Could The Last Seemingly Permissible Prejudice, Islamophobia, Lead To Miscarriages Of Justice?

[sandyRoe]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27970870

[pixie373]

I agree, Jim. That's irrational fear, as it's exaggerated and misplaced. It might be partly due to News reports , but it's still an irrational fear.

[naomi24]

Irrational - until you're on the wrong train. So much for high ideals.

Night all. x

[pixie373]

Naomi, it is prejudice if the fear of being blown to smithereens, has appeared because you believe you're sitting next to a muslim. It's no more fair or rational than any other wild generalisation.

[pixie373]

Every fear is "irrational" until it happens, in that case. It's about assessing the likelihood.

[naomi24]

Pixie, fair? No. Understandable? Yes.

Got to go. Night. x

[sandyRoe]

Night, night. God bless. :-)

[mibn2cweus]

These days one wonders what must be going on in the minds of two Muslim strangers sitting across from each other in a train. Which of the two do you suppose is most likely to be an Islamophobe . . . and which the terrorist?

[modeller]

I wonder if it is Islamophobia or is it something deeper ?
I was arrested twice in Egypt many years ago. They claimed I was an Israeli spy and on another occasion a terrorist. It had nothing to do with Islam.
In reality they were paranoid and my only crime was I was white .
You see a similar pattern much closer to home , a banner is purely a symbol to cover . resentment, envy , greed etc.

[jomifl]

Jim, just for your information..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Semitic_peoples

[ludwig]

It's not the last permissible prejudice sandy, It's been trumped by Islamophobephobia - the irrational dislike or fear of people who dislike or fear fear Islam.

[jim360]

I'm not claiming to have high ideals. I'm sure I've mentioned before on this site that one time I was on a bus, probably a few weeks after 7/7, and some man who looked Muslim got on and my first thought was indeed "crap, he's got a bomb and I'm dead". So I do understand the reaction and I still know that it's irrational. That man, like almost everyone else, never has had and never will have the intention of blowing himself up along with those around him. To assume otherwise can't be defended as sensible fear but is unreasonable prejudice.

For all the coverage that terrorism gets we've had very few (successful) attacks on these shores. A certain level of vigilance is obviously vital but if it gets to the point that you are automatically assuming that your life is in danger every time you are near to a Muslim then it's gone beyond the rational and into paranoia, and that is far more damaging than the attacks themselves.

But the larger point is that this is nothing new. Sadly it doesn't take much for people to turn against and fear each other. We've seen that again and again in history. The Islamic brand of terrorism is only the latest example, and it won't be the last.

[ludwig]

As long as people are going around committing attrocities in the name of 'something' whether it be Islam, white supremacy, or Freedom for Tooting, it's entirely understandable that people are going to be wary of anyone else who's a follower of the same 'something'.

In answer to the question, yes, there's the possibility that will lead to miscarriages of justice, but you can blame the terrorists for that as far as I'm concerned.

[jomifl]

One of Islam's problems is that it doesn't have a head honcho similar to the pope so the only statements by representatives of Islam are from extremists whose PR depts. appears only to issue fatwas. If there was a head honcho who could issue fatwas against the extremists or even just condemned their statements let alone actions then people might view muslims more favourably. As it is the 'religion of peace' cannot even stop killing it's own followers so it has a long way to go in the eyes of many.

[naomi24]

//As it is the 'religion of peace' cannot even stop killing it's own followers //

There's a message there somewhere. They've not really got this sussed, have they. ;o)

[sandyRoe]

But that's not solely an Islamic failing. There have been Christians armies killing each other for a very long time.

[Svejk]

cant remember the Methodists,say, attacking the Anglicans but coming together to slaughter the Baptists.

[sandyRoe]

Have you not heard of The Church Militant or The Salvation Army? And I believe that the CoE has a Church Army, too

[birdie1971]

Buenchico - "... [Svejk] - 'no such thing as islamophobia' --> [Buenchico] - ' Somebody had better tell the compilers of the Oxford English Dictionary then!'"

You're absolutely right - someone should tell the Oxford English Dictionary guys and girls that they should be adding a caveat to their description of the 'condition' of Islamophobe which states that it not 'phobic' to dislike, fear and hate the teachings of Islam if one understands it and has made an informed choice to reject it.

Make no mistake, this is no laughing matter. The fact that the term "Islamophobia" exists should be extremely worrying to all people who are not Islamic. It should fill them with dread that there exists a word that suggests to dislike or to fear Islamic teachings is some kind of mental illness.

[sandyRoe]

Some would say that the Jew has had an unhealthy influence on the Western World. If such people had made a study of their prejudice would it be acceptable?

[Svejk]

letter from a Muslim to the Times last week;
' I am a Canadian Muslim living in London who has attended various mosques across the city for prayers.
I am often incredulous at the vitriol spewed out in the name of Islam. Some imams and mosque leaders promulgate their intolerant, misogynistic, anti-western philosophy to young, insecure and impressionable Muslims to fulfil their Wahhabi-Salafi agendas.'
It goes on at some length in a similar vein but I'm copying it with 1 finger. Food for thought, perhaps, for those that think Islam is just another happy-clappy religion subverted by a few hot-heads or maligned by 'bigots' like myself.