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"Why aren't the moderates protesting the violent extremists?"

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posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 08:36 AM
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I'm sure all of us are aware of the violent imagery that Islam and Muslims are constantly associated with - the smoking towers, masked men with AKs, car bombings, suicide vests and so on. We see it all the time on mainstream news, publications and websites. We have all seen intense discussions about violence committed by people with Muslim names, in which the question arises as to why regular Muslims aren't protesting Muslim violence. I have seen some go so far as to make the absurd claim that the moderates don't exist or are apathetic to violence or are complicit with the actions of the violent extremists. Like as if regular Muslims, who's primary concerns are of family and career (like anybody else), are supposed to drop everything and go out and protest every time Muslims make the news for all the wrong reasons. For now, lets leave out the examples of Muslims fighting terrorists themselves, and helping the US track down and kill its most wanted terrorist. That's a different topic altogether.

It seems to be a common habit to point fingers at regular Muslims for the actions of extremists, for the sole reason that they both happen to follow the same religion. But is this kind of thinking applied to all religions equally? To illustrate, we could take the examples of African children suspected of being witches, who have had acid forced down their throats as an "exorcism". We could also take the cases of older people, in Africa again, who have been severely beaten and burned alive for allegedly practicing witchcraft. For good measure we could also repeatedly quote Leviticus 20:27 (and plenty of other verses) so as to establish that such killings and torture are perfectly in line with what the Bible calls for, and thereby concluding that Christianity, as a religion, is inherently barbaric. While we are at it, lets pretend the billion plus regular Christians who do not engage in violence are non-existent. This way, we can concentrate on holding a magnifying glass on the savagery perpetrated by a small minority who also happen to be Christian. This way, Christians can be successfully portrayed as a backwards, savage and superstitious group of people. Of course, all of this has to be done in a manner similar to how the billion-plus normal Muslims have been swept under the carpet, while only the violent ones are showcased.

One could then ask regular Christians, why they aren't protesting the violence perpetrated by the fundamentalists among them. It could be stated that the lack of Christians protesting Christian savagery implies that they are apathetic or that they are in league with the whackos guilty of torture and killing. Something that I have observed is that in most cases, regular Christians distance themselves and their religious beliefs from the fundamentalist whackos in some way or the other. Yet, when it comes to Islam, a lot of them have no qualms clubbing in regular Muslims and Islam with the terrorists. It seems their sense of discernment only works in special cases, when their religion is being scrutinized.

Ultimately, the truth is that a witch burning lynch mob can be jut as easily be made to represent Christianity, as a suicide bomber has been made to represent Islam. It only depends on what one is inclined to focus on. But of course, highlighting the negatives to conclude a certain religion is barbaric only reveals a biased mindset. Common sense, when applied, shows that religiously motivated violence is not exclusively rooted in religion, but rather an unfortunate by-product of multiple overlapping factors such as low living standards, lack of education, political unrest, civil conflict, war, ethnic divides and so on. Religion is a factor,yes... but only a small one but it would be foolish to blame an entire religon for the acts of savagery perpetrated by a few. There is a good reason why Christians in the West aren't pouring acid down their kids throats. Its also happens to be the same reason why Muslims aren't planting roadside bombs in countries like Malaysia and Qatar. We see that such barbarism almost always occurs in cultures living in third world countries plagued by poverty and illiteracy / torn by conflict or both. Not in cultures where people have education, decent living standards and regional stability.

In the end, it only makes sense to factor in economical, political and social factors while assessing a report of a so called "religiously" motivated act of barbarism. Blaming it on the religion is lazy and seriously lacking in critical thinking. Accusing the regular Christians and Muslims of not doing enough to stop violence is stupid beyond words, as neither of us are in any position to be able to control the extremists.


Links
African Children Denounced As "Witches" By Christian Pastors

Should Witch-Hunter Helen Ukpabio be Allowed to Visit America?

