Sciforums Muslim/Arab Bias

[nirakar]

Shadow1, you were totally right to see and criticize the Sciforums community for it's bias against the Middle East and Islam.

They can call you a troll. They can call me a troll but their bias is real and ugly.

Congo was and probably still is the most unjust, saddest, cruelest, place in the world but nobody cares. The USA toppled a democracy in Haiti and made Haiti a more dangerous more corrupt poorer place but nobody cares.

Meanwhile Iran gets lots of negative attention. Why?

I don't know to what degree the West's anti-Islamic hysteria is being created and promoted by powerful interests and to what degree it is natural hostility the "other" coming from the stupid masses. For a while it was fashionable in the USA to say bad things about Venezuela which was totally ridiculous but which makes me think the masses of fools are being given their enemy list by powerful interests rather than choosing their enemies for themselves.

For some despite their denials it is their loyalty to Israel that creates the hostility. One guy here is loyal to every underdog unless they are Islamic or Arab.

Arguing against majority is harder because simply being the majority creates a certain confidence that the majority can't be completely wrong.

The Islamic world is too culturally conservative for my tastes but the strange thing is that the West's cultural conservatives are the most anti-Islamic segment of the West.

Other than being more socially/religiously/culturally conservative than I like, I really like the Arabs I have met and their food, music, art, vibes, and warm friendliness.

I think we warned you when you arrived here that the anti-Islamic and anti-Middle East bias here might become aggravating. As bad as Sciforums is in this bigotry Sciforums is probably more worldly and less bigoted than the average person in the USA. But forgive these people because they have been brainwashed and don't know any better.

In my travels I find that the people all over the world are like each other. They have the same concerns. It is a pity that people everywhere seem to need somebody to hate.

I am glad you are here and putting out your point of view. These ignorant people might be slightly less ignorant because you are here.

 

[nirakar]

Lions and Tigers and Bears and Muslims, oh my. Now I am scaring myself.

 

[nirakar]

Iran, Iran, Iran, oh so scary.

 

[S.A.M.]

Think of it this way: if Congo became the issue du jour - would it be politically correct to say blacks are violent, backward, goat-fuckers, superstitious and racists?

But its still alright to put down the culture and religion of Muslims.

You'd have people taking out the Bell curve hypothesis, statistics about black violence and incarceration and the general inability of blacks to move out of ghettos or do well in any society.

You might be thinking - what does this have to do with Congo? Well hells bells have you read any thread on Iran or Muslims lately? Relevance is irrrelevant!

 

[Bells]

Think of it this way: if Congo became the issue du jour - would it be politically correct to say blacks are violent, backward, goat-fuckers, superstitious and racists?

But its still alright to put down the culture and religion of Muslims.

You'd have people taking out the Bell curve hypothesis, statistics about black violence and incarceration and the general inability of blacks to move out of ghettos or do well in any society.

You might be thinking - what does this have to do with Congo? Well hells bells have you read any thread on Iran or Muslims lately? Relevance is irrrelevant!

Are you kidding?

Think Sudan.

We'll turn Africans committing genocide against fellow Africans and blame it on Muslims and Islamic culture.

 

[S.A.M.]

You mean completely ignore the part where they are coloured peoples?

lol. That would work. I may start a thread on it next week - look out for Muslims in the thread title!!!

If being Muslim can bring more discussion of the Congolese issue, well its Ramadan anyway, isn't it? So what if there are no Muslims there?

 

[Bells]

You mean completely ignore the part where they are coloured peoples?

Well why should we focus on our own racism when we can focus on their religion instead? Makes us sleep better at night.

lol. That would work. I may start a thread on it next week - look out for Muslims in the thread title!!!

But.. but.. we've never had those before..

I know not of this Muslims in the title of which you speak! Me thinks you're pulling a fast one.

*Squints suspicously*

If being Muslim can bring more discussion of the Congolese issue, well its Ramadan anyway, isn't it? So what if there are no Muslims there?

We'll find one.

Just give us time.

It's like the 6 degrees of separation. 6 degrees of Muslims.

 

[hypewaders]

Mod Note: Thread Renamed and moved from World Events

Shadow1, you were totally right to see and criticize the Sciforums community for it's bias against the Middle East and Islam.

How you perceive and respond to bias can determine whether or not you contribute to the overcoming of bias here and elsewhere. I closed an earlier thread in World Events because it did not introduce a world event for discussion, with any of the focus that is due out of respect for the audience. For similar reasons, I have retitled and moved this thread, because it is a clumsy and counterproductive attempt to revive the lame thread that I closed earlier. I would like to assure you that these actions were not intended to stifle constructive dialogue on the topics that interest you.

They can call you a troll. They can call me a troll but their bias is real and ugly.

