| ||
|
'Terrorism' as Muslim political violence
As FAIR has shown time and again (5/1/11, 4/15/14, 6/22/15, 6/14/16) over the years, media unjustifiably reserve the word "terrorism"—and the corollary breathless coverage it entails—overwhelmingly for political violence leveled by Muslims. Indeed, this past week provided one of the starkest examples of this asymmetry: White supremacist Alexandre Bissonnette's January 30 attack on a Quebec mosque was not generally described as "terrorism" by the press, and despite killing six times more people than the October 2014 attack on Ottawa's Parliament Hill by Muslim Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, it received only one-sixth as much coverage by US media (FAIR.org, 2/4/17).
As the "War on Terror" drags on into its 16th year, liberal and mainstream media have largely accepted the premise that "terrorism" is a separate and urgent manifestation of violence worthy of a global, generational struggle. This elevation to a separate moral order a particular kind of crime—whose definition, in practice, is arbitrarily restricted to perpetrators from a specific religious background—justifies throwing all sense of proportionality out the window. The very concept of a never-ending "global war on terror" laid essential groundwork for our current fever pitch of anti-Muslim sentiment.
'New Atheist' Islamophobia
Bill Maher is a fan of Bernie Sanders, a huge Obama booster and a frequent subject of write-ups on liberal websites for his latest dig aimed at Republicans. Maher is also a pro-war ideologue with a long history of bigoted statements about Muslims.
On his popular HBO show Real Time, Maher has repeatedly railed against Muslim immigration into Europe and the United States. He once declared that "civilization begins with civilizing the men; talk to women who've ever dated an Arab man. The results are not good." Maher has repeatedly downplayed the killing of Palestinians in Gaza, even once comparing Hamas to a "crazy woman" whose wrists you could only hold "so long before you have to slap her." Some other gems:
- "Islam is the only religion that acts like the Mafia that will fucking kill you if you say the wrong thing."
- "The Muslim world has too much in common with ISIS."
- "People who want to gloss over the difference between Western culture and Islamic culture and forget about the fact that the Islamic culture is 600 years younger and that they are going through the equivalent of what the West went through with our Middle Ages, our Dark Ages"
Bill Maher is a so-called "New Atheist"—those who use the pretense of reason and liberal enlightenment to advance otherwise banal conventional wisdom about American and Israeli aggression in the Middle East.
Other New Atheists, such as Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins, routinely provide faux-liberal cover to the most vulgar aspects of anti-Muslim sentiment. Dawkins tweets things like "All the world's Muslims have fewer Nobel Prizes than Trinity College, Cambridge," and had a much-mocked weeks-long feud with a 14-year-old Muslim kid over a clock he built for school, often times devolving into embarrassing conspiracy-mongering.
Sam Harris has turned anti-Muslim sophistry into a high art, focusing heavily on the pernicious influence of Muslim immigrants and the dangers they pose. Here's Harris in 2006:
Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe. The demographic trends are ominous: Given current birth rates, France could be a majority Muslim country in 25 years, and that is if immigration were to stop tomorrow. Throughout Western Europe, Muslim immigrants show little inclination to acquire the secular and civil values of their host countries, and yet exploit these values to the utmost—demanding tolerance for their backwardness, their misogyny, their antisemitism and the genocidal hatred that is regularly preached in their mosques. Political correctness and fears of racism have rendered many secular Europeans incapable of opposing the terrifying religious commitments of the extremists in their midst.
Harris' screeds Europe find an echo in the manifesto of Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who murdered nine people in a black church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June 2015:
From this point I researched deeper and found out what was happening in Europe. I saw that the same things were happening in England and France, and in all the other Western European countries. Again I found myself in disbelief. As an American we are taught to accept living in the melting pot, and black and other minorities have just as much right to be here as we do, since we are all immigrants. But Europe is the homeland of white people, and in many ways the situation is even worse there.
That the "demographic" threat is demographically groundless is no surprise; a 2016 Pew Research poll showed that people often wildly overestimate how many of their compatriots are Muslims. In France, for example, respondents said they believed 31 percent of the population was Muslim, when the number is actually 7.5 percent. In the United States, people put the number at 17 percent, when the actual figure is less than 1 percent. This distortion of reality is promoted by the "demographic threat" fear that Harris sows.
Sent: Monday, February 6, 2017 10:04 AM
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Re: {PFC-Friends} Re: {NA Bangladeshi Community} Re: Islamic Sharia and Sharia law
[Attachment(s) from zainul abedin zainul321@yahoo.com [mukto-mona] included below]Nomoshker, Sitangshu Da,"
THanks,
"...কুয়েতকে নিয়ে নয় কেন? .... জনাব সাগর এরপর প্রশ্ন রেখেছেন, আচ্ছা বাংলাদেশে বিভিন্ন সময়ে সংখ্যালঘুদের ওপর হামলা হয়েছে, সরকার বা বিরোধীরা কি কখনো তাদের পাশে গিয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে? কঠিন প্রশ্ন!" Please ask your Devi Hasina!
