Buddhists being killed in Thailand (mystic, Buddhism, minority, pagan)

[TashaN]

Originally Posted by ChrisP

Truth, I hear what you're saying and I understand there have been experiences that make you feel the way you do, but religion is nearly always a mask and excuse for ethnic and economic assertion.

Well, i don't claim that Muslims are always the best and they never make mistakes. I'm also fully aware of those who use their religion (i.e. Islam) as a mask for political or econmic gain, it's discusting, and within my community, we used to fight their ideas and try to make our community aware of them, not to follow their steps.

What Muslims call for is justice, i know there is no such things nowadays, life is full of allies and benefits, but at least, the common people should know, we are not evil. We are just human beings like you and anyone else. We have dreams, hopes, and visions for the future. What people don't know about us is that we love peace, but if anyone tried to attack us, we have the right to defend us. The recent attack against Muslims and Islam attracted some people to gather some misguided people to do bad stuff but that doesn't mean it has anything to do with Islam, but just with the current political unbelievable situation in the world.

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by The Truth

What Muslims call for is justice, i know there is no such things nowadays,

There has never been any such thing. It's an idea given to us that we will never ever achieve in a balanced and all encompassing sense.

Justice is a rare commodity indeed. Muslims in Thailand are not alone in this sense. Minorities everywhere always feel they are treated in this way, particularly in democracies, where majorities make the rules.

It is a rare occasion when someone from a majority can see through the eyes of someone in a minority, and so rules are made by the majority from THEIR experience, which in some cases steps on the minorities toes inadvertantly.

Situations of this nature are not always knowing discrimnation but simply a completely human inability to perceive and predict every permutation of events arising from a decision!

Especially when the decision effects two cultures with differences in their view of how society works, or a majority that are not necessarily intentionally oblivious to other groups sensitivities.

[vandervalley]

If there are special laws for the budduist si why not for the Muslims?

There are no special laws for buddhists. Its just that Muslims' sharia laws are too extreme and outd ated for most buddists. Dude keep ur own sharia laws to urself. No one wants to get hands cut off because they stole something

[JMoum04]

Originally Posted by The Truth

Not even close.

Really? Can you explain to me then where I'm misunderstanding the situation over there so I can correct myself in the future?

If there are special laws for the budduist si why not for the Muslims?

I think you might have misunderstood me. Muslims in the Thailand have their own seperate court that judges cases based on Islamic laws if they so desire to use it.

Who knows. We will just read about it but what actually happening in there is only known by Allah almighty.

I think that God willing, if we try to educate ourselves enough on the issue, we might come to a pretty understanding of what's going on there. God knows I've been trying to.

[JMoum04]

So, how supportive is Thailand of the Muslims? Well, I've read in many, many books and journals that the government is extremely supportive, but if you can't take my word for it, take someone elses . . .

Thai Muslims enjoy inspirational and financial support from His Majesty the King, who provided money for translating the Koran into Thai. Each year the King or his representative also presides during celebration commemorating the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. Moreover, His Majesty appoints a respected Muslim religious leader as Chularajamontri, or State Counselor for all Islamic affairs. The government also provides funds for building and renovating mosques.

In some southern provinces where the Muslim population is substantial, government-employed Muslims are allowed to leave for important Muslim festivals and allowed to work half-days on Friday, the Muslim holy day. In such provinces family and inheritance cases are judged according to Koranic with a Muslim religious judge, or "kadi", sitting on the bench. In addition, one four months' leave with full salary is also granted to allow an employee to make the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca.

http://www.hellosiam.com/html/thaila...d-religion.htm

[TashaN]

Originally Posted by ChrisP

There has never been any such thing. It's an idea given to us that we will never ever achieve in a balanced and all encompassing sense.

Justice is a rare commodity indeed. Muslims in Thailand are not alone in this sense. Minorities everywhere always feel they are treated in this way, particularly in democracies, where majorities make the rules.

It is a rare occasion when someone from a majority can see through the eyes of someone in a minority, and so rules are made by the majority from THEIR experience, which in some cases steps on the minorities toes inadvertantly.

