Am not sure myself
Muslims can be a bit more tolerant though don't you think, I mean I don't see any violent backlash in the western society against Muslims when Bible is desecrated?
Answering insanilty with insanity
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Am not sure myself
Muslims can be a bit more tolerant though don't you think, I mean I don't see any violent backlash in the western society against Muslims when Bible is desecrated?
Chinese-Dragon
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Am not sure myself
Muslims can be a bit more tolerant though don't you think, I mean I don't see any violent backlash in the western society against Muslims when Bible is desecrated?
More can be done on all sides of course. Any form of extremism is dangerous.
It should be remembered though, that the VAST majority of the 1.5 billion Muslims on the planet, did not respond with violence or anything like that.
And the preachers who incite people towards violence, should bear the criminal responsibility of any actions they they have caused.
StingRoy
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Good point there... Radicalism is the biggest threat in the world today.. no matter what religion it belongs to. Every religion has its fanatics and hard core believers who shudder at the thought of giving a tiddly bit of respect to other religions. But having said that you can also draw a good correlation between radicalism and modern education. It is the lack of education about other cultures and the due respect they deserve which is causing the growth of intolerant ideology.
It did happen in Afghanistan where many civilians were killed. You know, back in 2004, when Southpark made an episode of the Prophet Muhammad, not a single person protested. But when it happened again last year, the creators were given death threats. Why do you personally think this is so?Am not sure myself
Muslims can be a bit more tolerant though don't you think, I mean I don't see any violent backlash in the western society against Muslims when Bible is desecrated?
Cartoons of the the Prophet has been drawn before too without any reactions, whatsoever, but why did the danish cartoonist suffer such a fate?
Are muslims really intolerant? Or is the hegemonic foreign polices which gives fuel to the fire?
Fair enough. But this reminds me of bullys and touchy kids in school. The more touchy kid would chuck a fit, the bullying would increase. If Muslims didn't react at all to the Danish cartoon would the facebook draw the prophet day ever happen?
The day Muslims will start ignoring attention whores like Terry Jones, these planned desecration will stop.
Chinese-Dragon
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That's a good point.
People like this are just looking for attention, and they don't care how many people die in the process. If they stopped getting so much attention, they would be less likely to do it.
In practical terms, the best solution is to crack down on the rogue preachers. (Freedom of speech does not cover "incitement to violence", especially when people die as a result.)
I think that is also one reason why internet trolls on this forum love to bait Chinese people, we tend to be patriotic, and react quite strongly. Possibly even too strongly.
Mate, you just have to see both side of the coins. I'm not religious at any context, but I do have a problem with unjustified wars, while helping out ruthless dictators who serve their purpose.
I'm don't, in general, buy into conspiracy theories, but did u you know USA trained Al Qaeda to fight the russians? Did you know America supplied weapons to Iraq weapons just to attact Iran? I know the counter arguments to my claims, but every action has consequences.
Now, in general, I know most Indians prefer their country over their religion. So, if your country's sovereignty is under attack would you not respond? Religious fanaticism begins, because people feel continuously threatened. People take it as their responsiblity to save their culture.
I personally think thats because the south park incident didn't get as much publicity in the Muslim world. The Danish cartoon incident did.
I guess partly due to the internet too, even the smallest incident gets fanned over the world. And no I don't think Muslims are any more intolerant than say Hindus/Christians, its just the way of showing their disapproval that makes them look bad.
third eye
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A view that does not agree with yours need not necessarily be biased. In post #5 suggestions were made on what the author ought to have done hence the mail id was indicated.
What happened in Gujarat was wrong and condemnable , it is being investigated. You may call it ham handed but is a similar investigation happening on numerous other instances like the kind mentioned on post # 1 ?
How can a wrong be justified by another wrong ?
We need to realise that our acts lead to repercussions elsewhere . The irony is that instead of finding fault in the act - be it burning of a holy book or killing innocents for no fault of theirs, people try to justify them by drawing parallels like the holocaust.
The author is merely trying to make a point that we are being exploited by our religious leaders and self styled pundits who claim to have rights on interpretation of the scriptures and no one should have a view contrary to theirs.
