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Arab & Muslim countries denounce London bombings

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by DaDakota, Jul 9, 2005.

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  1. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

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    IMO, most of those who would be easy prey for extremists would be converts, because most of them are new to the religion, have little/weak understanding of the core values (how to be/act like a Muslim), and some of them tend to go to extremes just to feel like they are finally "Muslims". We have had Jose Padilla and John Walker Lindh so far, whom in both cases were recent converts.

    However, it's important to understand that the makeup and the nature of Muslims in America is far different from those in Europe, in many aspect really.

    First, most of the Muslims who arrived in Europe were ill-educated, lower class people from Algeria and Morocco, meaning most of them were unskilled labor who arrived to Europe and were taken advantage of as cheap labor. On the other hand, immigrants to the US from the Muslim world are on average very higly educated (college or higher), successful businesmen, and well-educated professionals who tend to be highly concentrated in the health and technology fields (i.e. doctors and engineers). The only subgroup of Muslim Americans that are struggling economically and socially are African-Americans (they make up about 25% of the Muslims in America, most of them are converts or the offspring of converts). On average, a Muslim-American is much more well-off financially than his fellow American (in this aspect, Muslim-Americans are much more comparable to Jewish-Americans as far as their economic status).

    Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, Muslims in Europe tend to be concentrated in specific neighborhoods, some of which are ghettos the equivelant of which we are far too familiar with here in the US. On average, Muslims in Europe are a lot less educated, lot less skilled, and are worst off financially than their fellow Europeans. Their concentration in certain neighborhoods makes it more likely and easier for extremists to lurk around there, prey on young adults who are impressionable and full of discontent for their societies (usually for economic, political reasons, and then it takes on a religious aspect when they are inflamed by extremists who put ideas in their heads).

    In contrast, most Muslims in America are not concentrated in specific neighborhoods (with very few exceptions like in Ann Arbor among few others), and tend to just blend in with the rest of the population at large, much like most other immigrant communities. The only place I know of that tends to have a few more Arabs than usual is Starbucks ;)

    So anyways, just thought I would highlight some of the differences in the Muslim communities in Europe and Muslim-Americans.
     
  2. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Member

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    Thanks for the insights. :)

    As an aside, you hit a good point on mobility and how it affects social class movement. In urban ghettos, there seems to be an entrenchment and negative feedback in class growth. I'm reminded of the Ebonics thread and how some communities can pass that as a primary language. I guess the solution to this and some havens supporting terror is to revitalize their communities. I had a professor who suggested buying up the slums and partitioning out the deeds to the tenants currently living there, like condominiums. The effect would be greater than welfare because the incentive to increase value is self driven, and should they decide to move, they have the assets to so. Just something I wanted to share...

    Anyways, I think the internet, as the article suggests, will increase as a common meeting ground more than local ethnic enclaves that previously sustained extremist views. For the second generation members, I think every youth has had that phase of discontentment and disenfranchisement. It goes beyond religion, as evidenced by the revolutionary and Communist movements generally started by young men around college age. Though those who seek militancy probably range in the extreme minority, the recent bombings in London have shown their potential.

    The internet makes this group (with the converts) extremely deadly once they begin communication with the hardcore militants. The worst case influence would be like a drug community infiltrating affluent upper class suburbs. The face of terror could be changing.
     
  3. thacabbage

    thacabbage Contributing Member

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    Actually, with the recent inclusion of the Nation of Islam to mainstream, almost 50% of Muslims in America are blacks.
     
  4. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

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    Umm...no actually that's not true. Nation of Islam followers are counted among the "Muslims" in America, the tally didn't differentiate between mainstream and otherwise. It only took into consideration those who consider themselves "Muslims".

    Here is a link:

    http://www.allied-media.com/AM/default.htm

    You can click on various links on that site if you want to know more details about, for example, the Arab-American demographics in America, etc.

    BTW, and this is something the vast majority of Americans don't know, the majority of Arab-Americans are NOT Muslims, but rather Christians (mostly from Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt)
     

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