.... The shootings have been described as an act of war. I can understand why some might characterise it that way. But they are wrong to do so, for isn’t this exactly what the violent extremists such as Da’esh, so-called Islamic State, want? They want to say the west is at war with Islam, but if we are to take the action of marginal groups and use that as evidence that there is a war between Islam and the west, aren’t we merely falling into a trap?
.... One sees difficult days ahead as yesterday’s dramatic events in France showed; and there is the issue of media organisations intent on publishing the most offensive Charlie Hebdo cartoons, claiming that it would strike a blow for free speech. I support free speech, but I would urge them to desist, for what they plan to do is not courageous and will do nothing to afford people dignity. It will be another example of targeting all Muslims.
[TOP RATED COMMENT 1638 votes] Ok we get it. Don't criticise Islam, and Muslims are the real victims here. Number 435 in a series from the Guardian.
Fine, multiculturalism in the west is lovely. Right, now when can we start talking about how to introduce multiculturalism and freedom of conscience to Muslim countries also? Because that's what it'll take to end Islamic extremism here and make Muslim countries happier and better places for everybody.
[SECOND 1530] No right-thinking person believes all Muslims are responsible for these atrocities, but the situation is not helped by the eagerness among Muslim commentators and intellectuals to absolve the religion itself of blame, to talk only about poverty and jobs and to point fingers at 'the West'.
There is a common tone in these articles that demonstrates a frightening absence of self-analysis. Where are the Muslim academics, historians, theologians and social scientists asking what it is about their religion that means mass murderers are committing atrocities in its name on a daily basis?
[THIRD 1528] This article does not address the question that most people must surely be asking. Why do the overwhelming majority of terrorist attacks, now seemingly at the rate of two or three a day, take place under the banner of Islam?
[FOURTH 1335] There's no such thing as 'Islamophobia' - a phobia is an irrational fear. Fear of Islam is perfectly rational.
[FIFTH 1169] ".... our common principles"? This is precisely the problem. Many Muslims in the UK hold alarming views on many topics, equally they believe their right to be "offended" should take precedence over the right to free speech. It would appear that for many Muslims their take on Islam is essentially incompatible with life in a modern liberal democracy which tries to treat all citizens equitably.
[SIXTH 1090] I wonder when the Guardian will start a series of articles addressed to Dear Muslim People in the way it has been doing with articles addressed to Dear White People.
Why does the Guardian think it reasonable to treat white people as a homogeneous community whilst arguing how wrong it is to ascribe universal characteristics to other communities?
[SEVENTH 1085] Yet another piece saying Islam isn't all that bad!.
[EIGHTH 1072] "These murdering arseholes were just that, a bunch of murdering arseholes"
Who had no support whatsoever from the wider Muslim community ... yadda, yadda, yadda. Yes we've heard that a hundred times before and we're beginning to think it's bullshit.
[NINTH 1044] "That said, there is also a wider political side to this equation. We condemn what happened in France. We condemn the violent extremism that is targeting westerners. But it is not only westerners. We are reacting emotionally because 12 people were killed in Paris, but there are hundreds being killed day in, day out in Syria and Iraq, and still we send more bombs. We have to look at the big picture. Lives matter, but it is important to be clear that the lives of Muslims in Muslim majority countries have as much value as our own lives in the west."
What is the point in making this statement? And I think you'll find that the vast bulk of that killing is being perpetrated by your fellow Muslims. Without any help from the west at all, unless you think we shouldn't bother attacking IS?
You are trying to lessen the deaths in Paris, you are trying to say "well lots more get killed in Syria, so really you shouldn't be complaining that much"
I've lost count of the amount of articles in the guardian now that have just been variations on "yes this was a tragedy but..."
This terrible opinion piece spends about a ¼ of the time saying how awful this crime is, and a the rest of the time reeling off the usual -
- this has nothing to do with Islam (funny, what they did is fully justified in the Quran)
- CH was very unwise to print those cartoons
- They had double standards when it came to cartoons about Jews
- Islam is under attack in France and Western Europe
- Yes you can have free speech but we'd strongly advise you not to insult the prophet
Any other water-muddying you want to do?
The Guardians conduct has on this latest outrage of Islamic extremism has once again been shameful.
How can you call yourselves liberals?
[TENTH 986] There is a war between radical segments of Islam and western liberal democracy and we have every right to reassert the values of tolerant and free societies.
[ELEVENTH 945] C4 broadcast a documentary on hate preachers in mosques several years ago. It showed hate preachers calling for the death of kafir. The upshot was that the documentary makers were taken to court charged with inciting religious hatred. Until all religions and ethnic groups are seen to be treated the same under British law the authorities are only succeeding in stoking the fires of hatred.
[TWELTH 936] No. not well said
"They said they were avenging the prophet. That was wrong. In fact, it is the message of Islam, our principles and values, that have been betrayed and tainted. They refer to Islam to justify what they did. From a religious viewpoint, I feel it is my responsibility to say that this has nothing to do with the message of our religion."
Tell that to the swathes of the Muslim world that would have censored these cartoons. And imprisoned the cartoonist. Or executed them.
Tell it to the significant Muslim population that would have rioted over these cartoons, and demanded the death of the cartoonists.
[THIRTEENTH 921] Kind of hard to ignore the religious element to it when they're shouting 'Allah Akhbar'.
[FOURTEENTH 917] According to an investigation by BBC world news jihadist attacks killed more than 5,000 people in November alone. Wiki has published a list of Islamic terrorist groups if you have an hour to spare. [9 Jan. Guardian Cif, Tariq Ramadan, 1591 comments] Read more
