in Religion, Society 273 Words

The myth of the ‘moderate Muslim’

If you arte expecting some long winded diatribe about the evils of Islam then you will be sadly disappointed and maybe should move on…..

There are some in the US that cannot get past the fact that someone is a Muslim…..to these short-sighted people there is only one Muslim and they are the people in ISIS and AQ…..none of the others matter…..that is to some.

Nothing is further from the truth….but of course I will be hard pressed to find many people on the street that has any idea what I am speaking about……When I see the lies spread I have tried to show that their belief is just wrong…..but as usual those posts degenerated into….warning about those darn “terrorists” coming down Main Street chopping off heads……I guess that is easier than admitting you are WRONG!

Deconstructing the mythic “good versus bad” Muslim paradigm.

After winning four pivotal presidential primaries on April 26, Hillary Clinton drew a line between “hard working, terror-hating Muslims” and (Muslim) terrorists.

In front of a raucous audience of supporters in Philadelphia, Clinton – the presumptive presidential candidate for the Democratic Party – only made mention of Muslims in relation to terrorism, and reaffirmed the mythic “good versus bad” Muslim paradigm.

Muslim Americans were either “terror-hating” or terrorists, slotted into one of these two caricatured categories with no space in between, or existential affiliation beyond.

Source: The myth of the ‘moderate Muslim’ – Al Jazeera English

I do not expect that Muslims will get much respect here….but at least there is someone trying to right the wrong thinking of the population.

66 thoughts on “The myth of the ‘moderate Muslim’”

  2. The “Good” ones must be the Apostates because the commandments of the teachings are very clear — “Kill the Infidels, take over the world and make it into an all-encompassing Caliphate that everyone left standing or alive must bow down and serve.” The Non-Violents must be either liars or apostates.

    Reply

      1. Ripening Wanderer …you are at it again……
        Why don’t you be an atheist like wot I am?
        Failing that…hug a tree….like wot I do…
        Failing that, hug me!….
        😉

      2. Can’t be an Atheist … wasn’t raised that way … like a lot of others … but thanks for the encouragement. Given the choice between hugging the tree and thee I would choose thee.

      3. I was not brought up as an atheist….I simply saw that the wrong interpretation of religion led to war…..indoctrination is a subtle thing…core religious beliefs do matter…but to find them takes many life times….thanx for choosing me over a tree! grin

      4. The greatest proof that God is real is Mankind’s never-ending search for Him — and — Do not worry about “Interpretations and doctrines and the confusion foisted on the unwary by worldly religious systems … seek God on your own and you will find Him in your own way and He will relate to you at the level of your understanding. — God is in the DNA of every living creature because we are created in His Image. —– If there were no God there would be no need for Atheism because if there is nothing to deny people would not take their time to fabricate all their intricate denials. — The way I see it is that Atheists are not anti-God or anti-religious at all …. The way I see it is that Atheists are joining Mankind’s search fo God in their own special and unique way. Of course that is me speaking. And I have already had the pleasure of hugging trees.

      5. I sometimes ‘use’ the word atheist to avoid getting involved with religious ‘speak’. I also remind you that many wear a cloak of religion ….I also remind you that very few are called….I too, have already had the pleasure of hugging trees and dogs and cats and children….though not many adults! grin

      7. I have pondered this question of faith…I have come to the conclusion I have no idea wot it really is…so I guess I am not one of the faithful…. Odd that. 🙂

