egafd.com

.....this annoys me greatly. Muslim leaders appeal for calm as Charlie Hebdo special hits the streets

Firstly, why can't local authorities, police or MPs call for calm, just like local authorities, police and MPs warned the general population about back-lashes against the Muslim communities every time there's a terrorist attack involving a Muslim? Why do appeals for calm come from official channels and the law when it comes to non-Muslims, but they say nothing to quash possible Muslim anger? What are they afraid of? We are all British and all supposed to abide by the same laws.

Secondly, why do Muslim leaders have to do all this by themselves? It's not fair on them. We don't drag out a local vicar every time someone goes nuts who happened to have been born into the Christian faith (though they usually can't wait to get in front of a camera themselves).

It's just wrong on both levels. It places an unfair burden on certain Muslims and also sends a message that local authorities and the police only tell people to 'calm down' if they're not Muslim - as if Muslims are separate to the rest of us.

First of all, if violence occurs and Muslim leaders had said nothing, you would have been slagging them off for not providing any leadership or guidance, wouldn't you?

Secondly I don't think you have grasped the difference between France and England in terms of attitude towards this. In France the tradition of free speech is all part of the Liberty, Fraternity, Equality secularism at the core of French society. THe French government is taking the line - this is what we are. We believe in free speech. Therefore no need in that context to appeal endlessly for French Muslims to stay calm about this cartoon front cover.

As a result there are very many French newspapers and TV channels that have shown the front cover of the latest edition of Charlie Hebdo.

In Britain the media have been much more circumspect. However interviewed on Heart radio, the Prime Minister said he was not surprised that Charlie Hebdo had published an image of the prophet in its new issue, and other publications were free to do so.

"In a free country with free expression, it is perfectly clear - you can be offended sometimes," Mr Cameron said.

"There will be many Muslims who are offended by a depiction of the prophet. But being offended by something is not a justification for violence.

"The overwhelming majority of Muslims completely understand and agree with that view."

In short, calm down, calm down.

What I don't understand is why a picture of the prophet has become offensive? I believe there are dipictions of Muhammad from the 13th century onwards in books and art in places like Iran and Turkey?

Well here is one person's view

Stone Age religion. So glad I am a confirmed atheist. All religious books should be in the fiction section of booksellers...

Seems David didn't get my points at all. His eagerness to defend Islam at all costs blinds him.

If he'd looked carefully, I layed no blame on Muslims for this. I blamed the authorities and police for being afraid to give the Muslim communities in the UK the same advice they feel comfortable giving the rest of the population.

When we (quite rightly) don't want anti-Muslim backlashes after Islamist attacks on us, we get numbers of MPs, police spokespersons and local councilors warning about such retaliatory attacks. But when we (quite rightly) want Muslims to stay calm over something or other these MPs, police spokespeople and councilors are deafening by their silence. The appeal for calm comes from 'community leaders'.

I also pointed out it was unfair on these community leaders to burden them with controlling other Muslims. It's like we treat them as sheep who just follow what these people say. If I was a Muslim, I'd find that condescending. The blame here, is solely on the authorities in how they deal with Muslims compared to the rest of us. They should be treated the same. They are British, pay their taxes, vote and contribute to society. It's time society treated them accordingly.....and that's without prejudice and hate and without pussyfooting and patronisation.

I cannot see why David would disagree on any point I've made. But then again, it's David, isn't it?

A quick translation....

"Seems David didn't get my points at all."

David disagrees with me again.

"His eagerness to defend Islam at all costs blinds him."

I know this is over the top, melodramatic and incorrect, but I think I can wind him up by writing this. Tee hee. Tee hee.


" If he'd looked carefully,"

I'm really intelligent, you know and I have had quotes from Nietzsche on many of my posts. I also really like Nick Clegg.

" I layed no blame on Muslims for this."

However I do think they believe in an Islamic death cult backed up by a hateful, despicable Holy Book.

" I blamed the authorities and police for being afraid to give the Muslim communities in the UK the same advice they feel comfortable giving the rest of the population."

The link you describe refers to both France and the UK. I have explained the situation in both.

"When we (quite rightly) don't want anti-Muslim backlashes after Islamist attacks on us, we get numbers of MPs, police spokespersons and local councilors warning about such retaliatory attacks. But when we (quite rightly) want Muslims to stay calm over something or other these MPs, police spokespeople and councilors are deafening by their silence. The appeal for calm comes from 'community leaders'."

This is obviously not true given I have already quoted Cameron. If you were better informed you would realise that similar comments have been made by Labour and Lib Dem politicians. You may have also noticed that there are Muslim MPs and councillors so it is not a situation of having "the authorities" on the one side and "Muslim leaders" on the other.

" I cannot see why David would disagree on any point I've made. "

You never can see why anyone on here might disagree with you, can you?

"But then again, it's David, isn't it?"

David always disagrees with me about my hating Islam. The bastard. That is the main reason why I stopped debating with him.

I will leave you Sam to carry on being "annoyed greatly".

By the way have any UK Muslims taken your scholarly view on Islam that there is only one interpretation of the Koran, that any other interpretations have no merit and that these Muslims should be killing non-believers and enslaving ?

No? Jeez you mean there may be more people than me disagreeing with you?

Last bit of the translation

Besides Nick Clegg, I also really like Tony Blair. He started some fantastic wars to help Muslims. I can't understand why those Muslims aren't eternally grateful. Bugger Benidorm this year, I am planning to go on my holidays to Iraq and Afghanistan now that Blair, Bush, Obama and Cameron have sorted them out.

Seems there is plenty of islamic art dipicting Muhammad over the last 700 years.



The BBC is actually prohibited from showing Muhammed as per their own stated editorial guidelines:

?The prophet Mohammed must not be represented in any shape or form.?

The pope says there are limits to freedom of expression and that in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris ?one cannot make fun of faith?.



I would have thought any poking of fun is a test of a persons faith? Shouldn't make the slightest difference.


Doesn't bother me. I'm an Athiest. Thank God !grin!
Dave Allen