You are not being repressed here. You are being guided toward more appropriate, respectful, and constructive discussion. Whining in inappropriate ways and places will not advance the cause of human rights and understanding, whether we're considering Muslims and non-muslims, or the Mideast and the West. I share many of your sentiments. But I also think you have a poor understanding of the pitfalls of claiming victimhood along with moral authority around here (I suspect in other sociopolitical environments too). I'm sorry if this seems harsh, but to criticize this community as you are doing exposes yourself to the same.

Congo was and probably still is the most unjust, saddest, cruelest, place in the world but nobody cares.

I do. Create or bump a thread on the Congo if you would like to discuss it.

The USA toppled a democracy in Haiti and made Haiti a more dangerous more corrupt poorer place but nobody cares.

I do. Create or bump a thread on Haiti, if you would like to discuss it.

Meanwhile Iran gets lots of negative attention. Why?

Iranian leadership is cruel and dysfunctional in domestic and foreign relations.

I don't know to what degree the West's anti-Islamic hysteria is being created and promoted by powerful interests and to what degree it is natural hostility the "other" coming from the stupid masses.

It's clearly both, and powerful interests often promote ignorance. But there is no plot at Sciforums to restrict what you say here, in order to suppress understanding of Islam, of any world region, or of any ethnicity. If you antagonize individuals who are experiencing fatigue in the course of their learning about these matters, then you are not promoting understanding here and beyond; you are part of the problem. I stumble over this too, in my own desire to improve the world.

I don't know how to respond to your rambling about Venezuela and other various conflicts with US leadership through the years. Sciforums discussions are often reflective of the times, and all who participate here bring their own backgrounds and biases but there is no systemic political, religious, or ethnic agenda here resembling whatever your wandering indictment is getting at.

For a while it was fashionable in the USA to say bad things about Venezuela...

For some despite their denials it is their loyalty to Israel that creates the hostility. One guy here is loyal to every underdog unless they are Islamic or Arab.

So what. This is a public forum, and as in other public environments, you will encounter people with all sorts of perspectives. We are not under the domination of a single personality here.

Arguing against majority is harder because simply being the majority creates a certain confidence that the majority can't be completely wrong.

The purpose and policy of this forum are not to express a Sciforums consensus on every global and political issue.

The Islamic world is too culturally conservative for my tastes but the strange thing is that the West's cultural conservatives are the most anti-Islamic segment of the West.

Cultural conservatism is often cultural exceptionalism.

Other than being more socially/religiously/culturally conservative than I like, I really like the Arabs I have met and their food, music, art, vibes, and warm friendliness.

I commend your open-mindedness. I suggest you explore appreciating life with more people who are seemingly more "conservative" than you like, whatever their ethnicity.

I think we warned you when you arrived here that the anti-Islamic and anti-Middle East bias here might become aggravating.

It can also be exaggerated. Please try not to mistake your misunderstandings with individuals for a deliberate and contrived culture of bias in the community as a whole. Don't contribute to divisive "Us and Them" constructs if such group behavior is really something you oppose.

As bad as Sciforums is in this bigotry Sciforums is probably more worldly and less bigoted than the average person in the USA.

Obviously: Sf is not the USA; is a global community; is not a person.

But forgive these people because they have been brainwashed and don't know any better.

It is more productive to acknowledge that we're all in process of learning about our worlds; we all have frontiers of our understanding to explore.

In my travels I find that the people all over the world are like each other. They have the same concerns.

That is very true, very important, and also easily observed and demonstrated.

It is a pity that people everywhere seem to need somebody to hate.

Insecure people need someone to hate. People who are in conscious acceptance of their human environment do not.

I am glad you are here and putting out your point of view. These ignorant people might be slightly less ignorant because you are here.

Ignorance is more effectively diminished when we avoid proprietary expressions about enlightenment. If you truly wish to promote understanding around in this community, do not exaggerate or give too much credit to ignorance. Ignorance feeds on reactionism and factionalism. If you truly believe in the power of reason over ignorance, and if you truly believe in the Brotherhood of Man, then show it; be the change you want to see in the world.

 

[Ja'far at-Tahir]

Good to see it isn't just me who is seeing this on this forum.

Iran, Iran, Iran, oh so scary.

It is, we're monsters you see. Beware, all ye who enter our dark land!

BAHHHHH!

 

[S.A.M.]

Well I think its a pity that so many oppressions in the world are ignored simply because they have no interesting Muslims to focus on. Being a non-Muslim nation is nothing to be ashamed of. I think we Muslims should adopt all these non-Muslims so that they get equal representation in world media

The Congo clearly needs it the most:

http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=103545

 

[spidergoat]

We can hate Christian terrorists too. There's plenty of valid criticism to go around. Are you just afraid to take a long hard look at the products of religious extremism?