      9. The ‘difference’ between East and West…
        The West has a scientific/critical approach.The East has a ‘faith’ approach.I read somewhere that the critical part of the brain is more developed in the West,while in the East the ‘faith’ part of the brain was more developed. So,reason is West…and East is faith…they say that the Eastern religion approach makes a ‘happier’ person. Who knows? This is the divide between Western thought processes and Eastern thought processes..which is a profound difference….between the cultures…not to forget that from my point of view women are not equal….same in India/Pakistan… at least among the poor and there has always been a preference for a boy.. (they will abort the female child)..he can work and bring in the money..etc.. Saudi culture is a patriarchy culture…like a lot of countries in the east….like it was here at one time…this needs to change if people move into our culture….if Islam does not modernize and give equal rights to its women….then it is backward…it is not only Islam…it is the same for fundamental Jews….it is the same in South America…misogyny is rife…and violence is patriarchies weapon…the male in India is very immature..I have seen it….this is a big problem….until we learn as a society to include women properly……mind you the Italian men seem to be overly fond of their mothers…and mothers can be the problem as well…my son,my son..etc. So,I do have a ‘dig’ at Islam…it needs to be brought into the real world. They still marry their first cousins with dire consequences on the new born child…we also have to battle with such practices as F.G.M…forced marriages etc…the NHS has to deal with the consequences of marrying first cousins..example, babies born with no eyes…these are issues that are not going away…including sharia courts in this country who are not ‘just’ in their verdict towards women.(divorces) There is an investigation into them at the moment.
        It is a lot to consider….plus the ‘private’ schools that are run in this country which have health and safety issues and ISIS propaganda including the issue of boys slapping the heads of girls if they have not covered their hair……these have got to be addressed ….it will not be addressed if communities do not integrate..at the moment OFSTED is inspecting these schools and are rather concerned with what they have found. What do they say? 3 generations to integrate….?
        I am not going to broach the ‘God gave man reason’ issue….it appears we are just a frightful accident..grin

      10. My biggest problem is people accuse the Quran of a lot of things…most are wrong…a hadith is not the Quran it is a person interpretation only…

      11. and that is the real problem throughout the ages.. in Christianity as well….unless one looks for the core message….not the message to suit you.
        I tend to go to further east….
        “Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?”
        ― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

      12. I like this..
        “If You Want To Lose Your Faith, Make Friends With A Priest.”
        😉

      13. Further too….’my biggest problem’…
        is not quite the same as mine…mine is bullshitters….then I can ‘do’ some some odd things…like calling them out! …not very ‘Christian’ like…but then again I am not a Christian ….those two odd tweets I sent you….were an example of my anger…still ‘they’ say righteous anger has it’s place….grin…then I try let it go….I do not much like it when someone takes advantage of my ‘goodly’ nature….grin…it brings out the worst in me…especially when I find out they have been lying…..cowards are a slippery breed. Wot do they say?….sowing your seed on stony ground….too many contradictions in a person makes me wonder exactly who they are working for….got trolled a lot when I first started out on twitter….pain in the ass..happens to women more than men.

      14. If you are pondereing the question then you are admitting some kind of inner need/drive/motivation/inclination/curiosity to arrive at the truth of the matter and that qualifies as “Faith” in anybody’s book.

      15. The truth of the matter interest me…I am not sure if one would interpret that as ‘faith’….and anyway beings differ in the potentiality of their awareness… let us say that ‘God is the ‘I’ of the Universe..and leave it like that….and/or maybe religiousness is an emotional attitude to the question:
        ‘Why was I born’

      16. People who have little or no faith have little or no interest in seeking the truth of God. You have faith or you wouldn’t be interested. Your very curiosity is God’s gift to you to help you find Him. Seeking is all that is required.

      17. ps…I did once upon a time have an inner need to understand…..that comes with being ‘human’ ….I leave you with a short poem by an Irish man..
        ‘Two miles to go and the door will open,
        -three old men round an open fire.
        One offers rice and one offers dahl
        and the third asks fiercely
        with empty hands,
        “Oh which, traveller,is the true I” ?

      18. ‘Hatred is the only thing that saves lives sometimes.’
        One might kill a man without hatred…I would suggest the less emotion will give one a clearer head.Too much emotion confuses…one is not ‘detached’ enough from ones emotions…to let your emotions rule is wrong thinking.

      19. When the bombs are bursting all around and the machine bullets are buzzing, whining and bouncing all around and when the rockets are exploding and the bombs are bursting and the IEDs are burning your buddies alive in their Humvees — there is no room for “Loving” those who are doing these things to a person and their comrades. I have no love for this kind of enemy — the kind that would kill me and my loved ones … and I have no love for some filthy invading force of welfare seekers trying to take over my country and make slaves of us all and give the whole thing and everybody in it to some false God and some savage, murderous ideology based on killing, tgorturing and murdering. I hav e no room in my heart for such as this and I have no room for anyone who stands in defense of such as this. I’m sorry! I am American through and through and I am a bit nationalistic and I can see the dangers all around us and the lies that are being told and the idiots who are believing the lies and those who want to remain so liberal in their emotions as to court the devil and give the entire thing over to the forces of Hell, death and destruction. When I am called to stand in front of enemy fire and that enemy fire is directed at me then my emotions do rule and sometimes those are all that keeps a person alive. All this other stuff is useless talk. If one has not been in the middle of such as I am speaking of there is no use trying to understand it. Ask any returning Veterans and an earful might well be gained and I think a lot of them think the same way as I do.