By not objecting we are abetting the insanity.
See the thing is, I don't think all this invasion and puppet government happens cause its some modern version of Christian-Muslim crusade. Its all about money and oil. IMO its just a coincidence that many of the resource rich countries happen to be Islamic.
I sort of see your point. Remember the 1857 rebellion against Britishers in India. It was triggered due to the disregard of both Hindu and Muslim religious sensitivities. But am skeptical about agreeing with you on this though, not sure why, but maybe because I feel that we as humans in 21st century are better than this, violently reacting because someone insulted our religion. But still fair point
I mean picture this, instead of all this violence, if a Muslim leader had come forward and said, "You know what Terry Jones you egg-head, we(muslims) see what you are doing there, but we are not going to fall for this, cause no one can disrespect the worlds largest religion just by burning our holy book". Don't you think a statement like this would have driven the message home much more effectively?
See the thing is, I don't think all this invasion and puppet government happens cause its some modern version of Christian-Muslim crusade. Its all about money and oil. IMO its just a coincidence that many of the resource rich countries happen to be Islamic.
I sort of see your point. Remember the 1857 rebellion against Britishers in India. It was triggered due to the disregard of both Hindu and Muslim religious sensitivities. But am skeptical about agreeing with you on this though, not sure why, but maybe because I feel that we as humans in 21st century are better than this, violently reacting because someone insulted our religion. But still fair point
I mean picture this, instead of all this violence, if a Muslim leader had come forward and said, "You know what Terry Jones you egg-head, we(muslims) see what you are doing there, but we are not going to fall for this, cause no one can disrespect the worlds largest religion just by burning our holy book". Don't you think a statement like this would have driven the message home much more effectively?
If it was any other country, and I think most countries did take actions to prevent such catastrophes. and its Afghanistan where people are a bit religious. and mate I would like you ask you one more thing. Every civilisation in the world that ever existed thought they were better off/right/more humane perhaps. Look back history and judge for yourself. what makes you think we are better off in any way? the future generations will be the judge of that
All the minorities in the america and europe: Japanese, black, jews, has been hated and then a later generations have condemned it. you think the sudden hate if islam will ever go uncondemnned?
third eye
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Burning the myths about Islam - Opinion - Al Jazeera English
Burning the myths about Islam
The 'Arab Spring' shows that the Quran burning riot in Afghanistan had little to do with Islam itself.
The recent violent protests in Afghanistan - a reaction to the burning of the Quran by a small church in the United States last month - recalled an inescapable reality.
Extremists on all sides - whether in free, democratic America, or in corrupt, occupied Afghanistan - create havoc and chaos, demonstrating the danger brought about by a deadly cocktail of ignorance and idiocy. Ultimately, they cause the deaths of innocent people.
Some cite the difference between the two acts: one saw the burning of a book, while the other claimed human lives.
This is of course true, but what exactly did the mastermind of this foolish and hate-filled act expect, other than a reaction somewhere on the Muslim side?
His bark worse than his bite
Pastor Terry Jones, of the formerly obscure Dove World Outreach Church in Florida - a parish of no more than a few dozen weekly followers - has been enjoying fame and possibly even fortune since calling for a 'Burn the Quran' day last September.
He was dissuaded from carrying out his act following a worldwide outcry from Christians and denunciation from American political, religious and community leaders.
But it seems that Jones had an itch that simply had to be scratched, and in March, he and some of his comrades burnt a copy of the Quran.
Strangely though, whilst last year's threat resulted in outrage throughout the Muslim world and mass protests in most Arab countries, the act itself - once carried out - brought almost no reaction from the streets of those same countries, apart from the ones in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of thousands hit the streets of Cairo, Damascus, Amman, Sanaa and many other Arab cities last summer denouncing Jones, burning effigies and flags and calling for a global campaign to 'protect the Quran'.
I recall receiving hundreds of emails and texts messages expressing outrage, and calling for immediate action in protest against this heinous act.
Yet now that Jones has actually carried out his threat, not one single demonstration was held, no mass protest was called for, no texts or email messages criss-crossed the ether, and no days of anger were organised.
