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?

[lottieandmia]

YANBU - there appear to be some people incapable of sensible thought.

[Mimishimi]

Well, that's true. The ones I know don't say "Allahu Akbar" either in normal convo ... Just 'inshallah' which translates to 'God willing'. This isn't quite normal though.

[pinkballetflats]

Well, whatever they claim to be, these two psychopaths seem to have gotten what they wanted and will continue to get what they want tonight if news reports are accurate: mosques being attacked and riots apparently starting in addition to them having killed a man in cold blood.

Why do people play into the hands of crazy individuals?

[StuntGirl]

I keep my friends list very low and carefully edited so for the most part I don't see disgusting knee jerk reactions like this. I have one new facebook friend, an acquaintance, who has posted some knee jerk rubbish about 'getting our soldiers out' and some wank about 'true Brits standing together'. The only reason she hasn't been deleted yet is that I commented underneath calling her out on it and I want to see what she replies.

[flippinada]

I've had a look and I see that the Muslim Council of Great Britain is a third sector organisation.

Expecting them to "do something" about someone who commits a violent crime and says it's because they're a Muslim terrorist is the equivalent of expecting (say) the Samaritans to "do something" about every mentally ill person who commits a violent crime.

[Binkybix]

There's nothing like this on mine, but amazingly I have seen someone saying that the two men were right. The boy who posted it is an utter twat anyway, so has finally prompted me to de friend.

[vivizone]

A 15 year old wrote this on FB:

In light of the recent events in Woolwich, I'd like to invite my Facebook friends who possess the opinion that a race of people are to blame for the actions of two individuals to comment on this status. Firstly, to expose you as a racist, ignorant bigot. Secondly, to identify those who I should no longer associate with and unfriend.

[Cat98]

I have deleted someone for posting that there should only be c of e and Catholic Churches in the uk. Because 'there are no Christian places of worship in 'their' countries, and why should 'they' come here and expect to be pandered to.
What this actually has to do with the awful violence today, I have no idea!

[threesypeesy]

I don't care what race or religion those evil men are but to do something so horrific to one of our soldiers is unacceptable and they shouldn't be in this country with those intentions imho I don't care who has an issue with it I have a bother who served in the armed forces and several family friends some who have sadly been killed.

Our soldiers should be safe in their own country!!!! No racism etc in my views I just don't believe terrorist should be treated with any dignity or compassion.

So sad for this poor man and his family/friends and fellow soldiers , it is lovely to see more people getting behind our troops and the help for heros charity as a result though as they need it!

[Dawndonna]

I just don't believe terrorist should be treated with any dignity or compassion.
Care to have that discussion with Nelson Mandela?

One man's freedom fighter...

All people should be treated with dignity and compassion, that is what sets us apart. Full force of the law, but treated as a human being.

[ophelia275]

To be honest I think it is better that people get rid of their verbal diarrhea online and purge their anger with words (that can be ignored) than go out onto the street with knives or meat cleavers in revenge.

I'm not saying any of this is right but it is much better for ignorant people (of all religions and races) to have an outlet via words where they can release their aggression than taking it out on innocent people in the street with physical violence? Remember the old saying "sticks and stones...".

[MrsBungle]

None of my Facebook friends have said anything untoward. A few have liked a page saying rip woolwich soldier. I'm glad I seem to have nice friends.

[urtwistingmymelonman]

isn't it strange how people are more appalled by this than the fact that an innocent man has been hacked to bloody pieces.
all I care about at the moment are him and his family.

[Seekingsense]

vivizone I applaud your extremely mature 15 year old friend and may steal his post.

It's been getting worse over night: "We should send them all back to their countries" with the comment underneath "Don't deport them - They all seem to love Allah, send them to meet him."

I don't want to just delete as I feel they need to be challenged on this.

[Seekingsense]

isn't it strange how people are more appalled by this than the fact that an innocent man has been hacked to bloody pieces.

I don't believe that this is the case. My thoughts, and I'm guessing thoses of most Mumsnetters, are with this man and his family, however it's worrying that this may lead to more violence on both sides.