Nigeria witch children find refuge at center

Video of suspected witches being burned alive
(Extreme violence. Watch at your own risk. Mods please remove this link if it violates any T&Cs)



edit on 8-7-2013 by sk0rpi0n because: (no reason given)



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 09:20 AM
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They seem to have no problem rallying together in unison world wide in protest should they feel sleighted...

but not to condemn people using their religion to perpetrate evil?

you seem to ignore that.



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 09:29 AM
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reply to post by winofiend
 



They seem to have no problem rallying together in unison world wide in protest should they feel sleighted...

but not to condemn people using their religion to perpetrate evil?

you seem to ignore that.


It appears that way to you because Muslims who condemn terrorists simply don't get as much air time as the terrorists.

For example, during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, I recall Muslim groups immediately condemned the attacks, with some demanding that the execution of the terrorist who was captured. But of course, such stories aren't as exciting or newsworthy as the terrorist attack itself so it becomes sidelined.

And then we have people who believe what they want to believe.



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 09:47 AM
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Originally posted by winofiend
They seem to have no problem rallying together in unison world wide in protest should they feel sleighted...

but not to condemn people using their religion to perpetrate evil?

you seem to ignore that.


Can you provide links or pics showing this protest? Seeing almost two billion people protesting should be something to see.



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 10:13 AM
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Sorry about the poor quality, but this is why moderates tend to stay quiet:



Unfortunately, it usually takes something like this wake everyone up.



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 10:27 AM
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West looks at Middle East: Burning cars, tires, angry mobs, beheading, explosion.


Middle East looking at West: Jerry springer, Strip Clubs, Nude beach. McDonalds.



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 10:57 AM
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reply to post by sk0rpi0n
 


Your right in what you say, both in the Syrian war & now Egypt the BBC are only reporting what the Muslim Brother are being hurt on, the other side like the Army and people who did not want a Muslim extream government are not being heard, the BBC are always on terror group side, I think so many terrorists work in the BBC today they are swaying our news reports since 2005, out of the BBC staff numbers 68% are not British now.



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 11:07 AM
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reply to post by winofiend
 


but not to condemn people using their religion to perpetrate evil?

They don't use religion, they use AK 47s.

If they had mechanized infantry divisions with tanks and air support, they could just roll over everything and crunch it into little pieces.

But they don't. In guerrilla warfare scant resources mean maximum effect can only be achieved by attacking targets that are sure to provoke as large a response as possible.

So blow up a school and burn the children alive whilst claiming to do it in the name of god.

"That ought to get 'em upset."

You'd think people forgot Colonel Kurtz's diatribe in Apocalypse Now about the pile of "little arms".

Edit to add:
Thanks Skorpian for bringing those links. The one about the witch hunter from Nigeria coming to America (Texas of all places) was the scariest thing I've read today.


Despite these claims of “exaggeration”, Nigeria has since outlawed accusing a child of witchcraft. A law challenged by Ukpabio, who tried to sue the Akwa Ibom state government, local police, and relief charities for damages and an exemption from the law. Failing in that initiative, her followers have used the press to attack the organizations that seek to help children accused of witchcraft. As the New York Times so aptly puts it: “In the name of religious freedom, Ms. Ukpabio seeks a gag order on anyone who disagrees with her.” Now she seeks to return to America again, to no doubt rake in donations from her American followers and admirers.

Helen Ukpabio

edit on 8-7-2013 by intrptr because: link



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 11:53 AM
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Today as in 1925, religious fundamentalists are trying to control education in places all over the world.

The Taliban is famous for attacking girls’ schools; in the years they ruled Afghanistan, they forbade female education completely. In the uproar last year after the attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani Taliban said they opposed only “secular” education, but last week they blew up a school bus full of girls in Quetta, pursuing survivors of the first suicide attack with a second attack on the hospital where they were taken.