 

[Ja'far at-Tahir]

Are you just afraid to take a long hard look at the products of religious extremism?

BuffaloRoam said the neo-Nazi whom shot up a Jewish School in America was Muslim. There is a very clear bias here and it can't be reduced merely to talking about 'religious extremism.'

 

[synthesizer-patel]

The Islamic world is too culturally conservative for my tastes but the strange thing is that the West's cultural conservatives are the most anti-Islamic segment of the West.

well it is widely accepted that americans do not understand irony

put an american far right christian conservative and a islamist in the same room - strip away the religious baggage and they should get on like a cross on fire ....... errrr I mean house on fire ;-)

 

[Gustav]

i also like to protest
australia is NOT a nation of dingo fuckers as SOME would have it

/saddened

 

[superstring01]

Think of it this way: if Congo became the issue du jour - would it be politically correct to say blacks are violent, backward, goat-fuckers, superstitious and racists?

No.

Just the weirdly religious ones who made women cover their heads, rioted in the streets over cartoons. . . ectetera, etcetera, etcetera.

~String

 

[Gustav]

nirakar
i would like you to name names accompanied by relevant quotes
this blanket condemnation is somewhat sloppy
lets quantify the magnitude of this alleged problem

/smirk

oh and whats up with posts 2 & 3?
were you partying? :m::cheers:

 

[Ja'far at-Tahir]

nirakar
i would like you to name names accompanied by relevant quotes
this blanket condemnation is somewhat sloppy
lets quantify the magnitude of this alleged problem

Are you serious? I bet you can find atleast 15 bar minimum if you click on any and every thread about Muslims, Islam, the Middle East, etc. etc. Infact give it some time and I bet you can probably find some in this very thread.

 

[Gustav]

well?
step up to the plate
the onus is on those that support the op

 

[Ja'far at-Tahir]

well?
step up to the plate
the onus is on those that support the op

Fine, I was going to let the OP take care of that but alright, I'll post a few for starters:

Islamic bigotry and intolerance of all not Islam,.....religion, life style, sexual preference, thought word and deed.

In response to me commenting on the neo-Nazi who shot up a Jewish School in LA he said the following:

By a Muslim.

Yes, Islam is so color blind, and tolerant of conflicting religious belief, even among themselves

Why is it the finger gets pointed at white people as if they're the only ones responsible? Germany had millions of collaborators throughout the middle east when it was involved there in WW2, and not only did several Muslim countries take advantage of African slavery on a scale comparable to what happened in the US, but guess where America bought many of its African slaves from in the first place?

Q. How did Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and Saudi Arabia become sacred islamic soil?

A. 30 Barrels of oil.

Check it out - none of those states are based on historical borders, most were created in secret recently, and all of them flaunted the rights to the original inhabitants: Egypt, for example, belonged to the Copts, and parts of Iraq belonged to the Kurds. Of course, Jerusalem and Hebron never belonged to the Jews - thus a Saudi dwarf put up signs:

DOGS & JEWS FORBIDDEN!

It is an in your face celebration of the victory over the infidels that they achieved on 9/11. Smash and burn them and whack a mosque down on top of their burnt remains to gloat over their defeat.

Im moving to England.
We get attacked, thousands of people die, and we allow them to worship there.

What do they need 13 stories for?
I'll tell yer.

Story 1. The Mosque
Story 2. Book shop
Story 3. Muslim advice centre.
Story 4. Women's floor
and so on and so on.........................

Story 13. Flight Training School

WND is no nut case - it exposes Osama - oops, I mean Obama, while the Lefties' resume against terror is 'BLANK'.

Also, the fact that every five seconds there seems to be a new "Iran is evil," thread.

 

[spidergoat]

BuffaloRoam said the neo-Nazi whom shot up a Jewish School in America was Muslim. There is a very clear bias here and it can't be reduced merely to talking about 'religious extremism.'

I don't doubt that there is an irrational bias against Muslims, especially from the American right. I believe that without the support of Muslims, we will never be able to control or contain terrorism. That being said, a rational analysis of the history of Islam reveals a mixed bag. Mohammed did conquer large areas of territory in the name of Islam, and those who resisted were often massacred or forced to pay protection money. There were periods of relative tolerance, but also periods of violence and abuse of non-Muslims, particularly Jews. Even today, the Protocols are widely read in the Middle East and assumed to be true. Islamic theocracies are places of brutal intolerance of women's rights and freedom of religion. Sharia law is almost universally condemned as barbaric. Islam has much to answer for, but we can help this process by acknowledging the often equally barbaric history of other religious movements and welcoming the moderates of all religions in sharing the freedoms of Western Civilization.