[Wishfulmakeupping]

Really don't see how liking a memorial candle or RIP pg is offensive how is paying your respects offensive. What a sad world this is

[Moominsarehippos]

This is why I don't 'facebook'. If people rant, which I completely understand (shock, fear, dismay, anger), then challenge, discuss, engage.

he so-called muslim voices we hear loudest are the most alarming. If it wasn't religion, they'd be thugs for another reason (money, drugs, sake of violence).

Ok so there are nuts of all religions/none preaching hate, mistrust and violence, but many are purely doing so for the reasons of politics and power.

The man I heard (attacker) sounded like a "larndelunner mate". He talked about 'you people' 'your government' threatened 'you people and your children' then about 'our soldiers'. Clearly mad. He probably hasn't a clue about religion beyond the barmpots on the internet. Rumour is that his origins are in Somalia. I wonder if he has ever been there, or actually really knows about the place, history and politics of the place?

It puts the fear of god into me to know that there are people out there who have this violence and hate in them and this it fuelled by some twat over the internet. These people don't thinl "hey, I'm going to try to make the world a better place, get into politics, feed the poor...". No, they go out to hurt and kill.

I'm just waiting for the conspiracy nuts to start their thoughts on the incident.

[urtwistingmymelonman]

I .haven't seen a thread on here saying anything about this poor man.
imagine how his family are feeling.imagine if that was your son or brother or father and the only sympathy you were seeing was aimed towards an ethnic group rather than you?
yet again lets forget the real victims here eh?
lets make this about not offending someone

[Cat98]

No one has said the RIP pages or candles are offensive!

And I for one am not 'more appalled' by the fb stuff - the attack was awful and I believe the perpetrators should be locked up for life. I am disgusted by the racism this seems to have brought to the surface though - and the implications (more hate, violence etc) are extremely worrying.

2 people did this. A MINORITY of extremists share their views. We are objecting to a whole race or religion being tarred with the same brush. Ignorant and dangerous.

[Dawndonna]

Ur You're talking complete bloody nonsense. This isn't about offending people or not offending people, it's about objecting to a knee jerk reaction that will, if not challenged lead to further violence. There is not one of us who does not feel for the family. However, it doesn't exclude all parts of life, such as dealing with prejudice so that we can all enjoy living in a fairer and less violent society.

[cory]

To be honest, when that poor African child was tortured and murdered as a witch in her relatives' bizarre interpretation of Christianity, I did not feel called upon to distance myself as a Christian from their actions. Nor did I see the Pope or the Archbishop of Canterbury rushing to do so.

We all knew we would be perfectly safe from any association with a madwoman who committed murder in the name of our religion. And tbh I don't feel in the least responsible or tainted by it.

I don't remember any calls to send people like that back to their own country either, though (unlike the present murderers) she was actually an immigrant.

But I see that the Muslim Council have spoken out against the current atrocity. Because unlike me and the Pope and the Archbishop they know they will be blamed.

I don't see what country they'd be sending these guys back to though: they were not from any Middle Easter country but British black.

[MumfordandDaughter]

I, too, am disgusted by the verbal abuse about religion and race this awful attack has triggered among people.

I am also confused why these racists are being (quite rightly) berated for what they are saying, but a woman i posted about the other day talking the same way about Christianity was treated with sympathy by the majority of MNtrs...

People are in a state of shock and fear and speaking out of turn because of this. In a few weeks, i'm sure many of them will regret what they've said and/or how they've reacted.

My heart is aching for that solider and his family. It's also bursting with pride at the bravery of certain people in Woolwich yesterday such as the Head Teacher and the woman who confronted the attackers.

No, it's not fair to tar everyone with the same brush because of some awful people. i only wish the same rule would apply to all religions/races.

[KirjavaTheCat]

My count is at five for deletions at the moment. One woman who I thought I knew rather well just posted a video of a BNP march being kettled by the police, with the caption "Go on, boys!" along with a string of profanities and a call to chuck all the 'Islamics' out of our country.

Very depressing.

[ParsingFancy]

You're clearly not reading the same MN as I am if you haven't seen thread after thread full of sympathy towards the dead man and bereaved family, UR.

[samandi]

Hm, haven't seen anything like that on my Facebook page. There was something about supporting Help for Heroes but I had to go away and look at the news to see what it was about.