Islam seen as a Threat

[dcentity2000]

Many feel threatened by Islam: poll

Press Association
Friday August 25, 2006 1:18 AM

Most people in the UK feel threatened by Islam, a poll has revealed, after the Government launched a bid to tackle inter-faith tensions.

The YouGov survey for the Daily Telegraph found 53% were concerned about the impact of the religion - not just fundamentalist elements - up 21% from 2001.

There had also been a near doubling of the number agreeing that "a large proportion of British Muslims feel no sense of loyalty to this country and are prepared to condone or even carry out acts of terrorism".

A total of 18% backed the statement - compared with just one in 10 in the wake of the terrorist bombings in London last July.

And there was a seven point slump - to 16% - in those believing "practically all British Muslims are peaceful, law-abiding citizens who deplore terrorist acts as much as anyone else".

Source and full story: Guardian Newspaper (left leaning)

I find this a little unsettling and more than a bit sad



Rich::

 

[noodleknitter]

I agree, that is truly sad.

 

[Pugdog007]

It is sad... but I can understand why they feel that way.

 

[Galahad]

I think it is objectively legitimate to make the assertion (not that the assertion is true, just that it seems reasonable to make it) that seeing Islam as a threat now is similar to seeing Christianity as a threat during the time of the Crusades and the like. We would be quite understanding of a population who felt this way about Christianity at that time and we wouldn't think they were hatemongers for doing so.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I think it is objectively legitimate to make the assertion (not that the assertion is true, just that it seems reasonable to make it) that seeing Islam as a threat now is similar to seeing Christianity as a threat during the time of the Crusades and the like. We would be quite understanding of a population who felt this way about Christianity at that time and we wouldn't think they were hatemongers for doing so.

During the time of the Crusades?
How about TODAY!

Would like for ALL religions to butt out of MY life.
i.e; In America keep your theocracy outta MY democracy

 

[Galahad]

During the time of the Crusades?
How about TODAY!

Would like for ALL religions to butt out of MY life.
i.e; In America keep your theocracy outta MY democracy

Take a breath now.........

 

[Carl]

I'm afraid of Islam today, but not Christianity (except the Jim Jones types.)

 

[GeorgeG]

Now we're actually getting closer to hitting the nail on the head. problem is, how do we go about sorting the bad Muslims from the good ones and then, what do we do about it?

The reference to the Crusades is a good one. People have been killing other people over religious beliefs for centuries and now just happens to be the Muslims' turn.

 

[mrsltg]

I think it is objectively legitimate to make the assertion (not that the assertion is true, just that it seems reasonable to make it) that seeing Islam as a threat now is similar to seeing Christianity as a threat during the time of the Crusades and the like. We would be quite understanding of a population who felt this way about Christianity at that time and we wouldn't think they were hatemongers for doing so.

I agree with you. I also think in this age of PC anyone admitting to a "fear" of anyone non-white is considered close-minded or hateful. I'm not fond of the fanatics and I think the religion does little to help itself from a PR standpoint.

 

[Disney Doll]

Wow!! This became a religious debate pretty quickly.

I have said it before and I'll say it again....

If the majority(please notice that I did not say "all"...so let's not go off on that tangent!) of terrorist acts in the last 20 years had been committed by chubby, middle-aged women with salt & pepper hair, I would expect people to profile me, be afraid of me and not trust me.

It may not be "PC", it may not be "right", it may not be "fair" but it is reality.

 

[Holly]

That article merely illustrates how ignorant most people are about Muslims and Islam.

There are what? 1.4 BILLION Muslims in the world?

If most of them were "prepared to condone or even carry out acts of terrorism"- we would be in deep trouble.

I realize that the article was speaking specifically of British Muslims, but it is a world wide issue.

Islam is the second largest religion after Christianity, and it's growing by leaps and bounds (by far the fastest growing religion), while Christianity is actually shrinking.

Originally Posted by Galahad
I think it is objectively legitimate to make the assertion (not that the assertion is true, just that it seems reasonable to make it) that seeing Islam as a threat now is similar to seeing Christianity as a threat during the time of the Crusades and the like. We would be quite understanding of a population who felt this way about Christianity at that time and we wouldn't think they were hatemongers for doing so.

