We hear words from a handful of leaders, but there's something missing. We need to see rally's around the world protesting not just the Weat but these extremists. We need to see a battle for what Islam represents. Ultimately, it is Muslims who control the perception of their faith. Not anyone else is responsible.
This is true to some degree but not really.. We are in an environment right now where no matter what you see or hear to represent the moderate Islamic view, there is always going to be a huge bias against muslims. We are continually barraged with this media pic of how muslims are terrorists, and thankfully some people can realize that not ALL muslims are terrorists. I dont understand how or what you expect muslim people to do to gain a better worldwide perception. While most muslims dont agree with terrorist actions or the harming of civilians that doesnt mean that they like the US or Israel. While they dont want to see planes being hijacked and random bombing of civilian areas, i wager that most wouldnt mind seeing Israel and the US given an ass whooping for the all the stuff that they have dealt with, that just doesnt get publicity.
Muslims are not protrayed as terrorists...it's just that Muslims are committing most of the terrorist attacks so the media covers it. If anything, it's Bush who is labeling Muslims terrorists by referring to the insurgency in Lebanon and Iraq as such. But Al Qaeda is very much a terrorist group. No questions asked. And it is Al Qaeda that really started linking Islam with terrorism. The only way to fight this perception amongst the common gentry of the world is to have another example of Islam - one so powerful that it makes people step back and say "There is a war in Islam right now - the extremists versus the rest". But we don't see that. What we see is the moderates mostly on the sidelines...what we see is Muslims cheering on the terrorists. Oh, maybe they are justified in their anger....but so what - the result is that the perception of Islam as promoting violence stregthens. This is the reality of humankind my friend. This is how human perceptions are created. You can blame the media. You can blame bush. You can blame ignorance. But at the end, it doesn't matter - the perception is forming - and that is the troubling fact. You say what can Muslims do? I say, if Muslims can not do anything, then they are doomed to face greater predjudice in soceity. That is the sad reality of the situation. Is it right? No. Does being right matter? No. Perception is everything. Reality means nothing. The terrorists are winning, Islam is losing.
The terrorists are achiving there goals. Division, hate and fear amongst the civiliazed world. it's a crying shame, but it's the reality. were doing exactly does backward animals want.
Then start turning the tide...better to fight in vain then to not fight at all...so long as you aren't going to kill anyone
It Starts With Moderate Moslims callingout the fascits in there societies? Thus far, how many moslim imams or other religious leaderships in our communities start speaking out against fanatics. thus far, i havent seen many.
It starts with Moderate muslims protesting the extreme interpretation of Islam. It starts with moderates having the strength to walk the Arab streets and decry what is happening to their religion. It starts by islamic artists creating art that castigates those who would justify violence in the name of Islam. It starts by Muslim authors writing books. It starts by Muslims organizing and creating groups to counter Hezbelloh and Hamas - groups that stand for the opposite of them. There's a lot that can be done.
My Point exactly. thus far, all i see is moslim leaderships in the Midd-east blaming all there problems on Isreal. they gotta start cracking down on fascits and hardliners....
I've held the notion that we're headed for an Orwellian future, but I never thought that normally intelligent citizens would be the first to willingly hand oppressive powers to the government. Those passengers are almost begging their government to do something nasty to innocent people who sound differently. This is the tip of the iceberg.
It is a true test of our society and how far it's come in discrimination and civil rights. Let's see what happens....and when the time comes, who will be willing to stand up (and not just speak out) on behalf of the civil rights for others?
Start changing the perspectives of the people you come in contact with. One person at a time. That's a start.
This is truly ridiculous from top to bottom. If the paranoid Brits don't want to get on the plane, let them go off and take the next flight or whatever. We are not talking about forcing them to ride the same plane with unscreened passengers. The two South Asian men are not on the no-fly list, and they were checked just like everybody else before boarding the plane, so were their carry-on baggages. A more convincing approach the British airport security can take is to re-examine the two poor guys from inside out along with their luggages, in front of all the distrustful passengers. If some of the Brits are still hysterical, then the pilot and security should tell them to f*ck off. Excuse me for drawing another comparison here. This is about as bad as, if not worse than, the bigoted whites disallowing blacks to take seats in buses back in the old South. Say what you want to defend the actions of the Brits -- who can blame them for taking precautions for their own safety blah blah blah, hey who can blame those whites in the old South for taking measures against their lives from getting tainted by blacks? This is the same kind of blatant racial discrimination at its worst. The civil rights of two South Asian men have been thoroughly tramped. What more do the fanatically freakish Brits want them to do to demonstrate they are free of flight risks? What's next? Mutiny on other British public transportation -- subway and buses? How 'bout shopping malls and theatres? Sadly ridiculous, or ridiculously sad. I don't know.
You think i havent thus far. my country is currently occupied by the most vicious hardline religious dictaorship on the planet. you think i havent been trying to open the eyes of the westerners about fanatical moslims thus far?..
