One in six Londoners avoid Muslims on buses, trains

[Founder]

(Link)

[TrekkieMage]

That's just sad. I understand the associated fear, but seriously. Especially given London's fairly heavy muslim population.

[Republican_Man]

I can't blame them. I now post the contents of an e-mail my dad got from a friend of his that forwarded it on to him and he forwarded to me. Take a look at these frightening pics. The text is irrelivant and I don't necessarily agree with the extreme nature of them, if you will, but the general sentiment of the author is understood.

[Founder]

I can understand their fear, but it's ridiculous to think that all muslims act that way. Some just want to take the bus to get to work. I know if I was one of them, I'd hate being stared at or even avoided.

[TrekkieMage]

Those images show a lunatic fringe minority. The vast majority of muslims - or even those who look vaugely muslim - are normal human beings who just want to get on with their lives.

It's like saying all liberals are like Michael Moore.

Or all Americans are fat and lazy.

Or all comparing all Americans to that crazy man protesting at soldiers funerals a while back.

Those images sicken me, not just because of the messages on those signs. But the fact that they are used as evidence against normal citizens riding the train to work. I can only think of one word that fits this (even if it isn't exact): racist.

[CJ Cregg]

Not suprised at the results of the poll.

I expect it is higher but people wont say because they would be called "racist"

[Lord Borg]

[CJ Cregg]

More info on that email and the pictures can be found here:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/politics/muslimprotest.asp

[Republican_Man]

Oh, I agree. These are a fringe minority, but when you see these massive demonstrations from such people saying such horrible things right down the street and/or in your very own city, who wouldn't be a bit concerned? Who wouldn't worry about sitting nearby a Muslim who might be part of that? Honestly, if I lived in London and faced that, I honestly think I would be cautious and whatnot. I might slide away every once and a while when I'm really suspicious about someone, though I wouldn't, even under those conditions, blanket all the Muslims I see like that.

I wouldn't call this racist--I'd call it ignorant and fearful. I don't do anything like this with the Muslims I see around my area, mind you. But then again, that's because I don't have demonstrations of radicalism right down the street.

Honestly, London's Muslim population is pretty dang radicalized. I wouldn't be suprised if the London population were majority fringed, I really wouldn't. But I'm not going to make that assumption myself.

[TrekkieMage]

[Lord Borg]

It is racisim, it isn't just fear, people are moving away from ANYONE that looks muslim, not "You know, for a man that can barly afford to eat, he as an awful lot of nice things, where is the money coming from?" Nope, its "He looks muslim! get away, he's a terrorist!"

[Republican_Man]

The abortion clinic bombings are a far more minority fringe thing than the Muslim radicalizations. They're not even close.

EDIT: Here we go again. How easy it is for people to just claim people "racist." Many of these people may very well be racist, but many may not. I wouldn't say it's racism unless you talk to each individual and get a personal interpretation from him or her.

[TrekkieMage]

[Founder]

I think by all of us becoming scared and paranoid, we're giving terrorists what they want. Think about it, terrorists. What is the root word there? Terror. They're instilling that in us and it's working. Now, I understand their fear. It's Human to be scared, especially after such events. I'm just saying, the British and even Americans, should be wary of automatically profiling a group of people. A lot of Muslims really are just normal people. Funny enough, those we alienate, tend to be them not the terrorists.

As for those pictures, they were from the debacle with the cartoon as TrekkieMage pointed out. While, I don't think they were right to say what they said, I could understand their anger over such matters. A cartoon ripped upon their religion. I'd be pretty damned pissed off too.

[TrekkieMage]

[Republican_Man]

[Republican_Man]

[Founder]

I agree that the people in England(some of them at least), are not being racist. This is a natural thing. I'm not condoning it, but to say they are racist for this? No, it isn't accurate. England has JUST gone through that whole mess with the planes and the chemicals in water bottles. They're really frightened and on edge right now. They also just pretty much commited mutiny on a plane until two Urdu speaking Muslims got off the plane. My main point is that the English need to calm down because first it was mutiny, now it's avoiding them, next it maybe physical violence.

As for comparing Christian terrorists to Muslim terrorists, I don't think anyone here made that distinction. Both are evil, no doubt about it. BUT, again, you're not understanding the situation. The English aren't scared of Muslims for no reason, but because of the almost recent terrorist attack. Not to mention, the subway bombing. I think it would be weird to be frightened of Christians because a few, sporadically, blow up an abortion clinic. I do see what you were trying to say though.

[TrekkieMage]

[TrekkieMage]

[Republican_Man]

Founder's post was excellent. I pretty much agree with everything he said, racism on down to Christian elements. You can be scared of them, but the point is not comparable. See Founder's post. I, too, can understand what your saying, but there's just no correlation between the two.

And the gay adoption thing isn't really an example of radicalism. It's an example of people trying to do what they believe is right in trying to give a child a "balanced" home of a mom and a dad, not an "unbalanced" home of two moms or two dads. Now, I'm not going to say I agree with this anymore. I used to, but now I'm pretty on the fence on it. I'm unsure whether it's better to deny a child good parents because they are gay or for them to face other parental problems. I'm starting to lead towards allowing gay adoption, but I don't think it's necessarily wrong or radical to deny that ability to a gay couple.

Also, maybe I have a great distaste for the word "racist" being thrown around because I've been called it countless times with regards to illegal immigration, for a number of reasons. I know I'm not racist, and I detest people calling other people racist because of blanket assumptions or misinterpretations or whatnot--and that includes this instance.

[Republican_Man]

[TrekkieMage]

The gay parents weren't an example of racism - they were an example of religious beliefs (however extreme or not extreme) affect peoples lives - and how it's all relative. To those parents the extreme Christians are more of threat than the extreme Muslims. I don't know if I'm even making sense with that any more though - which may explain why I'm not coming accross clearly

I think that due to my inchoherent ramblings I'm going to call it a night and pick this back up tomorrow after my classes

[Republican_Man]

[Founder]