Surly's Soap Box

Okay. I get a little worked up. The Muslims swarming into the streets, burning cars and buildings, killing people, it just drives me nuts. Don't they have jobs?

**breath**

**relax**

Alright.

Captain Ed points to a blog called "We Are Sorry", set up to apologize for the "Cartoon Mayhem".

Opening Statement:

"In the middle of all the mayhem surrounding the Danish cartoons controversy, a group of Arab and Muslim youth have set up this website to express their honest opinion, as a small attempt to show the world that the images shown of Arab and Muslim anger around the world are not representative of the opinions of all Arabs. We whole-heartedly apologize to the people of Denmark, Norway and all the European Union over the actions of a few, and we completely condemn all forms of vandalism and incitement to violence that the Arab and Muslim world have witnessed. We hope that this sad episode will not tarnish the great friendship that our peoples have fostered over decades."

Further down the page:

"When confronted with such a situation, we deplore the use of violence in all its forms, as well as threats of violence and derogatory and racist remarks being thrown in the opposite direction. We condemn the shameful actions carried out by a few Arabs and Muslims around the world that have tarnished our image, and presented us as intolerant and close-minded bigots." (italics mine)

Good. It's a start. Someone is trying to make headway. A moderate voice perhaps. They make other points, such as the paper that published these cartoons have a history of goading people. I'll give them that. They also make a point that the media tends to focus on extremist, and they get the air time. Looking at our own media and seeing the fruit cakes they parade out as representatives of our society, I see they're point. But where is the outrage? Why isn't the Islamic world 'up in arms' to stop this sort of radical behavior?

The comment section raised some good points, some pro, some con:

From

"Sorry, but I don't believe a word of it. When I see ALL of you rise to the streets and supress what you deem as a "few" radicals who have hijacked (no pun intended) your religion, I'll believe it. And I mean all three BILLION plus of you worldwide. Otherwise you are as responsible and as cowardly as the people you claim to distance yourself from. Another people learned this back in the 1930's. They silently stood by while madmen took over their country. Millions of innocents died back then because their people stood by and did nothing. Where are your leaders standing up and speaking out? Where are your clerics? Where are your millions of citizens taking to the streets and speaking out? Nowhere is the correct answer. Because Muslims are simply manipulating the world media to achieve your goals. Apologize my arse. When I see the above mentioned I'll take your apology seriously.

You Muslims started this war officially on 9-11. I suggest you rise up and deal with these people you deem radical and quickly. Otherwise be warned. You started this, but we sure as hell will."

And this:

"Nice to see moderate Muslims trying to be sensible. However, it's my feeling that moderate Muslims are becoming an ever smaller group. You guys better get that radical side of your religion under control and soon. The whole non Muslim world is slowly turning against Muslims because of the violence preached and perpetrated by Muslims."

And of course someone who doesn't even try to get the facts straight:

"it's good to see that someone can put things in perspective and realize that some christian fanatics in a magazine no one in norway have heard of does not represent the view of all citizens in this country, and that some jokemaker in denmark tried to be funny(he did not succeed though, the jokes sucked) and didnt(at least i think he didn't) know that drawing the prophet was some kind of horrible thing to do, as Jesus have been in jokes "forever". Anyway, i think people should leave the judgement for this jokes up to their respective god to make judgement over, and not to take things in their own hand, and start violent behaviour, which really makes things a lot harder for muslims all over the world, and especially in europe.

hopefully the majority of muslims understand that this was a harmless joke( and i really think they do, to bad some rotten apples destroys for the whole bunch(that goes for christian fanatics as well))"

I would have put links to their individual sites but they changed their guest book format as I was writing this.

There are a lot of people saying the same thing: The moderates need to step up to bat. Like the one commenter said, "You guys better get that radical side of your religion under control and soon. The whole non Muslim world is slowly turning against Muslims because of the violence preached and perpetrated by Muslims."

As for me, I'm laying off commenting on anything muslim for a while. I get too worked up. I get angry. I try to put the people in the streets in the context of criminals that need to be dealt with, but the more I look into it, the more I see their preachers as the instigators and the governments as the sponsors. It's a culture/religion in need of reformation, and it will undoubtedly be a bloody one.

I think I'll find some leftie-kook "social justice" commies to go after.



Current Affairs,Islam,Middle East,News and Politics