http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editor ... danes_now/
I'm sure this board usually steers clear of politics... BUT with recent events in Europe that have trickled across the globe... I'm a little worried the train attacks of Spain and England will spread. The Netherlands have already had their first confrontation after Theo van Gogh was murdered by muslim extremists. And now the Danish embassies in Syria and Lebanon have been torched.
I can only see this escalating... and the prospect looks very grim. Europe is a continent that very proud of it's freedoms. Those freedoms are now being questioned and threatened with violence.
What say you?
We are all Danes now...
Moderator: Balou
I strongly believe in free speech but these cartoons seem to be just provocative for the sake of it rather than satirical, which is a bit unnecessary. The reaction is ridiculous, though.
I wonder whether the rise of fundamentalism amongst all of the world’s major religions represents the start of a new dark age or the last gasp of medieval ideas before universal enlightenment. Maybe as China and India become dominant this century they will spread the more civilised ideas of Taoism and Buddhism in the West.
It seems to me that the Abrahamic religions (Jews, Christians and Muslims) are defined more by what they object to rather than what they believe in. They hate each other but not as much as they detest other sects within their own religions. Rather than seeing how much they all have in common, the only thing a Catholic hates more than a Muslim is a Protestant, the only thing a Sunni hates more than a Jew is a Shi’ite and so on.
Solidarity, Reg.
They all believe in the same God and all had prophets who suggested that being nice to people would help, so where did all the hatred come from?
Controversial enough for you? (awaits barrage …)
I wonder whether the rise of fundamentalism amongst all of the world’s major religions represents the start of a new dark age or the last gasp of medieval ideas before universal enlightenment. Maybe as China and India become dominant this century they will spread the more civilised ideas of Taoism and Buddhism in the West.
It seems to me that the Abrahamic religions (Jews, Christians and Muslims) are defined more by what they object to rather than what they believe in. They hate each other but not as much as they detest other sects within their own religions. Rather than seeing how much they all have in common, the only thing a Catholic hates more than a Muslim is a Protestant, the only thing a Sunni hates more than a Jew is a Shi’ite and so on.
Solidarity, Reg.
They all believe in the same God and all had prophets who suggested that being nice to people would help, so where did all the hatred come from?
Controversial enough for you? (awaits barrage …)
exactly!!!It seems to me that the Abrahamic religions (Jews, Christians and Muslims) are defined more by what they object to rather than what they believe in. They hate each other but not as much as they detest other sects within their own religions. Rather than seeing how much they all have in common, the only thing a Catholic hates more than a Muslim is a Protestant, the only thing a Sunni hates more than a Jew is a Shi’ite and so on.
its all the same fairy tale (no offense).
Here's how I feel about the situation... and Islam in general...
Flying planes into buidlings and killing thousands of innocent people in the name of Allah doesn't offend Muslims.
Sawing off the head of innocent civilians with a knife in the name of Allah doesn't offend Muslims.
But, a cartoon printed 5 months ago offends Muslims to the point of burning down embassys.
Say what you will about extremists of other religions... but I have little faith in Islam being a "religion of peace". Yes, other religions have their black marks... but most of those can be limited to several hundred years ago when most still thought the world was flat.
What does this have to do with Europe... or even Amsterdam? Just like the cartoons... the freedoms that Europe enjoys is offensive to Islamic fundamentals.
Here's one of the protesters said... to the cartoons:
Flying planes into buidlings and killing thousands of innocent people in the name of Allah doesn't offend Muslims.
Sawing off the head of innocent civilians with a knife in the name of Allah doesn't offend Muslims.
But, a cartoon printed 5 months ago offends Muslims to the point of burning down embassys.
Say what you will about extremists of other religions... but I have little faith in Islam being a "religion of peace". Yes, other religions have their black marks... but most of those can be limited to several hundred years ago when most still thought the world was flat.
What does this have to do with Europe... or even Amsterdam? Just like the cartoons... the freedoms that Europe enjoys is offensive to Islamic fundamentals.
Here's one of the protesters said... to the cartoons:
I find the rise of fundamentalism here in The States to be rather frightening. Any person or group that declares to be unarguably right cannot truly be democratic or believe in freedom. Why would a fundamentalist care about your vote when he is absolutely right?
I believe there are 3 levels of arrogance of the fundamentalist. 1st, I read this holy book which I perfectly understand therefore I'm right. 2nd, The Surpreme Being talks/talked to me (like George Bush and Pat Robertson) therefore I cannot questioned. And lastly, I am The Surpreme Being (Pharoahs, certain Emperors, religious leaders) therefore absolutely right and everything I do is just.
Already the American government has vetoed the majority opinion in certain cases and I expect this trend to excelerate.
The world is being polarized - It's a shame is it not?
I believe there are 3 levels of arrogance of the fundamentalist. 1st, I read this holy book which I perfectly understand therefore I'm right. 2nd, The Surpreme Being talks/talked to me (like George Bush and Pat Robertson) therefore I cannot questioned. And lastly, I am The Surpreme Being (Pharoahs, certain Emperors, religious leaders) therefore absolutely right and everything I do is just.
Already the American government has vetoed the majority opinion in certain cases and I expect this trend to excelerate.
The world is being polarized - It's a shame is it not?
My thoughts are free.
What if your personal freedom is what pokes them?Neuro wrote:There will always be extremists who almost never will reflect the general population. Why poke at them?? And why alienate others who don't follow those tenets at the same time?
Yes... fundamentalism in general is frightening. Any Londoner here who has been to Speaker's Corner can attest to the varying degree of kooks that are out there.sonicblue wrote:I find the rise of fundamentalism here in The States to be rather frightening. Any person or group that declares to be unarguably right cannot truly be democratic or believe in freedom. Why would a fundamentalist care about your vote when he is absolutely right?
I believe moderation is key, but I also don't see how the US is part of this discussion. Too often the response to actions overseas is for those of us in the states to self loathe. Trust me, this situation isn't about us "understanding Islam" or even "what did we do to upset Islam." This discussion has nothing to do with the USA. It is about Denmark and the international Muslim response to the editorial cartoons.
The argument isn't whether the group as a whole is bad, the argument is whether or not that group is the one with the problem. Muslims, in the millions upon millions, and in increasing numbers, are refusing to integrate into modern society by the overall society's rules. They are choosing to defy and fight. They are choosing to destroy, or attempt to destroy, anything modern society stands for. In that regard, THEY are the problem. And it's that fact that I think Europe may be in big trouble.