And even secular education in Pakistan is not all that secular; both public and private schools are required to use a state curriculum for Islamic studies and Pakistani history which has been described as teaching “a narrow interpretation of Islam that encourages religious intolerance and extremism through negative references to Pakistan’s minorities (religious and other).”
www.alternet.org...

So, Sk0rp, are the Pakis "regular Muslims"? They are teaching their kids the intolerance and extremism we see!!

Who are their 'teachers'? Do you not see how this has to be STOPPED from spreading? The children??!!! REALLY??? And many of us have seen Hamas schools for little tykes - dressing them in fatigues, giving them toy 'AKs', teaching them to say "death to Israel!"

That's not regular Muslims?

I get what you're trying to say, and in the West, it is undoubtedly true. But in the Muslim world, it isn't.



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 12:08 PM
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reply to post by wildtimes
 



Thanks for chipping in.

I had YOU in mind when I made this thread. Thanks for proving my point.



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 12:37 PM
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reply to post by wildtimes
 




The children??!!! REALLY??? And many of us have seen Hamas schools for little tykes - dressing them in fatigues, giving them toy 'AKs', teaching them to say "death to Israel!"







Are Americans really giving their kids REAL guns?
Does this mean Americans teach their kids to shoot people?


Seriously, as a non-American who has never held a real gun... those pictures of kids with guns, are sending chills down my spine.



edit on 8-7-2013 by sk0rpi0n because: (no reason given)



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 12:42 PM
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reply to post by sk0rpi0n
 
Oh, so this thread is "bait"? Well done. I'm going to make a thread using the link I posted in your thread here tomorrow. FUNDAMENTALISTS are everywhere - and they are ALL dangerous.


Are Americans really giving their kids REAL guns?
Does this mean Americans teach their kids to shoot people?


I have repeatedly spoken against Americans promoting extremism and violence, and you know it, Sk0rpion.

Done here.



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 12:54 PM
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reply to post by sk0rpi0n
 



Seriously, as a non-American who has never held a real gun... those pictures of kids with guns, are sending chills down my spine.


Kinda reminds me of the Footloose theme. Just because you don't do it, doesn't mean it can't be done right.



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 01:19 PM
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reply to post by sk0rpi0n
 


How about you try me on for size? You really don't want my honest
opinion of islam!



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 01:35 PM
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reply to post by sk0rpi0n
 


You have provided proof of what can happen when guns are not properly
secured in a home with young children present.There is still a big difference
between the two scenarios!



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 02:19 PM
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Originally posted by sk0rpi0n
One could then ask regular Christians, why they aren't protesting the violence perpetrated by the fundamentalists among them.

If fundamentalist Christians get together and start flying airplanes into buildings in God's name or if they start shooting little girls in the head in Gods name simply because they want to go to school .. I'll go protest them.

edit on 7/8/2013 by FlyersFan because: (no reason given)



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 09:03 PM
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reply to post by FlyersFan
 



If fundamentalist Christians get together and start flying airplanes into buildings in God's name or if they start shooting little girls in the head in Gods name simply because they want to go to school .. I'll go protest them.

I guess fundamentalist Christians who pour acid down kids throats and lynch / burn old people suspected of being witches.... aren't barbaric enough for you to protest.

This basically proves the point I made about Christian double standards in the OP, which you have obviously not read.

edit on 8-7-2013 by sk0rpi0n because: (no reason given)



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 09:47 PM
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reply to post by sk0rpi0n
 


Exactly which century are you talking about? I don't know of any recent news
of witch burnings.Do you really want to talk about acid being used on people?
I can provide lots of links of middle eastern girls and women who have been
victims of acid attacks.The people that threw the acid on them were not christians.



posted on Jul, 8 2013 @ 11:52 PM
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reply to post by mamabeth
 



Exactly which century are you talking about? I don't know of any recent news of witch burnings..


Click on the links I posted in the OP. Those are all recent events. Carried out by Christians.




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