The West's Response to Islam and violence......

[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.

[Minimalist]

Judging by the growth of the right-wing parties I would say that clash is getting closer.

[WinterHold]

[ReptilianPeon]

We all know Bush and Blair will not be held accountable for their war crimes. The International Criminal Court will never want to see them. The world is a more dangerous place thanks to Bush and Blair.

I only really go to the BBC for news local to me, by the way, Atlas. Their Syria coverage is so biased. Although their science and technology coverage is good. I hate the way the Western media, in general, is always demonizing the Russians and insulting my intelligence by referring to the United States the 'leader of the free world' whilst billionaires rig the elections and ordinary Americans have their freedoms be taken away in the name of security. And they nowhere near enough criticism of al-Saud and their butt buddies in Qatar and Turkey or the various hospital bombings in recent months. Nobody seems to care about the Geneva Convention anymore.

[abaris]

The International Criminal Court will never want to see them.

It's not the International court's fault. They would want to see them, if someone brought forward an idictment. America never signed up for the court and I highly doubt the UK would extradite Blair.

[ReptilianPeon]

The International Criminal Court will never want to see them.

It's not the International court's fault. They would want to see them, if someone brought forward an idictment. America never signed up for the court and I highly doubt the UK would extradite Blair.

Good point! Completely forgot about that. They really are hypocrites these Americans. The United States hasn't ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Either - now currently the only United Nations member to have not. The United States likes play by different rules to the rest of the world.

[dom.donald]

It's not the International court's fault. They would want to see them, if someone brought forward an idictment. America never signed up for the court and I highly doubt the UK would extradite Blair.

Good point! Completely forgot about that. They really are hypocrites these Americans. The United States hasn't ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Either - now currently the only United Nations member to have not. The United States likes play by different rules to the rest of the world.

The US doesn't do anything that isn't in the interests of the (powerful elite in) US. Americans seem to like that.