to suggest that if we start to hate eachother, the terrorists have won?

[perfectlybroken]

Having glanced at some of the threads on here since the Paris attack, I can't help feeling we are eating into their hands. Their actions, while tragic in their consequence only become far reaching if they increase suspicion and hatred between Muslims and non-Muslims. I'm amazed by the suggestion that many Muslims support these attacks. Dh and I are Muslim and we have never met a single person, here or abroad, who has agreed with the terrorist attacks of the last few years. If I did meet someone like this I would tell the police.
Could I ask everyone to remember that most humans want to live in peace and know that they and their children are safe and want the same for others too? Thank you.

[perfectlybroken]

My suggestion is that if anyone comes on and says anything antagonistic, no one responds. Then maybe the thread will be saved!

[Comingfoccacia]

I saw a thing on FB a while back with a picture of the KKK and one of IS terrorists. The caption was that no one thinks the KKK are representative of Christians just as IS / al qaeda fundamentalists are not representative of Muslims.

[ChickenMe]

We play into their hands if we have a knee-jerk reaction.

An "us and them" mentality is a catalyst for extremism. When we become seperated, assumptions are made. When we view people as "other" we start to dehumanise. The extremists want this.

However there is a place for sensible questioning and discussion. Another knee-jerk reaction would be to self-censor through fear. Again that's what the extremists want.

In London people seem pretty well integrated-not sure what others think? People are just getting on with their lives and I think most reasonable people try to judge others as individuals. Most people, whatever the creed, want the same things in life. We all have more in common than not, despite the efforts of those who would seek to divide.

[sandrapanda]

The irony indeed. I'm muslim and have followed to other thread and have not posted on it because of it's tone.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Thank goodness for this thread

Did best on other thread but didn't get anywhere.

[SlaggyIsland]

YANBU.

[sandrapanda]

Bless you for trying Fanjo

[perfectlybroken]

Thanks so much for all the thoughtful responses. I really felt something needed to be said and I'm so glad to see others did too. I'm afraid I didn't have the stomach to read all of the other threads but well done to those who tried to be the voice of reason!

[2015ontheway]

I don't think there is/ should be any onus on any Muslim to say anything about the attacks- what on earth does any ordinary person going about his or her business have to do with any deranged extremist?
I don't feel any need to apologise for Rupert Murdoch.

[cleanmachine]

Although did you notice that jk rowling and lots of others have apologised for rupert. Personally he makes my skin crawl.

[Madamecastafiore]

Maybe it's just the Times and BBC news which I read and watch that haven't aired anything condemning the attacks during the times I am watching.

I am not saying Muslims should have to apologise, they have nothing to apologise for IMO. I am saying personally I think more obvious condemnation would put paid to some idiots thinking the jihadists acted for all of those that follow the religion.

[FeedTheBirdsTuppenceABag]

I think 99.9% of all comments I have seen have been very open and rationale. Of course we all know people want peace and to get on with their lives. Asking questions is not attacking.

[EasterEggHuntIsOver]

Thank God for this thread, I hear reason at last. I must say I agree with you all completely.

[londonrach]

I agree but admit to being more wary now. Was on a recent tube and someone dressed a certain way staying praying aloud and swaying. Dh and i got off at next stop an waited for next train. Very shamed we did this.

[PacificDogwood]

We had lunch with a Muslim friend today and he felt that a. of course ordinary Muslims have nothing to apologise for, but also b. that individual mosques or other Muslim organisations could be more 'visible' in their distancing themselves from acts of violence and terrorism.
Interestingly, he is a rather secular guy and I guess has as much to do with the mindset of violent extremists as I have.

He also made an interesting point that the fall of the Ottoman Empire left a power vacuum in the middle East that is still being fought over - hence secular and islamist states battling it out (Attaturk was of course a great hero in Turkish history, a general and v v secular to the point of killing mullah and lining the streets with their bodies. He introduced free and compulsory primary schooling for boys AND girls, voting rights for women etc - still cannot find myself approving of his methods though).

The history of the current radicalisation of a small number of mainly young Muslims is rather fascinating to find out about.

[Instituteofstudies]

I read that the terrorists want to incite hatred towards Muslims by the rest of society so that Muslim's in general, will be more liable to band together against the hatred and abuse coming their way.

From the look of all the demonstrations in Paris and elsewhere, it looks like the vile actions in Paris, aren't going to have the effect they wanted as just about everyone of every religion is appalled by what they've done.

[JohnFarleysRuskin]

I absolutely agree with you- holds hands.

I do want to say about the other threads though. Yes there is some islamaphobia about, clearly. But on the thread I was on there were also two posters who actually suggested the attack was arranged by Mossad, one poster who sarcastically said boo hoo -these people (the cartoonist) weren't decent people minding their own business and another said this is what you get when you attack the important people in Islam.

The venom or ignorance is coming from many angles.

[PacificDogwood]

I had never heard of Charlie H. and now that I have (for all the wrong reasons) and have had a look at their cartoons, I find that I find some of them unfunny, in poor taste and I can see how they would be offensive to an observant Muslim.
Still, nobody deserved to die over them and most (even observant Muslims) would agree with that.

Yy to holding hands.

[500Decibels]

I posted similar on the other thread but it seems that some people don't realise that Muslims are the victims of the terrorists too, as well as the focus of hatred.
Islamic extremists/terrorists have killed more Muslims than non-Muslims. Muslims were killed in 9/11 and 7/7 bombings too.
People want to live in peace, not in fear.

[cleanmachine]

Pacific I'd never heard of hebdo either until now. I'm confused about the whole situation tbh as i read on another thread that they fired a cartoonist for anti semitic remarks.

I watched the March but did feel slightly sickened by seeing all the world leaders there clamouring for a photo op. There were quite a few hypocrites in that lineup.

[JohnFarleysRuskin]

Why does that make you confused about the whole situation though?

I think Charlie hebdo have published many things is disagree with as a feminist. I have managed to contain myself.

[cleanmachine]

Confusion only because i assumed they were completely in favor of free speech but then had fired one cartoonist for exercising his free speech. When does free speech become racist speech? I have to admit i don't know the full story but i was surprised that given their rep hebdo would still have limits on the free speech their cartoonists could exercise.

[Theboodythatrocked]

I don't think anyone rational of any or no faith supports the actions of murdering terrorists.

The marches today prove that these evil people's actions instead of dividing people on the contrary they band people together to show support for decency and free speech.

Not sure about the comments on the recent treads being bad? Or somehow dreadful!

Ffs that's debate! The whole fucking point of mumsnet is about supporting and debating.

We don't all agree on every point thank goodness.

Get over the angst.

[Theboodythatrocked]

clean it's not racist to draw cartoons of a religious figure!

Religion is a lifestyle choice.

Wish this wouldn't get mixed up.

[cleanmachine]

I agree thebody. I didn't realise i had said that anywhere.