Islamic Terrorism

[I, Brian]

It's funny how everytime a muslim commits a terrorist act it's labelled an act by "Islamic terrorists".

Strange how in Northern Ireland no one talks about "Christian Terrorists". No one called ETA "Christian Terrorists" either.

IMO a big part of the problem is attributing acts of terror by Muslims to their faith is entirely narrow-minded, short-sighted, and utterly utterly unbalanced.

Terror is terror is driven by idealism - but it's not just Islam. Any form of belief - religious or political - is sufficient. That's why we have Maoist ideology violently ripping apart Nepal, and why one big twisted expression of Christianity in Africa travels under the name of the "Lords Army".

[Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine]

I agree, and it's pathetically funny that so many people have forgotten the Kahanichai (I think that was how they spelled their group's name) a group of Jewish people who followed somebody who wanted to exterminate ALL muslims and ANYBODY who disagreed with them. I recall that a couple of Jewish organizations here in Milwaukee hired a security firm to make sure that no Kahanichai members came in to blow up the buildings. *le sigh* How quickly we all forget.

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine

[samabudhi]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

It's funny how everytime a muslim commits a terrorist act it's labelled an act by "Islamic terrorists".

Strange how in Northern Ireland no one talks about "Christian Terrorists". No one called ETA "Christian Terrorists" either.

IMO a big part of the problem is attributing acts of terror by Muslims to their faith is entirely narrow-minded, short-sighted, and utterly utterly unbalanced.

The only thing unbalanced about Muslims Terrorists is that they outnumber any other religiously motivated group by a hundred to one. In their quest for one God and thus one banner to fly under, they have grouped themselves into a stereotype which the West would appreciatively agree with. I agree that one should not make stereotypes, but it is the natural tendency of the dualistic mind. This one gets more media attention though.

[Anzac]

Well if you do read Western newspapers what do you expect? Bad evil Islamic fundamentalist liberal communist terrorists (etc, basically every and any label placed on them, even the dreaded Al Queda).

Just to clarify before I continue: violence isn't the answer and everyone is as bad as one another when it comes to this.

The US and West are villified just as much in the foreign news network, and with justification, as much as the other way round. It's all those writing the news that control not only how it is seen, but what is seen.

Is the US attacking Iraq seen as international terrorism? Is the Pakistan-India conflict groups of terrorists or civil unrest? It varies from news network to network. As a result are opinions become very, very subjective. Even though I am guilty of this, you should always look at a different number of papers from within nations, and then foreign ones to get a larger picture: example.

Recently with six soldier being killed, I have a number of sources with a number of views:

Al-Jazeera: legitimate returning of fire after they entered a settlement.

Guardian: troops blown up in a mine attack and then the bodies removed.

Mirror: troops shot in an armoured column in an unprovoked response.

The media is very subjective and as such you have to read into things. To me it's all really some form of terrorism, whether it's national, religious, social or anything else. However, each news item has to be observed in it's context to get a larger understanding.

[Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine]

Originally posted by Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine
I agree, and it's pathetically funny that so many people have forgotten the Kahanichai (I think that was how they spelled their group's name) a group of Jewish people who followed somebody who wanted to exterminate ALL muslims and ANYBODY who disagreed with them.

The group is the Kahane Chai, and they still exist, along with their "parent", Kach. I must admit, though, that Israel has officially denounced both groups and the Israeli government does not recognize either group as legitimate.

Another Jewish terrorist group (one that is "legitimate" and far more known) is the Jewish Defense League, or JDL.

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine

[Mus Zibii]

Actually, I only see people bending over backwards to NOT say that. And while its unfair to only identify this particular lot with their religion, it doesn't change the fact that they do indeed use religion as a standard. Unfortunately, for Islam, Jewish and Christian terrorists aren't as successful and abundant as the Islamists.

But yeah, Tim McViegh was quite the Christian terrorist. Birmingham was quite the Christian attack. Ariel Sharon was quite the little Jewish racist psycho in his day. And they're all in the exclusive cult called 'nutjobs'.