mozzaok
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OzPolitic
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Melbourne
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Islam has become a major problem for the whole world, and we really need to think rationally, and dispassionately, about just what is the best way to counter the massive swing toward Islamist extremism that it has undergone in the last 40 years or so.
In doing that, we seriously need to look at the actions of the west, that has exacerbated the situation to the point where previously peaceful, decent, spiritual people, began to accept violence as a legitimate expression of Islamic principles. Now that only happens when people feel they are threatened themselves, and it seems we have reached the point where the open animosity toward muslims has risen to the point where they can rationalise, and self justify, acts of barbaric violence, perpetrated by Islamist extremists, that previously they would have been repulsed by. Previously such people would have totally disassociated themselves from condoning such behaviour, while now, they are beginning to accept it as a consequential response to their perception of the self preservation of their religion.
So just how do we contain, or even turnaround, this growing acceptance of the radicalisation of Islam?
I believe we need to start by fearlessly and impartially using the secular laws of our western societies, by actively prosecuting all purveyors of hate speech, from whatever quarter they may rise, be it Islamist, Islamophobe, or Ultra Nationalist Evangelicals, we need to show that "OUR" society is a fair and moral society, and we will uphold it's principles.
We need to show that the agenda is not being set by extremists from any quarter, and once we start to do that, then fair and moderate people from all sides will at least have the option of associating themselves with a system they can confidently support as just and fair. This may seem insignificant, but I do believe that the erosion of the confidence that people have in their culture, due to actions of extremist politicians, has led to a weakening of our cultural integrity, that is easily exploited, and we need to take action to restore confidence and pride in our systems fairness. That is something we can do at home, for ourselves, and it is no small thing, but it is just the first step, a step which would create a more cohesive, united society, and also make it a society worthy of respect, and worthy of defending.
The first step is getting our own house in order, and doing that would be great, but even if we do, we will still be confronted with foreign regimes, and religious factions that are so extreme that in their current form, they will always be a threat to all secular societies, no matter how fair and honourable they may be, because of the fact that they are religious fanatics whose goal is the creation of a single worldwide theocracy.
Now the megalomanic idiocy of such a concept is something they will never grasp, so how do we marginalise, then contain, this most extreme element of Islam? This is the most problematic, because if we interfere in the internal politics of Islam, we merely give the fanatics new grounds to justify their violence against us. Can we actively promote one branch of Islam and hope that it will do it's own dirty work, and solve the problem for us? Can we identify and support potential leaders who are moderate and peaceful men who could steer the muslim people away from political jihad and back to individual spiritualism?
It is time for muslims to step up and take responsibility for their own religion, and the actions perpetrated in it's name, and the best we can do is to try and offer support to any men of good faith who take such steps, and try and protect both them, and their message, until the muslim people themselves turn away from violence, and fanatical dreams of worldwide theocracy.
The sad fact is that if Islam does not change it's ways, then we could see a day when Islam is compulsorily excluded from secular democracy's and people will seek extreme actions be taken against it, that would make our recent forays into the middle east seem positively benevolent, by comparison, and no decent person would ever want an outcome like that. We in the west cannot do it all, and we cannot do it alone, if Islam wants peace, and a place in our society, it must step up and do it's share of the lifting too. Any people who are praying types, would be well advised to include that to their list, when they next join in prayer.
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