Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you not to judge all Muslims by the actions of the men outside the school

240 replies

flashbac · 27/03/2021 09:23

Hi

It shouldn't need saying but...

Please don't judge us all by the actions of a vocal few.

Some have already acknowledged the protesters were mostly if not all angry young men with seemingly nothing better to do. They don't represent all Muslims.

As Batley's late former MP said:
"We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 27/03/2021 09:25

Was there a counter protest in support of the school, or statements made by Imams calling for calm?

Original poster
flashbac · 27/03/2021 09:34

And there you go. As sure as eggs are eggs, the majority are expected to atone for the minority.
And for the record yes, there are 'community voices' appealing for calm.

OP posts:
HeckyPeck · 27/03/2021 09:37

YANBU of course.

On here you'll get a lot of the people who "don't see race" so I imagine you'll get a lot of YABUs from them.

MayYouLiveInInterestingTimes · 27/03/2021 09:38

It’s interesting that you specifically put the blame on the men there. Isn’t it always the men, although from what I’m seeing they are not all young. The whole point of fundamental Islam and the way it is getting uppity at the moment is about keeping women under control.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 27/03/2021 09:48

YANBU OP, I hope things are OK for you and your family atm.

Do you mind if I ask how you feel about people displaying images of the Prophet? I know it's seen as offensive by most (all?) Muslims, and it must be particularly horrible if it's an insulting cartoon. But I would be interested to know how mainstream Muslims feel about this type of thing.

I don't want to turn this a a bunfight, so feel free not to answer if you think it'll start one.

notaknob · 27/03/2021 09:56

YANBU at all and I would never judge all Muslims (or any race) by the actions of a few.

On another note (please don't flame me )
I don't really understand the problem they have the people protesting.

I am religious (Christian). I don't attend church but am 100% of faith. If my children were shown a cartoon of Jesus as part of RE lessons It wouldn't bother me at all unless the context was in a really damaging way. It's all subjective isn't it.

Can anyone clarify without hijacking ops post?

Fatladyslim · 27/03/2021 09:58

I have missed something, what is this about?

Of course you shouldn't judge all Muslims by the actions of a few idiots.

TheReluctantPhoenix · 27/03/2021 10:00

Yanbu,

But seems actions of one man have caused all men to be judged.

Tis the modern way...

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 27/03/2021 10:15

notanob
Creating images of people is not encouraged in Islam (only God can create) that is why Islamic art is often based on geometric patterns and calligraphy.

So creating an image is problematic. If that image then appears to be poking fun at Mohammed that is more offensive.

DH is Muslim I am not. I don’t believe in being gratuitously offensive to any religion. However, trying to stop people using materials that may be offensive in a legitimate debate is not acceptable.

The protesters are not doing my Muslim DH and sons any favours. It is sending out the wrong message.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 27/03/2021 10:18

@notaknob

YANBU at all and I would never judge all Muslims (or any race) by the actions of a few.

On another note (please don't flame me )
I don't really understand the problem they have the people protesting.

I am religious (Christian). I don't attend church but am 100% of faith. If my children were shown a cartoon of Jesus as part of RE lessons It wouldn't bother me at all unless the context was in a really damaging way. It's all subjective isn't it.

Can anyone clarify without hijacking ops post?

I know it's because showing images of the Prophet is specifically prohibited, and in this instance it's much worse because the cartoon was deliberately insulting.

Trying and failing to think of an equivalent... I guess maybe for Christians, they wouldn't be offended by a picture of Jesus but they wouldn't be keen on taking his name in vain, because that is specifically prohibited. And then doing that in a particularly offensive context would be worse still.

I am aware of the irony of me talking about blasphemy, given my username Grin And as it happens someone did once tell me to change it for that reason.

HeckyPeck · 27/03/2021 10:23

Having read about it, why on earth would a teacher use a deliberately insulting cartoon in a lesson?!

megletthesecond · 27/03/2021 10:27

Yanbu. I did think the men looked more like yobs than protestors.