      20. You were in a country that you should not have been…USA was the aggressor…I agree that we should be careful of the liberal lefties..and their attempts to apologize ….we can only be alert to it…I would defend myself from someone attacking my home..I would not go to another country and be an aggressor…war is an insanity..and no one knows how they will react under fire until in the midst of it…I opposed my government’s war in Iraq…Libya…non-intervention is the answer…we are nothing but puppets in our governments hands (and we elect them)..yet men are born for games…games of war….my Uncle will speak of it..the 2nd world war…but not much ..other than to say it was an insanity..and remark sadly how men can be so cruel to each other..I view the USA government as dangerous…that simple.
        Loving does not lead to you being an aggressor..the mistakes of the past live with us every day..false gods are everywhere…look at your congress…all devoutly religious ….and use it to promote war…you used the word ‘hate’.. anger and hatred are negative emotions only when they are misdirected…never fear to hate the odious…..’Misdirected’… like your congress…if I hate on a personal level I have to wonder and look inside to see where it is coming from…it is so easy to fuel it and justify it…..it consumes you until you cannot think straight…it also fuels fear…while I understand that you are the guardian of the gates of heaven…and there is nothing wrong with that….it does not require ‘hatred’ though..strong temper and dogmatic ways need to be worked on…our negative sides need working on through non-identification…..if you are seeking to be closer to God…then address the issues that cause an imbalance in your nature..too much fire will consume you…and so too others will suffer around you..there are many paths to God….understanding oneself is first and foremost….Ah,to temper one’s fire is a lifetimes work…someone once said that pride is an ignorant presumption that the qualities and status of the organism are due to merit. Inner peace does not lead to war….and as I said before,very few are called…one can have political resistance….is that not what Jesus represented when he threw the money lenders out…..of the temple….and as the bible says …he died for our sins…and on a personal level I think your government is odious…I will fight it because I, too, am some what of a crusader…. 🙂

      21. Good luck with your battle as you fight against “Our” government. But while you are fighting our government may I ask that you perform the simple courtesy of refusing to accept any benefit that you may be able to obtain as a result of any agreement between our government and yours? I think that is a fair request, don’t you?

      22. Absolutely… I do not support my government either, and as you well know…all empires expire sooner or later…it is the pattern of things if you follow history…my battle is the corporations and neo liberal capitalism…..TTP is one of them….my other battle is with the E.U. and the Krauts! All nationalities have a degree of conceit but a conceited German is the worst of them all ….at least that is what Tolstoy reckons….I am inclined to agree with him.

      23. Of course we can’t blame all the Krauts for the actions of a few now can we? I hear that defense a lot of the time when I talk about the black moving objects and their kin.

      24. It just takes one bad apple to…?
        It is unfortunately in the dna of the German do what they do…No,I do not blame all the Germans of course…tongue in cheek….here is what an Ozzie says about the American Empire…. my mother was an Australian..tough as old boot!
        Silencing America As It Prepares for War.. http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/05/27/silencing-america-as-it-prepares-for-war/ by @NatCounterPunch
        Sad.
        Off I go…have a good day now! 😉

      25. I like this quote..
        “We are not human beings learning how to be spiritual, we are spiritual beings learning how to be human.”
        Teilhard de Chardin

      28. Expl;ain why there are Christian and Jewish enclaves in these countries if one must convert or die….

      33. Jizyah or jizya (جزْي) is the extra tax imposed on non-Muslims (Dhimmis) who live under Muslim rule according to the Qur’an and hadith:

      35. I am not going to engage in a discussion about interpretations. Dhimmis are subjects, slaves, servants …. Their lives and fortunes are at the whims of their Masters — The Quran is like the Bible .. It can be interpreted by anyone anyway they want to make other people think it reads … I do not wish to get into an endless circular, go-nowhere conversation about what the Quran has to say or does not have to say. I just do not want of the (***) things anywhere near me.

      38. Paying anyonoe to spare your own life under a savage and repressive religion seems very sensible to me … especially if the custom is well ingrained in their mantra and their experience as a religious entity.