Islam today is nothing like Christianity was during the Crusades.

I'm not fond of the fanatics and I think the religion does little to help itself from a PR standpoint.

Sure, there are extremists in every religion, but they don't represent the collective voice of Islam. It's just that the extremists are the ones speaking the loudest.

Peaceful Muslims around the world are starting to rally. A great organization, the Free Muslims Coalition www.freemuslims.org are trying to spread the word that most Muslims condemn terror.

 

[Holly]

During the time of the Crusades?
How about TODAY!

Would like for ALL religions to butt out of MY life.
i.e; In America keep your theocracy outta MY democracy

Hear! Hear!

I'm going to start stalking you around the boards, Uncle Remus, because your posts always make me smile.

 

[disneyfan67]

This is one of the main reasons why I don't follow any particular in general. Any person who allows themselves to be completly consumed by a religion and basicly become a fanatic, scares me. Humans have done terrible things to each other in the name of their God that they worship, since the begining of man. I'm fearfull of Islam and it's followers not because some of them are from the mideast and some of Arab decent, but because of all the religions out there, Islam seems to be the most violent. I see constant reminders everyday why that religion and it's followers should be watched. I'm not saying all Muslims are bad or violent, but their not the peace loving people that they make themselves out to be. I don't buy into the "Islam is the Religion of Peace" tag line that I hear from it's followers. They have a long way to go before I start trusting them.

I could be killed or beheaded for writing or saying aloud what I think on this very subject by Islamic facists. That alone is a clue on how dangerous that religion is and just ask Salman Rushdie how peacefull it is. He's still has the mark of death on him and will for the rest of his life. If that doesn't wake you up, nothing will.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Verses_(novel)

Below I'm posting a link from our own State Department that lists the major terrorist attacks since 1961. Almost 90 percent or more have been done Islamic extremists and that's a sobering fact. I don't hate the followers of any religion and I believe in their freedom to practice it, but I will keep my eye on any fanatics and be wary of them.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/pubs/fs/5902.htm

 

[goofy's friends]

Wow!! This became a religious debate pretty quickly.

I have said it before and I'll say it again....

If the majority(please notice that I did not say "all"...so let's not go off on that tangent!) of terrorist acts in the last 20 years had been committed by chubby, middle-aged women with salt & pepper hair, I would expect people to profile me, be afraid of me and not trust me.

It may not be "PC", it may not be "right", it may not be "fair" but it is reality.

I agree with this. It is time to profile. It's not PC, it's not the way anyone wants to do it, but it is what needs to be done. Sadly.

 

[cardaway]

This is one of the main reasons why I don't follow any particular in general. Any person who allows themselves to be completly consumed by a religion and basicly become a fanatic, scares me.

Agreed, especially the part about any person. There's plenty of those people in every religion to make people think the same thing about them, but people focus on Islam.

 

[Galahad]

Islam today is nothing like Christianity was during the Crusades.

It is with respect to this particular subject. Both are associated with significant minorities within it that are willing to kill large numbers of people in the name of their religion. Christianity has largely purged itself of that bent. Islam still has not.

 

[Disney Doll]

Agreed, especially the part about any person. There's plenty of those people in every religion to make people think the same thing about them, but people focus on Islam.

Because the majority of terrorist acts have been carried out by Islamic (Muslim) terrorists.

 

[cardaway]

Because the majority of terrorist acts have been carried out by Islamic (Muslim) terrorists.

Really? What religion were the IRA terrorists?

How about the abortion clinic bombers?

Not something that is unique to one religion.

 

[dcentity2000]

Really? What religion were the IRA terrorists?

How about the abortion clinic bombers?

It's an act of violence, not something a religion tells them to do.

Agreed.

Religion is often blamed because it is a useful medium of manipulation - terrorists cite religion as a reason for violence and often (I believe) actually fool themselves into believing it.

Poor devils.



Rich::

 

[goofy's friends]

It's an act of violence, not something a religion tells them to do.

The terrorists claim their religion tells them to be martyrs for Allah. This is THEIR claim.