Vegiereggie · 27/03/2021 10:31

Maybe to discuss why it is inflammatory and what people’s responses have been to it Hecky pecky? Charlie hebdo? Free speech? Are we entitled to offend others in the quest for free speech. It raises a lot of questions. But agreed it depends on what context the image was shown.

OP no blanket judgement here.

JustSleepAlready · 27/03/2021 10:35

I have no problem with anyone of any religion unless they mean harm to me. I have a problem with these people sticking their nose in and getting involved in something that really doesn’t involve them. Those poor kids can’t get to school because of them. Everyone can be offended. But not every offence warrants a disruption to daily life because of unwarranted and unnecessary protests. And death threats?? I judge these people not by their religion but by their actions.

itsgettingwierd · 27/03/2021 10:35

Of course I won't judge all Muslims by the actions of a few.

The same as I don't judge all men by the actions of a few.

The problem seems to be the message gets lost in these debates.

It's not about lumping everyone together in a box based on their sex, sexual orientation, race or religion. It's about hearing voices and discussion about how everyone can feel and be valued for who they personally are.

The problem here is that a few making threats and causing a school to close for safety do nothing to educate or debate or help portray a message - they just do lots towards making many (not me!) Despise and misjudge what they stand for.

Their (very likely) valid message has been long gone and lost.

RiojaRose · 27/03/2021 10:35

I think the teacher was highly insensitive and should have used different visual examples. I also think using those particular examples with school children indicates that the teacher has insufficient comprehension of the nuances, which isn’t good practice in teaching.

Blueeyedgirl21 · 27/03/2021 10:36

Religion shouldn’t even be in schools. Any religion. If you want your child to be educated with a religious ‘slant’ or ethos you should have to pay to put them in a specialist school IMO

ImAlrightThanx · 27/03/2021 10:38

YABU at all, but those that judge any majority by a tiny minority won't listen to reason.

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 27/03/2021 10:40

I don't and recognise that the vast majority of Muslims are respectful of others.

Whilst I think the discussion could have been had without cartoons being shown (indeed I think a blank piece of paper and why it does not have a cartoon on could make the point even better), I do not agree with protests outside schools at all.

OfaFrenchmind2 · 27/03/2021 10:41

#notallmuslims

Titterofwit · 27/03/2021 10:43

What I dont understand is how these sort of protests can spring up and generate so much hate and venom so quickly.
Where do they come from?
All of my Muslim friends and colleagues are unfailingly kind ,gentle in words and deeds and very generous. They bring their children up in the same way as far as I can see. If I use my personal experiences I would fully expect maybe a strong protest from the local Imam(s). Possibly an apology to be delivered by the 'offender' or something that carries a more personal effect when it was a personal error. But this kind of 'protest' will do nothing except create fear and dissent among the rest of the population.
Does it come from an immediate outrage over a picture? Or is it something created from an outside influence to generate unrest?

BigPaperBag · 27/03/2021 10:47

No idea what you’re talking about @flashbac

Hallyup5 · 27/03/2021 10:48

This school isn't too far up the road from me and I've worked with many families from this area. I can honestly say that there is no way that I would tar everyone with the same brush. I've found that Muslim families, in general, are some of the most respectful and welcoming families that I've worked with.
I, and many others, are well aware that Islam doesn't teach people to behave the way that these men are behaving. This is nothing short of bullying. It's fine to have an issue with the way this teacher has chosen to teach his students, but it should be dealt with in a civilised manner.

BrumBoo · 27/03/2021 10:48

I don't blame any individual Muslim for the actions of a few, whether it's a reaction over a silly cartoon or much bigger and destructive actions made in the supposed name of Islam. I don't like or agree with Islam as a religion, but no more or less than any other religion or social belief system that has a profoundly negative effect on people. As the saying goes 'Love the sinner not the sin', well I have no issue with an individual, just the ideology they may follow.

Wendywoodd · 27/03/2021 10:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.