Thanks for the sentiment Dub - but then, WHO is the arbiter of what or what is not any of the above. For example, the sweet little "egg lady" who makes the omelettes or serves up the boiled eggs at breakfast buffet at our favorite hotel (North Bali) is Muslim - we love her and her family back in SIngaraja. She regards us as her "parents".
One of our best friends in Bali married a Muslim lass. She's lovely - not a terrorist either. (And not in hijab either!) A very canny businesswoman.
I am sure most of us have some Muslim friends.
Our "egg lady" is a billion miles away from being even remotely "radical" or "terrorist." Come to think of it though - she doesn't wear hijab - but typical Balinese dress. We only ever knew she was of the Muslim faith because she told us in passing one day.. None of our business - and she, the most harmless, lovely and sweet little lady. (She has a glorious head of hair, uncovered, by the way!
Several in our family have the privilege to be patients of wonderful specilist medico who happens to be Muslim, as do some of his Registars. Highly educated and caring men.
Yet I am intensely, fiercely, against what I see as blatant oppression of females (hijab, burqa, etc), and the generalises repressions of women by these thuggish militant extremists - male and female. And the butchery, savagery, hate, and single minded violence now rampant throughout so many areas of the Middle East. RAdical ISlam has long broken the boundaries of being able to claim it's motivations "religious". It's a vile political movement - and it's aim? World domination - and imposition of a world caliphate, and world-wide imposition of Sharia law.
And so we MUST be angry, And we MUST resist Whether we like it, or not.
No need for crass - insult - rude - let's just stick to the arguments at hand and debate civilly, even if, yes, we are angry.
As the world did with Hitler - they hated war. too - those brave resisters..20 millions died inWW2 - inc Germans - if we see gross and great evil - we have to counteract it.
We have to be careful not to lecture either. Seeing such atrocites, cold blooded beheadings, etc. tend to bring out very potent and angrily expressed feelings.
I believe the majority of Aussies are rational beings - not racists, red necks, or bigots. But every society has them. Will always have them - no matter the issue.
Aussies slow to anger. But here, right is on the side of the majority who are sickened, and shocked. And utterly outraged- and fed up at all this slaughter and hate.The anger boils over. Sometimes, inappropriately Or worse. (Of course we don't see the (awful) forum "prunings". You do..
Must be hell for moderators though.
Expand