What on EARTH happened in Kenya :-(??

[PacificDogwood]

Save us all from fanatics .

I am quite fanatically against extremists of all colours/faiths/nationalities.

What can go on in their heads when they plan an attack like this? Are they hoping to win support? Do they truly believe that atrocious acts like this wins a place in paradise?? Really?

I despair sometimes .

[boschy]

yes mme same woman, but a slight similarity I thought.

[MmeLindor]

I found the pic

Here is a pic With Samantha superimposed on it.

I don't think they look alike. Other than they are both wearing a veil.

[PacificDogwood]

Those 2 are not the same woman! No way.

[MmeLindor]

I was saying that as soon as it appeared on Twitter.

She looks like she has Indian or Pakistani heritage to me, certainly not white British/Irish.

[boschy]

must admit I only caught a quick glimpse as was doing other stuff; I thought they both had quite strong features. Henna is the lady's name, she was educated in UK; dont know if someone heard her speaking english, noticed a relatively pale complexion, put 2 and 2 together and made 5?

[MmeLindor]

It actually made me wonder if Kenyans (or Africans in general) are as hopeless at placing white/pale skinned people, as many westerners are at working out whether a person is eg from Korea or Japan.

Completely OT but this is really interesting.

[GoshAnneGorilla]

I think it's more about the media finding the "White widow" story juicier then people being killed. Particularly as they then get to print attractive photos of the aforementioned women. Grim.

[boschy]

fair point gosh; but they have also covered the atrocity pretty widely.

[MmeLindor]

Anyone else find it a bit disturbing that they publish the most glossy/seductive looking pics of the 'White Widow'?

[PacificDogwood]

Yes, v creepy.

I suppose The Meedja by their very nature do aim to Inform the General Public, but really remain Whores to Sales .
The creepy thing is that clearly the frisson people are feeling wrt a British white woman being even linked to this attach, IS in fact selling papers/making people click on websites etc.

Nought as weird as folk...

[MmeLindor]

Just seen on Twitter than the DM is reporting on the colourful underwear found at the house of the 'White Widow'

Yes, cause that is important news to report.

[GoshAnneGorilla]

Mme Lindor - disturbing, but not even slightly surprising. Apparently the male gaze is like that plant in Little Shop of Horrors, it must be fed constantly.

[PacificDogwood]

Oh feck, now Newsnight is talking about SL too!
It is just so difficult for me to follow what possesses people who follow a militant path, but I appreciate that that is at least partially due to the wonderful life I have lead and lead [confuse]

[duchesse]

What I find remarkable if she really is involved is that she has apparently found it so easy to disappear from the radar. I wonder if the fact that she doesn't really fit the stereotypical profile of the Islamic militant that they didn't take her seriously enough to really focus on finding her? I mean she's been missing since 2005! They managed to find Osama Bin Laden in that time- imagine the security surrounding him! Although I imagine that Bin Laden had probably become an embarrassment and burden for the organisation and they shopped his whereabouts to the US security forces...

[MariaLuna]

It actually made me wonder if Kenyans (or Africans in general) are as hopeless at placing white/pale skinned people, as many westerners are at working out whether a person is eg from Korea or Japan.

Oh, purlease.... talk for yourself.

You are insulting people all over the world. As well as being racist ("they can't tell the difference")

You should spend some time in Kenya..you'll soon know who comes from where. They know immediately where you are from anyway. Kenya has black, white, indian, mixed etc.
Whether you are in the country and are Sudanese, West or South African, African American, white or south American, they know...

Same in Asia. It's a continent.

And Europeans know too. I'm sure you can tell the difference between a Swede and a Greek?! ;-)
Hey! you have dark-haired Swedes and Blonde Turkish. (met both). And lots of mixed I'm sure.

I find your statement offensive and bigoted, sorry.

You should know better living in the country you do with 4 different languages anyway.

[giveitago]

"It actually made me wonder if Kenyans (or Africans in general) are as hopeless at placing white/pale skinned people, as many westerners are at working out whether a person is eg from Korea or Japan.

Completely OT but this is really interesting."


Kenya, has been v. multicultural for many decades.

[PacificDogwood]

Well, I am rubbish in recognising people's ethnicity, that does not make me bigotted. Just crap at facial recognition.
Nor is MmeLindor wondering about whether that might be the case for Kenyans/Africans wrt of other peoples.

[omuwalamulungi]

Lots of my East African friends say that we (white people) all look the same.

I have a friend who is 5'10, dark hair, brown eyes, I'm 5ft, blonde hair, blue eyes and we are always asked if we are sisters. We always reply yeah, twins.

I've also been asked more than once if I am Japanese.

Not to be flippant, but that's absolutely true.

[MasterOfTheYoniverse]

and what the f* just happened in Nigeria and what's been going on for some time now. EVERYWHERE.

I, Arab, Muslim, naturalised british urge everyone to accept that we are in this day and age fighting a war against FASCISTS just as you Europeans did in 1939.
I, as an arab/asian, muslim born , "westernized" have no identity because I'm robbed of it by fascists who take over all our indigenous countries from the straights of Gibraltar all the way to Indonesia.
Not to mention all of us in the diaspora that live in Australia, the far east or America, etc…
So yes, for most its an imported problem… but so was nazism.

[caramelwaffle]

"Boko Haram regards schools as a symbol of Western culture. The group's name translates as "Western education is forbidden"."

I abhor what is, and has been happening in Nigeria;
in this instance they have targeted agricultural students: they are wiping out a generation of young people who can bring growth and internal prosperity to the country.

They want a ruling religious elite and an uneducated slave class in the country.

[PacificDogwood]

Master, what a heartfelt post - thank you.
I trust that the overwhelming number of people of all faiths, colours and nationalities feel like you do and that those extreme minorities don't win just because they resort to violence.
Yes, Nazism may have been an import, but sadly a lot of people joined or supported it by omission of action against it...

There are so many deeply troubling things going on in various African states, but also in Asia and China .