Situations of this nature are not always knowing discrimnation but simply a completely human inability to perceive and predict every permutation of events arising from a decision!

Especially when the decision effects two cultures with differences in their view of how society works, or a majority that are not necessarily intentionally oblivious to other groups sensitivities.

Indeed, i agree with you in that.

[TashaN]

Originally Posted by vandervalley

There are no special laws for buddhists. Its just that Muslims' sharia laws are too extreme and outd ated for most buddists. Dude keep ur own sharia laws to urself. No one wants to get hands cut off because they stole something

Well, you don't have to live in Muslim countries then. So simple.

Wait, i have got somthing better, DON'T STEAL!

[TashaN]

Originally Posted by jmoum

Really? Can you explain to me then where I'm misunderstanding the situation over there so I can correct myself in the future?

You said:

The Malaysian people also feel like their culture is being threatened, both by Buddhist Missionaries and by the Thai Government which encourages programs that try to create a "unified THAI culture".

I disagree with that because it's known that they have been living together since long time a go. Don't they?

I think you might have misunderstood me. Muslims in the Thailand have their own seperate court that judges cases based on Islamic laws if they so desire to use it.

So what?

Is it strange that they have their own court?

I think that God willing, if we try to educate ourselves enough on the issue, we might come to a pretty understanding of what's going on there. God knows I've been trying to.

Amen.

Originally Posted by jmoum

So, how supportive is Thailand of the Muslims? Well, I've read in many, many books and journals that the government is extremely supportive, but if you can't take my word for it, take someone elses . . .


http://www.hellosiam.com/html/thaila...d-religion.htm

Meaning?

Feed them and then you have the right to persecute them?

Or maybe you mean somthing else !

[JMoum04]

[quote=The Truth]

Originally Posted by jmoum

Really? Can you explain to me then where I'm misunderstanding the situation over there so I can correct myself in the future?

You said:

The Malaysian people also feel like their culture is being threatened, both by Buddhist Missionaries and by the Thai Government which encourages programs that try to create a "unified THAI culture".

I disagree with that because it's known that they have been living together since long time a go. Don't they?

Yes, they have lived together for a very long time, but that doesn't mean new disputes can't arrise, especially when the Southern Province wasn't always officially part of Thailand. Look at me and my sisters for example. When I was younger, we got along very well. Now? We don't even talk anymore.

Part of the problem is that both the Thai and Malay ethnic groups in Thailand are very proud and protective of their heritage and culture, and they should be because both of them are very rich and beautiful cultures. However, the people of Thailand have seen their culture threatened numerious times in the past hundred years or so due to colonialism and influences of western culture.

As a result, much of their culture could easily have been lost in the forseeable future (like a hundred years or so), but to try and prevent that from happening, the government decided to step in. They started to fund programs and universities that tried to preserve and spread Thai culture, especially in the arts. They saw that this was very beneficial to their international image, especially for the sake of tourism, so they decided to take it one step further and promote a unified Thai culture, while practically ignoring the other ethnic cultures in its southern and northern most provinces, and as a result, alienating a lot of people. It's more than likely that When you combine this all with a very strong sense of Thai Nationalism, you can easily see how it become a big mess very quickly.

So what?

Is it strange that they have their own court?

Not at all. What I'm trying to say that the government tries it's very best to support Islam and it's followers by giving them special treatment and even encouraging Muslims to embrace their religion. So if Muslims have it so good in Thailand (on religious grounds), why would they want to lash out? The answer is they wouldn't. But then, they aren't lashing out for religious reasons. They're lashing out for cultural and nationalist reasons. Shortly after Thailand annexed the southern provinces, a separtist movement was formed, and it has existed ever since. It's just that lately, they've been gaining more and more steam and will continue to do so until some kind of compromise can be reached.

[vandervalley]

Wait, i have got somthing better, DON'T STEAL!

What if a kid is caught in school stealing a pencil in a muslim country?

Does that kid get hands cut off?