A disturbing read (funeral, beliefs, minority, catholic, religion)

[Laila]

Young, British Muslims 'getting more radical'


The study found disturbing evidence of young Muslims adopting more fundamentalist beliefs on key social and political issues http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...nmuslims29.xml

"There is clearly a conflict within British Islam between a moderate majority that accepts the norms of British democracy and a growing minority that does not."

[Laila]

The public views are interesting. Any thoughts?

A few thoughts:

1.
Most youth are more 'radical' in political views
than older generations, this usually calms as
people age and develop a deeper, wider
understanding of society.

2.
Many Muslim youths living in Britain are from
more deprived areas of society and so due to
their economic situation feel ignored/neglected
by the state, this fosters a resentment of society
as a whole, this is by no means exclusive to a
particular religion. A feeling of isolation has
always been a powerful tool for extremist views
looking to recruit support.

3.
Many young Muslims living in Britain will have
been the victim of racist abuse in this country,
and unlike their parents (many of whom were
first generation immigrants, thus more accepting
of such prejudices as one of the prices paid for a
life in the West ), are unwilling to accept and
ignore such behaviour. By adopting extremist
religious ideas, these young people are
demonstrating their anger at this treatment from
fellow British citizens.

4.
I went to a Catholic funeral last week and was
shocked by many aggressive phrases and
concepts during the ceremony. The idea that 'all
enemies of the catholic religion must be
destroyed' was repeated several times. If similar
comments had been made by a Muslim cleric
there would be considerable media coverage of
it.

-

The large majority of the views expressed here
strike me as hate filled and aggressive, and paint
a rather depressing picture of white England as
an intolerant and scared society. I feel ashamed
to be a part of it.
Posted by A. Human on January 29, 2007 3:49 PM

[Mavrikmind]

Well as the saying goes....The squeeky wheel gets the grease. If you yell loud enough for long enough, things happen.

[Sunstone]

It's my impression that European countries in general have a tougher time assimilating Muslims than does the US. But a failure to assimilate a population that lives among you -- a failure to bring them into mainstream society as full citizens -- is bound to lead to trouble.

[Laila]

More points.

My wife is a foreigner and I have many friends who are from different races. I have no problems with any race coming to Britain through a sensible immigration policy, while working, paying their taxes and not causing us any trouble.

But like many Britons I have had enough of allowing these ranting clerics and radicals stirring up trouble here. If they don’t like Britain then shove off back to an Islamic country. It is my democratic right to say that I don’t want Sharia Law here in any form.

I look forward to the shock waves that will shortly ripple through Westminster when many Britons finally make a stand against all this nonsense by voting BNP.

Posted by Colin Setterfield on January 29, 2007 3:05 PM

First of all I would like to say that Islam is being hijacked by extermeets who know nothing about its true meaning. No-where in the Quran does it say that we should kill innocent people, but it discourages this. Islam is a religion of peace and tranquility. Inn relation to the comments made by D Haslam I would like to say that Islam does not discourage us from associating with non-muslims, but does not want us to be influenced acts which we see as sinful such as drinking and taking drugs etc.
Posted by Aisha on January 29, 2007 2:08 PM

[Laila]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

It's my impression that European countries in general have a tougher time assimilating Muslims than does the US. But a failure to assimilate a population that lives among you -- a failure to bring them into mainstream society as full citizens -- is bound to lead to trouble.

You've made a good point Sunstone, in my opinion the blame is on both parties.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Laila

You've made a good point Sunstone, in my opinion the blame is on both parties.

Thank you, Laila. I too see blame on both sides.

Specifically, it seems absurd, petty, and even malicious to regard as "foreigners" people who were born into the society they live in. These children of immigrants should be embraced as full citizens and given the opportunities anyone else is given in Britain.

Again, it seems childish to me to adopt a destructive and violent fundamentalism just because society is being idiotic. The more productive course would be, IMHO, to do what Martin Luther King did and find ways to change society through non-violence.

Maybe what Britain needs right now is a Ghandi or Martin Luther King.

[Djamila]

I think the British, though, have let this go on for far too long. I'd love to see them try to stage a similar "kill those who insult Islam" protest in Bosnia, or Albania, or Turkey.

I think Britons would be shocked at how quickly, and violently, such a protest would be beaten down.

[!Fluffy!]

The sign in that picture says a lot.

What would happen to me if I carried a sign that said "Massacre Those Who Insult Christianity", or "Massacre Those Who Insult Democracy". In public. In a Muslim country.

"Insult Islam"??? IMO, those who express divisive, anti-social views and engage in violent rhetoric haven't yet been subjected to sufficient mockery. Yes, it's true: marginalization has always been polite society's strongest form of censure (short of incarceration).

It's a shame more moderate Muslims haven't taken over the microphone yet, but I suspect they will before all is said and done. They need to be the ones to shine the light of reason on this