Recapturing a people's dignity
One would have expected such protests to come easily to the masses already camping on the streets of Cairo, Tunis, Damascus, Sanaa and Benghazi. Logistically, the scene was set; all would have been ready for such action, but nothing of the sort came to light.
There is no suggestion that those masses revere the Quran any less, or that they see the act carried out by Jones as any less repugnant. So why the apparent inaction? Because the 'Arab spring' has elevated minds as well as aspirations, a trend absent still in the contexts of Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries where corruption is still riding a wave.
One cannot say for sure whether it was the upheavals in the region that had the Arab nations looking elsewhere to exert their collective energies, but it is without a shadow of a doubt that the absence of 'anti-Terry Jones' protests was not due to a lack of energy or of ability.
For several years, those studying the Arab world through the mobility and narrative of the masses have emphasised that the number one priority for the Arab people (and Muslims by extension) is the pursuit of freedom and the recapture of their long-lost dignity.
Manifestations of religious, ideological, and cultural extremist behaviour were essentially a reaction to stagnant political climates imposed by despotic regimes, lack of human rights and absence of any hope in a better future.
Thus those people - who considered it their ultimate objective a few months ago to demonstrate anger and outrage for the threat to burn the Quran - today were in no doubt whatsoever that today their priority was to remove those regimes that have ruled them so inhumanely for so long.
Defying political models
Therein lies an important message for those Westerners who make a living from counter-terrorism and eradicating extremism: Supporting despotic regimes and dictators for short-term political and economic gains begets extremism that takes shape in a religious, social, political, ideological or cultural format.
The claim that removing or compromising regimes, such as that of Mubarak, Ben Ali, Saleh, Gaddafi or Assad will inevitably bring an extremist element to government is baseless, as demonstrated by events unfolding before us.
In all of the examples of the nations that revolted against their tyrants, rather than witnessing violence, the world saw protesters insisting on peaceful means despite them being confronted hired thugs and armed security forces.
Those same nations exemplified the meaning of national unity in practise rather than words. Muslims and Christians protected each other, came to each other's aid and guarded each others' holy places of worship against the threat of arson and vandalism by elements who had an interest in anarchy and division breaking out.
As soon as the opportunity emerged, those who had lived their lives merely dreaming of living under a democracy someday turned out to be brilliant democrats in practise.
What remains to be seen is whether the West will adapt to the new terrain and change its ways too.
The mood for change
Travelling the region extensively and conversing with people from all walks of life, one cannot miss the the new air of confidence about the Arab citizen.
Whether in Egypt where the revolution is in full swing and some significant fruits have been borne, or in other countries where no mass protests have been reported, there is no doubt that the mood is one for change and transformation.
Conversations in the Arab street are much more bold, brazen and uncaring about who might be eavesdropping. It's simply a matter of time, but change is certainly now a matter of 'when' rather than 'if'.
Once free, the Arab and Muslim nations will not resort to violence, extremism and isolationist practises, as some would like the world to think.
Once free, those nations will see the act of Terry Jones as the petty and foolish gesture that it undoubtedly was, and will realise that it brings more damage upon him and his reputation than upon the object of his deranged hatred.
Burning the myths about Islam
The 'Arab Spring' shows that the Quran burning riot in Afghanistan had little to do with Islam itself.
The recent violent protests in Afghanistan - a reaction to the burning of the Quran by a small church in the United States last month - recalled an inescapable reality.
Extremists on all sides - whether in free, democratic America, or in corrupt, occupied Afghanistan - create havoc and chaos, demonstrating the danger brought about by a deadly cocktail of ignorance and idiocy. Ultimately, they cause the deaths of innocent people.
Some cite the difference between the two acts: one saw the burning of a book, while the other claimed human lives.
This is of course true, but what exactly did the mastermind of this foolish and hate-filled act expect, other than a reaction somewhere on the Muslim side?
His bark worse than his bite
Pastor Terry Jones, of the formerly obscure Dove World Outreach Church in Florida - a parish of no more than a few dozen weekly followers - has been enjoying fame and possibly even fortune since calling for a 'Burn the Quran' day last September.
