Islam is no different from other religions at a certain point in their development. The goal is, to convert. You achieve that goal anyway possible but the end product is all that counts. Bums on seats. I am not sorry to say that, in my opinion, someone who is "being nice" in order to manipulate a person is someone "not being very nice".
From experience, I am rather inclined to distrust anything I am told by 'people of certain origin'..........and that includes MPs.
Of course people other than Muslims can be bullies but we are talking about what is happening at the moment so my point is relevant. Also, it seems that you are agreeing with me above in that we need to unite and stand up to bullies but then go on to say be we should be cowed by them and take care not to offend them. I'm all for flushing bullying out into the open with a few pointed fingers j for all to see so that it can be seen by all. Bullies love a dark corner where they can do their worst. I would have thought that you, as a woman, would understand that as you have more to lose than most on this site from a resurgence of Islamic power. Good luck with the burka shopping. I believe that Harrods does a very chic line.
I'm glad you saw sense. It's the oldest trick in the book: find someone vulnerable who is searching for answers, and say you have them. Offer a black and white world in which everything is wonderful if the person just gives in and accepts. That is why Scientologists run drug detox programmes (under a different name, of course). They get to vulnerable people at a low ebb. That is why people like George Bush who was an alcoholic suddenly find religion. That's why JWs continue to knock on doors - it must work or they wouldn't do it. A vulnerable person will answer the knock sooner or later. Maybe the proselytisers are sincere - they probably are since they themselves are brainwashed. I have spent quite a lot of time investigating cults and their practices owing to having a personal interest in the subject due to family member entanglements with them. I suspect your alarm bells rang when you were told that you would be "forgiven" for your tattoos. As if there could be anything to forgive. Cults/Relgion. For me it is one and the same, the only difference being the amount of adherents. There is no answer to anything you can sign up to. As Life of Brian pointed out, you have to think for yourself and find your own personal solution. If you want to think that religion has the answers - fine. Just accept that you're living in a dream, but if it works for you...
So you've been bullied into submission. Don't come crying to me when something you like or want to do is banned by bullies, religious or secular. If you don't use the pen to stand up to fascists they will destroy you. It's what they do.
You mean like demeaning white women, stoning women who've been raped and denying anyone but Muslims their religion or belief system? Probably everything we can lay our hands on if push comes to shove. Read some history please.
history,, like that of the crusades ?? have you read that ?, there in lies a few facts and the foundation of your perceived troubles.
if one were not careful when reading your posts one may get the impression that the English actually knew how to behave when abroad, to integrate into another culture, religion or society,, in fact ,if you look at historically ( oh that word ) eg. India, Mid East, Far East, West , in fact anywhere they have ever gone . you will see quite the opposite,, even today , go ask the good people of Magaluff !!!
Of course, you are right. But we gave the colonies back and we have learned from history. We have not tried to colonise the Middle East just bring stability to it - to keep the oil flowing I admit. But that benefits the global economy, not just the West. And you have the excellent standard of living you now enjoy as a result of those adventures and that exploitation of natural resources - as well as the freedom to complain about them - so it's a bit rich to do so, don't you think. All the wealth created by this country through know-how and colonisation has contributed to making us a fairly relaxed society. Look at poorer countries where people struggle every day and you will see conflict everywhere. Sunnis v Shias, Muslims against everyone, former communists and current communists against liberals, Hutus against Tutsis, blacks against whites. The list is endless. I'm proud of our pluralist secular society and what it has achieved and see nothing in the Muslim world but hatred and destruction. I don't want that to contaminate life here - and it will unless it's nipped in the bud by people being made aware of the possibility by satirists' pens and the dissemination of knowledge so that they demand stricter immigration controls. We need to wake up. Just as the rest of Europe did in 1936. If they had millions need not have died. I'm sure Adolf Hitler was mightily offended by caricaturists as he rose to power in the Thirties. But would you defend his right to be? And tell them to desist and observe the rules of common decency? I rest my case on that. Please enlighten me.
Oh honestly, if your argument rests on something that happened centuries ago you must really be struggling! Muslims have been killing each other for centuries without our help, as have Christians and other religious zealots. I look for solutions for the here and now guided by history - not for excuses for appalling behaviour driven by things that happened before any of the current protagonists' living memories. We've learned our lessons and apologised for the slave trade - but, of course, the Arab world sees nothing to apologise for even though it was involved in selling slaves to Europeans in West Africa. Funny that, maybe that's because slavery still exists in the savage societies of the Middle East and a few years ago was exposed by the courts as existing in an Arab household in West London. What do you think?
tbh,, reading your posts I doubt that I will enlighten or change any of your obviously deeply held racist and religiously bigoted views nor your " little England is always right attitude ",, especially when considering some issues .. " bring stability to the Mid East " when actually destabalisation if the region is the true goal, for the reasons that you state,, the poverty thing , let us not forget that many of the countries which are currently in poverty are so because of a history ( mm that word again ) of colonial exploitation which in many places still continues. like many of todays conflicts ,in 1936 Europe if Hitler did not have such financial support from western countries , eg, Ford motor company,, bank of England etc., then perhaps his influence would not have been so great, exactly the same as western armed, supported and funded ISIS is of today. you are correct in that the list is endless.. and wake up indeed we need to,, to the powers that really influence the world and what their purpose and goals are,, and who will really benefit from the radicalisation of a significantly small percentage of muslims .
perhaps some people ( s ) have longer memories than you.. yes I accept,, Christians have been killing muslims for centuries
Contributors to this thread might be interested to read something current Muslim scholars have to say about slavery. Your comments on this enlightened religion please. I'd be particularly pleased to here from any women. Here goes: "Islam allows a man to have intercourse with his slave woman, whether he has a wife or wives or he is not married. A slave woman with whom a man has intercourse is known as asariyyah (concubine) from the word sirr, which means marriage. This is indicated by the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and this was done by the Prophets. Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) took Haajar as a concubine and she bore him Ismaa’eel (may peace be upon them all). Our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also did that, as did the Sahaabah, the righteous and the scholars. The scholars are unanimously agreed on that and it is not permissible for anyone to regard it as haraam or to forbid it. Whoever regards that as haraam is a sinner who is going against the consensus of the scholars. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice” [al-Nisa’ 4:3] What is meant by “or (slaves) that your right hands possess” is slave women whom you own. I know people are going to say such things are written in the Old Testament but I don't think even Jehovah's Witnesses - that tome's principal apologists are that keen on promoting or defending it's worst excesses.
