To blame Islam even for this??

[durezz]

I have just heard about a maniac axeman who has injured more than 20 people going on a rampage on a train. It's horrific and doesn't bear thinking about.
But is it fair that without any details people automatically assume it has something to do with the religion of Islam?

Of all the atrocities happening these days I feel so sad that after every such incident 1.8 billion Muslims are somehow held responsible. Fair?

Just after a general consensus to pick your brains and see is that really how people think?

The OP has a point. It's shameful the way the media has flamed the fires of Islamaphobia. The way the media reports on terrorism and similar crimes committed by people who are Muslim and by people who are fundamentalists of other religions. A Christian extremist blows up an abortion clinic or goes on a shooting rampage, the descriptors used will be very different.

Seriously there have been academic studies done on the endemic coded racism in linguistic choices widespread in the media. It's the same as how for example the media use very different language for a murdered black child to a murdered white child. The studies are fascinating and terrifying.

I don't recall reading about any abortion clinics being blown up. When did this happen?

There have been a number of abortion clinic bombings over the years.

The statistic I found: "From 1977 to 2014, according to the National Abortion Federation (NAF), eight abortion providers have been murdered, and there have been an additional 17 attempted murders; there have been 42 clinic bombings and 182 arsons."

A Planned Parenthood clinic in Wisconsin was bombed in 2012, and the terrorist shooting at one in Colarado last year (there were six arsons at abortion clinics organised by the same group that year), then the Boston clinic bombing. I was shocked when I read the figure of 42 bombings; I'd only heard about a couple. Shocking how the media ignores such things!

I have also noticed the language used in the media.
The term Child exploitation is often used when 13 year old girls are raped by a group of men from middle eastern origin - but is this not paedophilia?
I thought child exploitation was sending children out in bad weather on a paper round.
The sexual assaults in Cologne were underplayed by the authorities so not to create civil unrest. I think there is manipulation in the media - but it is not anti Islamic. Quite the opposite.

*Colorado.

Eight abortion providers have been murdered in 37 years.
Well that's eight too many - but with that figure I am not surprised it is not a hot topic in the media.

42 abortion clinic bombings.

Several in recent years.

Some of which got almost zero media coverage outside of local press and publications that specifically cover feminist etc issues.

I'm ashamed to admit that my immediate thought was "not another one".

Having heard the few details that have come out though my thought process then turned to:
"is this another disenfranchised young man, probably with serious mental health issues or maybe even some form of PTSD (refugee from afghan, was an unaccompanied minor I think?), who has done a terrible, terrible thing that ISIS will jump all over and claim it in their name?"

Either way, awful, awful thing to happen and feel so sad for everyone involved.
Just another senseless thing in the world

Bombings are atrocious yes - but how many deaths?
Deaths are what get media attention.
Bombing buildings is terrorism, but mowing people down in a lorry, shooting masses of people at concerts will create more media attention.
If an abortion provider has had his office bombed overnight - I agree that is awful. But the media will focus on actual lives lost.
94 people died in Nice with many on life support - the media are bound to focus on that - for lives lost alone.

Yes, I think it's a fair assumption to make given the current global situation and the numerous incidents preceding this one.

It's nice to know there are rational ppl out there who don't jump to conclusions and think we're all a bad bunch just because of the religion we follow.

There are lots of us.

It seems you can't criticise Israel without risking being accused of antisemitic, but it is fine to blame any act of terrorism / murder on Islam.

The people I work with who are Muslim are just like the people I work with who are Christian, Sikh, atheist, Zoroastrian...

They are people.

People with families who watch TV, work, eat, drink and fart just like everyone else.

I'm surprised (but probably shouldn't be) by the poster who said they wouldn't go to Paris now. Just because something is appalling doesn't make it high risk. Many millions live in European cities, the chance of a visitor being caught in a terrorist attack are infinitesimal. It would make more sense to stay off the roads - road accidents kill around 35 people a week in the UK.

IMO any act of public violence is terrorism.
To be completely honest; rightly or wrongly I tend to suspect that when these acts occur in mainland Europe that they are probably caused by an Islamic extremist until proven otherwise.

Such attacks in the US are less clear cut in my head. I did however suspect that the Orlando attract was likely religiously motivated due to the targets.

I do not however blame every participant in a religion.

The Afghan refugee had an IS flag in his room, according to the BBC.

This attack is sickening. By the way, and it doesn't make it any less awful, it's only actually about four people who have been physically injured. The other ~15 are being treated for psychological injury aka traumatic shock. It is definitely a horrific event but it's more of a random attack than a "rampage".

Back when I was working in London throughout the Irish bombing campaign, I didn't think 'bloody Catholics' when there was an incident - I thought 'bloody IRA'. Nowadays I think 'bloody ISIS', not 'bloody Muslims'.

Furry, you didn't because you're not ignorant but I worked, at that time, with a guy who had an Irish surname beginning O' and he used to get many abusive phone calls every time there was an incident from people looking through phone book for Irish names. Yesterday's anonymous caller is today's troll I guess. Sad. Remember the group who attached a paediatrician thinking he was a paedophile!

When I heard the news they reported he was an afghan refugee so yes I did think there was a connection to his beliefs which I would assume are Muslim so I did think Islamic terrorism

I can't think of any other terrorist act that has been headline news in the last few years that hasn't been connected with Islamic terrorists I am sure there are acts but we are hearing about Islamic terrorism constantly because it is such a huge problem

ISIS just claimed responsibility.

I know not all Muslims are terrorists, and I certainly don't blame every Muslim for what's happening just now, but as soon as I heard about this it really was the first thing that popped into my head, rightly or wrongly I knew how this was going to turn out, I had no doubt.

I thought he was probably a Muslim extremist. (Common sense no? Statistically, highly likely.)

This was borne out by further reports that he had an ISIS flag in his bedroom, and shouted Allahu akbar during the attack.

When abortion clinics are bombed in the USA, we all know it is right wing Christian extremist. We criticise them, and Catholics all over the world do not feel attacked. As far as I can see Church of England members here, do not feel attacked. Why should they? Even if people use sloppy language and talk about just "Christians" in a snide way or even "Bible thumpers" which could be seen as pretty rude, the other Christians in the world don't take umbrage.

So if we talk about extremists Islam, or criticise the practices of conservative Islam, I don't see it as a problem. I see it as part of Islam becoming an established mainline religion in the West. Being a true part of the fabric here means that there will be some criticism. And since, Islam is not a monolith, I am surprised that people assume critiquing one part of it is an insult to all of it. Surely, Muslims aren't that different from Christians in this regard?

ISIS just claimed responsibility

Chances are ISIS didn't have a clue it was going to happen but are more than happy to jump on the bandwagon when someone (a lone wolf) does something 'in their name' - or even has links such as a flag in their room.

It suits their agenda.

Isis and the Islamofacists are pumping out the ideas that instigate hate and urge following up on that hate with violent action that troubled people are latching onto. In that sense they are responsible.

Yes FurryDogMother has it right. I don't think of Islam, I think of ISIS. Just as I wouldn't have thought of Catholicism a few decades ago.

Of equal consideration is why the man who murdered Jo Cox is considered a lunatic or 'mentally ill' first and foremost before a terrorist.

you know what, the fucker in NICE was no more Islam than I am. That's pork eating, whore chasing alcoholic psychopathic CUNT he was. ugh

horrible times