He was dissuaded from carrying out his act following a worldwide outcry from Christians and denunciation from American political, religious and community leaders.
But it seems that Jones had an itch that simply had to be scratched, and in March, he and some of his comrades burnt a copy of the Quran.
Strangely though, whilst last year's threat resulted in outrage throughout the Muslim world and mass protests in most Arab countries, the act itself - once carried out - brought almost no reaction from the streets of those same countries, apart from the ones in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of thousands hit the streets of Cairo, Damascus, Amman, Sanaa and many other Arab cities last summer denouncing Jones, burning effigies and flags and calling for a global campaign to 'protect the Quran'.
I recall receiving hundreds of emails and texts messages expressing outrage, and calling for immediate action in protest against this heinous act.
Yet now that Jones has actually carried out his threat, not one single demonstration was held, no mass protest was called for, no texts or email messages criss-crossed the ether, and no days of anger were organised.
Recapturing a people's dignity
One would have expected such protests to come easily to the masses already camping on the streets of Cairo, Tunis, Damascus, Sanaa and Benghazi. Logistically, the scene was set; all would have been ready for such action, but nothing of the sort came to light.
There is no suggestion that those masses revere the Quran any less, or that they see the act carried out by Jones as any less repugnant. So why the apparent inaction? Because the 'Arab spring' has elevated minds as well as aspirations, a trend absent still in the contexts of Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries where corruption is still riding a wave.
One cannot say for sure whether it was the upheavals in the region that had the Arab nations looking elsewhere to exert their collective energies, but it is without a shadow of a doubt that the absence of 'anti-Terry Jones' protests was not due to a lack of energy or of ability.
For several years, those studying the Arab world through the mobility and narrative of the masses have emphasised that the number one priority for the Arab people (and Muslims by extension) is the pursuit of freedom and the recapture of their long-lost dignity.
Manifestations of religious, ideological, and cultural extremist behaviour were essentially a reaction to stagnant political climates imposed by despotic regimes, lack of human rights and absence of any hope in a better future.
Thus those people - who considered it their ultimate objective a few months ago to demonstrate anger and outrage for the threat to burn the Quran - today were in no doubt whatsoever that today their priority was to remove those regimes that have ruled them so inhumanely for so long.
Defying political models
Therein lies an important message for those Westerners who make a living from counter-terrorism and eradicating extremism: Supporting despotic regimes and dictators for short-term political and economic gains begets extremism that takes shape in a religious, social, political, ideological or cultural format.
The claim that removing or compromising regimes, such as that of Mubarak, Ben Ali, Saleh, Gaddafi or Assad will inevitably bring an extremist element to government is baseless, as demonstrated by events unfolding before us.
In all of the examples of the nations that revolted against their tyrants, rather than witnessing violence, the world saw protesters insisting on peaceful means despite them being confronted hired thugs and armed security forces.
Those same nations exemplified the meaning of national unity in practise rather than words. Muslims and Christians protected each other, came to each other's aid and guarded each others' holy places of worship against the threat of arson and vandalism by elements who had an interest in anarchy and division breaking out.
As soon as the opportunity emerged, those who had lived their lives merely dreaming of living under a democracy someday turned out to be brilliant democrats in practise.
What remains to be seen is whether the West will adapt to the new terrain and change its ways too.
The mood for change
Travelling the region extensively and conversing with people from all walks of life, one cannot miss the the new air of confidence about the Arab citizen.
Whether in Egypt where the revolution is in full swing and some significant fruits have been borne, or in other countries where no mass protests have been reported, there is no doubt that the mood is one for change and transformation.
Conversations in the Arab street are much more bold, brazen and uncaring about who might be eavesdropping. It's simply a matter of time, but change is certainly now a matter of 'when' rather than 'if'.
Once free, the Arab and Muslim nations will not resort to violence, extremism and isolationist practises, as some would like the world to think.
Once free, those nations will see the act of Terry Jones as the petty and foolish gesture that it undoubtedly was, and will realise that it brings more damage upon him and his reputation than upon the object of his deranged hatred.
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