To be shocked and frustrated with the Islamophobia that's bursting out all over Facebook today?

[Seekingsense]

Following the awful tragedy in Woolwich today.

I have seen everything from "We want our England back" to "Kick out all the foreigners" to "Islamic infiltration of the UK" etc. I have paraphrased as some of the stuff is so horrible I do not want to repeat it.

This is from normal everyday people and lots of them. Is this really what people think?

I, like most people am horrified by what has happened to this young soldier in Woolwich, but why is everyone so quick to blame an entire religion for it and to jump on the 'kick out all immigrants' bandwagon.

What can we do about it? Ignore, delete, post, report?

If you haven't made a racist comment Chipstick then it is not directed at you.

This link from the Guardian reports increased attacks on Muslims.

I looks like Islam has become the new western bogeyman for the 21st century.

I meant in countries that are strictly muslim countries. Men don't appear to wear such dress that covers everything

*It looks like, is what I mean to say.

God forbid you should be a muslim paedophile who claims benefits. The Daily Mail might actually jizz in it's metaphorical pants.

OK, I'm being a pedant but it's important. There's so much hysteria and hyperbole on both sides and it gets in the way of crucial debate and descends to people just calling other people 'racists' or 'woolly liberals'

For what it's worth I agree with a point made previously. Yesterday horrifies me. But I'm so sick of the rhetoric on both sides (Government and Muslim representatives) condemning the attacks but not actually doing anything - like try to understand why they happen and actually start to change things

My two penneth worth... My husband has spent over 2 years in Afghanistan. His experience is that some Muslim women there are incredibly oppressed. I'm sure that's true in many other countries/religions as well.

YANBU

Fortunately most of my friends are sane and rational people, but one or two have made questionable comments or shared some rather odd memes.

However, Mumsnet made me do this... I'm usually one of the 'silent majority' and ignore most of the shite that appears on my FB newsfeed. However, one friend posted some awful racist, hate filled bile that demanded all Muslims be removed from the UK. Knowing this person, it is a knee-jerk reaction and repeating someone else rather than their own deeply-held beliefs. That does not make it OK

I and a couple of their other friends challenged them. They removed their original post. Thank you MN for making me speak out, rather than being appalled by their comments but keeping my thoughts to myself for fear of causing offence. I'm not kidding myself that this will have made much difference, but if this type of crap keeps appearing on my newsfeed then my already very selective friends list will be even smaller.

That said, this was a truly awful act and my thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Drummer Lee Rigby.

Winenot many WOMEN are oppressed - everywhere - fact!

it's not just one religion

many men exploit kids

Many people commit terrorist acts

there are problems within some parts of the Muslim world and with some people who use Islam to justify their behaviour

but the exact same can be said of other religions

that is my point

we see Muslims as some uber scary alien enemy - they are not

Oh and I have 4 good friend (2 adults and 2 kids) who have worked in Afghanistan for the past 5 years

And I was agreeing with you gordy

To be fair flip I don't think that fear/view has stemmed from nowhere. 9/11 and 7/7 in london has logged in peoples minds which is why the feeling is there.

Personally I don't like any religion because they cause so much conflict.

I do object to this whole thing though where as soon as a black person whether british or non british commits a murder it is justified by the fact white people have murdered too and I find it odd the same people who are deleting fb friends are also the ones defending a muslim protest that is telling non muslims to burn it hell.

sorry - my birthday in 1 hour - I have had wine - not very good at being totally on top of it all x

I wrote a similar post earlier, twice. The Muslim community need to be more vocal in their condemnation. Ajmal masoor was very good on sky news today, lets have more like him speaking out and trying to change things. I'm sure it's quite within keeping to say young disenfranchised Muslims should be helped and educated by the people in their community's but equally young ill educated Brits should also be educated and we may be able to change mindsets. The Muslim community need to step,up to the plate. Everyone must play their part as david Cameron said.

It's not Afghan top trumps! I was trying to illustrate that I was speaking as a result of knowing someone with a bit of experience of the particular religion being discussed - while pointing out that it's not just Muslim women but of all religions/countries, i.e. agreeing with you.

A very happy birthday for an hours time

I know! I covered that - but if it was top trumps ...would I win

No defended the what they were protesting about, ChocolateCakes, it was simply pointed out that white Christians also have the right to peaceful protest. FWIW I don't really agree with most of what they protest about either.

haha! Yes, you would indeed

Thank you I have had way too much

night night MN xxx

Happy Birfday for tomorrow Gordy.

I don't think I'm going to be able to make any more sensible points tonight night folks.

Night both

I realise that but my point was some of the people on fb may just be white christians doing there protest bit but that causes shock and outrage yet a muslim protest is always justified even though the content is of the same hatred.

ChocolateCakePlease
I do object to this whole thing though where as soon as a black person whether british or non british commits a murder it is justified by the fact white people have murdered too and I find it odd the same people who are deleting fb friends are also the ones defending a muslim protest that is telling non muslims to burn it hell.

I don't think any one is justifying the murder because white people murder too. Isn't the point that murders commited by white people don't get much coverage, especially on facebook? So why is there so much outrage and racial/religious hatred about this one?

And I dont know anyone who would defend a protest saying all non Muslims should burn, including Muslims.

I am nit shocked, saddened yes but shocked no

I do not really use fb but my friends tend to be open minded and tolerant i would not want to be friends with people who are not

not shocked ....

These "terrorists" want gunfire and blood on our streets. They want people to bite Their horrific tactics seem to be working.