A Quick Question Regarding the Responses of Criticism of Islam

Okies, a quickie here, can anyone answer this?

Islam is religion. Religion is as defined a belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine; and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions and rituals associated with such belief.

So, why oh why does the first retaliation to any criticism of this belief result in hundreds of flames accusing the person implying the criticism as "racist"?

Islam, as explained before hand, is a belief. You can chose your belief, you have the freedom to make the choice of whether or not to practice it. Unlike race, you cannot change the colour of your skin.

So why is this? Is it down to such a firm belief that all followers of Islam, regardless of colour, all belong to the same population of humans and are physically and biologically different from everyone else?

Or is it simply because they cannot spell "Religious Discrimination" and "Racist" pulls much more of a punch, even though wildly incorrect?

I'm going with the latter

Edit: Sorry, I should have pointed out that this refers to western media in general, not just this website!

[edit on 2/2/2006 by FactoryLad]

Originally posted by FactoryLad
Or is it simply because they cannot spell "Religious Discrimination" and "Racist" pulls much more of a punch, even though wildly incorrect?

I think that is it pretty much. A religion isn't a race.
Phrases like "Jews control America" or "Muslims are the enemy of America" are not racist but they are narrow-mindedness, bigotry, stereotype spreading, and prejudice.
When it comes to Muslims most people imagine a dark skinned person, which in itself is a stereotype as not all Muslims share the same skin color. But some people who believe that "Muslims are the enemy of America" wish to target people with dark skin. This is racism.

Hate is hate.
People should not be treated different just because of skin color or religion.

Nice twist Umbrax, I gues it works either way.

I was actually refering to the "Mohammed Cartoons" and how quite a lot of people have branded them "racist" when they are anything but.

Hating Islam isn't "racist", but it is "bigoted", which is the word I would use to describe someone who attacks the practitioners of a particular religion.

In regards to the "Mohammed" cartoons, the reason so many Muslims got mad is because they see any drawing, statue, video, or any other device that physically represents Mohammed as wrong. The reason is because they want to make it clear that Mohammed was mortal and not divine, and they fear making any representation of Mohammed because it could lead to idol worship or worship of someone other than Allah, and they want to avoid that. I can understand why a Muslim would be upset at such a cartoon, but I don't understand why such a big deal has been made about it, and probably can't understand, since I'm not a muslim.

Thanks for the reply dragon. I'll think I'll stick with the answer that "racist", although incorrect, pulls far much of a punch.

Even though I think the people who do use this term for current events "bloody thick".

I can see why you say you can't understand how muslims feel, as you aren't one. However, if I see someone burn the flag of my country, I get a bit pissed off. I may think "bunch of c*cks", but I won't chant death threats, march and generally make an arse over myself.

Aaaanyway, off topic there. I think I've answered my own question in paragrapgh number 1.

we also need to understand most americans only see the extremisum of Islam. We only see people like Osama, and Al-Zarkawi who represent Islam. Which is no better then Pat Robertson or Jerry Fallwell representing Christianity.

But the basic precipts of Islam seperate themselves from Infidals more so then Jews would do to Gentiles. it is easy to take it one step further and say that Infidals are less human then Muslims. That is where we come up with the greastest crime in all humanity when we come up with a bias or irrational reason to make someone less human