Quote:
Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Some Muslims are open to violence if their religion is insulted.
So what? That's all you got?
So are some Buddhists.
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Right. Listen, if you don't want to have a discussion, just say so.
My initial argument was that the attitude amongst Muslims that violence visited upon those who insult Mohammed or desecrate a Koran or blaspheme in some other way is justified seems to create an atmosphere that breeds Muslims who engage in such violence. You and Ty argued that is was more about being poor and disaffected (simplified version of your arguments, for sure). I don't entirely disagree. I thought both of your arguments were very convincing. However, in places where people can spontaneously join in and crush a woman with rocks and their feet because someone loosely accused her of burning the Koran
and the Minister of Religion said such a killing would have been justified
only if she actually burned the Koran, it leads me to believe that, although surely the issues you mention are important contributing factors, there is more to it than poverty and feeling like an outsider.
And I agree that there may be a change brewing based on the reaction you mentioned (although, it is very hard to tell if the swift reaction to the mob killing is based on the fact that the woman was "innocent" of the "crime" she was killed for or if murder by mob generally is the issue). I surely don't disagree that any such change should be welcomed.
But it seems to me that there is something different about how many* Muslims think about their religion and what an appropriate punishment should be for those who insult it, or worse, who don't believe, that contributes to an atmosphere in which people (young, poor, whatever) think it's okay to turn to violence in the name of Islam.
TM
*Not all or most.