      41. I thought you did not want this discussion….and you are wrong…but that never stops people from hating now does it?

      44. …my other battle is with the E.U. and the Krauts! All nationalities have a degree of conceit but a conceited German is the worst of them all” – Pennywoodfall

        As a 50% Kraut (& 50% Brit), I must say that you inferior Limeys really need to stop with your petty jealousy. It’s really unbecoming. After all, many of you are descendants of “Krauts” who couldn’t make it in the German States. How many more centuries must this jealousy continue before you wise up and let it go? While inferior, you’re still a heck of a lot better than most.

        Jesus, you Limeys hold a grudge like you’re from the Middle East, or something. 😉

    3. Just change a word, or two, and that sounds a hell of a lot like what we got going on over here.

      “Kill the infidels terrorists take over the world and make it into an all-encompassing Caliphate Free Trade Zone that everyone left standing or alive must bow down and serve.” The Non-Violents must be either liars or apostates.

      No wonder this war won’t end until “one tin soldier rides away”. Both sides have let their greedy, power mad, homicidal, lunatics take over and everyone is afraid to challenge them.

      Reply

      2. Thank you for pointing out the obvious. I’m fully aware I speak the absolute truth with every word I write, but it’s still great to be reminded of it from time to time. 😉

        But this is how it’s done. We get divided into groups (nations/religions/races etc) and are conquered by small elites of megalomaniac manipulators & just plain thugs. They whip up fears & hatreds (irregardless of how accurate those fears are) and use those fears to justify their own actions…actions that give credence to the claims of the “opposing side’s” propagandists.

        These kind of shitheels actually have more in common with each other than the groups they pretend to be fighting to protect. Of course, when I say “fight” most of them “fight” from the safety of their mansions far from the battlefield. The “risking of lives” is for the suckers who buy into their bullshit. These people claim to be enemies, but the reality is they need each other. What good is a bully if the “other side” has no bullies to protect you from?

      3. I knew you would pop up your head sooner or later..hahaha…bloody mongrel kraut…..still mongrels are best..they are the only dog that I would have…;)

  3. Living across the pond…I do wonder why our media even mentions that our new Mayor of London is a Muslim.
    We do not mention the old Mayor as a Christian…Living in a secular country…one hopes….I do find it strange that the media has to define what religion he is….their religion is not my business…why is it every one else’s?:
    Cannot they simply say that new Mayor of london is Sadiq Khan?
    or is that just too complicated?
    Labels,labels,labels…

    Reply

      1. Blimey……
        Another 6 months….
        Ugh!
        Quicker to shoot them all and start all over again…grin

  4. In regards to abhorrence of criticism of this “Ideology” let me say in defense that it is a simple and easy thing for some altruistists to protect inhuman ideas at the expense of living human beings and to label all such criticisms as bigotry, racism or prejudice even in the absence of any really-proveable counter argument — which is the blind spot in some of our modern “Thinkers.”

    Reply

    1. What would you term it? The argument is there just no one wants to hear it or believe it…and what would you call that?

      Reply

  5. Somebody said — ““If You Want To Lose Your Faith, Make Friends With A Priest.”😉 — to which I reply: “And if you want to lose your HEAD make friends with some who call themselves “Imam.”

    Reply

    1. Actually, I think the saying goes….”If you want to lose your anal virginity, make friends with a priest” (Age restrictions may apply).

      Reply

      2. Some of the priests are not so inclined. Still rather lose that kind of virginity as to lose my head after handing some black moving object a free cell phone.

      3. Yes, I know not every priest is a child anal rapist. Just like there are some Muslims that don’t want to rape your gushing throat wound after severing your head from your body with a machete. No matter how devout, not EVERY member of a religious group has identical tastes and….wait for it…..habits! (Rimshot!) Even amongst genetically engineered clones, there are “outliers” in every group.

        Good to know you’re not concerned about being anally raped…It’s a useful survival skill in this day & age. Because it’s getting harder & harder to get through the day without it happening, at least metaphorically speaking.

        But “handing a black moving object a free cell phone” makes no sense to me whatsoever..unless standing on the street & handing out free cell phones to black people is what you do for a living.. . Is this a Cosby reference? Or one of those “Hey kid…my cute dog/free cell phone…is waiting for you inside this unmarked van.” I don’t understand.

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