RE: The West's Response to Islam and violence......
May 17, 2016 at 11:19 pm
(This post was last modified: May 17, 2016 at 11:26 pm by dom.donald.)
I have been trying to avoid anything about the US election in the media, but I did catch a programme about it last night. I was shocked to hear Trump getting cheers for saying he's going to use carpet bombing to get rid of the Muslim threat. I was also shocked to see Cruz sharing the platform with, and shaking the hand of, an evangelical preacher who wasn't ashamed to say homosexuals should be killed.
I am at a loss though. I can't see how rational discourse can solve a problem where one party / group has set aside reality. Religious folks have invested so much of their lives and resources into their faith, and they *know* they are right and therefore can't be swayed. They know what their prophet(s) command(s )them to do, whether they choose (or have the balls) to act on it or not. So even 'moderates' (hate that term) will not turn on the 'extremists' (hate that term).
I can't see how government supported assassinations can help, drones, or any other military action. I can't imagine how walls can help, or how immigration restrictions can be imposed. Israel's grab and squeeze on resources is inhumane, for example, regardless of the reasons.
I think the UK will sleep walk into being the first European Muslim country (first ever Muslim Mayor of London? - is he a 'real' Muslim though?), and won't realise that the idea of multi-culturalism is not a liberal concept shared by the Islam.
Perhaps it will end up with a 'clash of civilisations'. At some point you have to confront intolerance and dangerous ideas. I just don't know how.
I am at a loss though. I can't see how rational discourse can solve a problem where one party / group has set aside reality. Religious folks have invested so much of their lives and resources into their faith, and they *know* they are right and therefore can't be swayed. They know what their prophet(s) command(s )them to do, whether they choose (or have the balls) to act on it or not. So even 'moderates' (hate that term) will not turn on the 'extremists' (hate that term).
I can't see how government supported assassinations can help, drones, or any other military action. I can't imagine how walls can help, or how immigration restrictions can be imposed. Israel's grab and squeeze on resources is inhumane, for example, regardless of the reasons.
I think the UK will sleep walk into being the first European Muslim country (first ever Muslim Mayor of London? - is he a 'real' Muslim though?), and won't realise that the idea of multi-culturalism is not a liberal concept shared by the Islam.
Perhaps it will end up with a 'clash of civilisations'. At some point you have to confront intolerance and dangerous ideas. I just don't know how.
