayer leader Mohammed Yousaf Qureshi announced the bounty for killing a cartoonist to about 1,000 people outside the historic Mohabat Khan mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

He said the mosque and the Jamia Ashrafia religious school he leads would give a $25,000 reward and a car for killing the cartoonist who drew the prophet caricatures _ considered blasphemous by Muslims. He said a local jewelers' association would also give $1 million, but no representative of the association was available to confirm the offer.

source

[travelinman]

In Libya, 11 reportedly die in cartoon protests

Saturday, February 18, 2006; Posted: 3:39 p.m. EST (20:39 GMT)

Manage Alerts | What Is This? (CNN) -- Eleven people were killed and an Italian consulate was burned in Libya on Friday night during protests to denounce the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed, sources in Libya said.


A car burns outside of an Italian consulate that was set on fire in Libya

[travelinman]

By NJADVARA MUSA, Associated Press Writer

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria - Nigerian Muslims protesting caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad attacked Christians and burned churches on Saturday, killing at least 15 people in the deadliest confrontation yet in the whirlwind of Muslim anger over the drawings.

It was the first major protest to erupt over the issue in Africa's most populous nation. An Associated Press reporter saw mobs of Muslim protesters swarm through the city center with machetes, sticks and iron rods. One group threw a tire around a man, poured gas on him and set him ablaze.

[travelinman]

A veiled Muslim protester, holding a placard, marches towards the Danish embassy during a demonstration in London.



Pakistan protesters burn Danish and other flags in Lahore, Pakistan.



Armed Palestinian gunmen of the radical Islamic militant group Asbat al-Ansar protest in Sidon, Lebanon.



Angry demonstrators set fire to the Danish embassy in Damascus.

[travelinman]

Palestinian Hamas supporters burn a Danish flag during a demonstration in the Gaza Strip.



Palestinian men draw a Danish flag with a swastika, a Star of David and a cross on the ground during a protest.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ February 19, 2006 06:22 AM: Message edited by: travelinman ]</font>