"সওগত আলী সাগরের মিলিয়ন ডলার প্রশ্নের সদুত্তর দেয়ার ক্ষমতা বাংলাদেশে কারো নেয়, তা বলার অপেক্ষা রাখে না। পরদিন তার পোস্টিংয়ের ওপর একজন জাহিদ আল-আমিন প্রশ্ন তুলেছেন যে, কুইবেক ঘটনার জন্য দায়ী সন্ত্রাসীকে কেন খ্রিস্টান বা শ্বেতাঙ্গ সন্ত্রাসী বলা হচ্ছে না, অথচ মুসলমানদের ক্ষেত্রে সঙ্গে সঙ্গেই সেটা বলা হয়ে থাকে? সওগত আলী সাগর এর উত্তরে বলেছেন, মুসলমানদের নামে ইসলাম ধর্মের বেশ কটি চরমপন্থী গ্রুপ আছে। তারা একটি আদর্শ প্রচার করছে। দেশে দেশে সেই আদর্শে উদ্বুদ্ধ হচ্ছে মানুষ। প্রায় সব হামলায় এরা দায় স্বীকার করছে। মুসলমানরা যে কয়টি স্থানে হামলা করেছে, সেগুলো সুনির্দিষ্ট একটি আদর্শ বাস্তবায়নের লক্ষ্যে করেছে। এরপর তিনি প্রশ্ন করছেন, অন্যদিকে খ্রিস্টান বা অন্য ধর্মাবলম্বীদের কি কোথাও কোনো উগ্রপন্থি সংগঠন আছে? তারা কি কোনো উগ্রপন্থি আদর্শ প্রচার করছে? তাদের সেই আদর্শে কি অন্যরা উদ্বুদ্ধ হচ্ছে? তিনি নিজেই আবার এর উত্তর দিয়েছেন এবং বলেছেন, মুসলমানদের বাইরে এ পর্যন্ত অন্য ধর্মাবলম্বীরা যে কয়টি হামলা করেছে কোনোটার সঙ্গেই উগ্রপন্থি বা ধর্মীয় গ্রুপের সংশ্লিষ্টতা ছিল না। দুর্ভাগ্য হচ্ছে, মুসলমানদের নামে কিছু সন্ত্রাসী গোষ্ঠী তৈরি হয়েছে, অন্য ধর্মের নামে সেটি হয়নি।"You are a media man! What's the size and impact of Kuwait (as tiny as your one county where you live in)! I am not a fan of these sold-outs/servants, who have "ropes" fastened around their necks! I know some Kuwaitis/Saudis, I tell them that!You ("do not!") know the charisma of the worldwide media controlled by whom. I/we are against the so-called Muslim terrorists. You "do not" know how many million dollars were spent (in US-UK joint sponsorship) to exaggerate (or even make fake scenarios) some of the "radical events/crimes."When governments are in action with radical programs why do you need radical groups in other religions (who elected Trump?). They have done their part, now he is and has to be in action. Even then, some groups are in actions--killings, burning!Bhalo Thakun!Zainul Abedin
On Sunday, February 5, 2017 1:24 PM, Sitangshu Guha <guhasb@gmail.com> wrote:
--
On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 1:52 PM, 'zainul abedin' via PFC-Friends <pfc-friends@googlegroups.com> wrote:
--Salam,
Hindus, Buddhists also have better rights/position in Bangladesh, except some sporadic problems created by mostly Awamis!
Zainul Abedin
On Sunday, February 5, 2017 10:44 AM, 'javed helali' via PFC-Friends <pfc-friends@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Christians have more rights in BD than Muslims in Israel, Chechnya, China,Thailand,BURMA,etc etc.
JH 512-669-5248
From: Sitangshu Guha <guhasb@gmail.com>
To: pfc <pfc-friends@googlegroups.com>
Cc: zainul abedin <zainul321@yahoo.com>; BANGLADESH C.FORUM <bdesh_cul.forum@yahoo.com>; Bangla Press <banglapress@gmail.com>; Bangladesh Environment Network <BEN@listserv.cc.emory.edu>; Bangladesh Progressives <bangladesh-progressives@ googlegroups.com>; Bangladeshi Americans <bangladeshiamericans@ googlegroups.com>; Muazzam Kazi' via BDPANA <bdpana@googlegroups.com>; New England Bnp <bnp.newengland@yahoo.com>; "bisneboston@gmail.com" <bisneboston@gmail.com>; "nabdc@googlegroups.com" <nabdc@googlegroups.com>; "ne_awamileague@yahoo.com" <ne_awamileague@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 5, 2017 9:21 AM
Subject: Re: {PFC-Friends} Re: {NA Bangladeshi Community} Re: Islamic Sharia and Sharia law
On Sat, Feb 4, 2017 at 11:26 PM, Rezaul Karim <rezaulkarim617@gmail.com> wrote:
- Dear Zainul Bhai,
- I thought it was pretty convincing.
- According to the author, Sharia didn't come from any references of Hadith or the holy Quran but it's based on them. He convincingly stated how it came about when the early Islamic scholars gave legal rulings using Ijtihad by interpreting the two legal sources , the Quran & the Sunnah..
- Here is his contact info if you would like to refer your observation directly to him
- Email: aannaim@emory.edu
- Phone: 404.727.1198
--
On Sat, Feb 4, 2017 at 8:25 PM, 'zainul abedin' via North America Bangladeshi Community <nabdc@googlegroups.com> wrote:
--Salam, Karim bhai,
I am not convinced. This article did not consult the very basics of authentic (Sahih) Hadis and other scholars.
Khoda Hafez,
Zainul Abedin
On Saturday, February 4, 2017 12:48 PM, Rezaul Karim <rezaulkarim617@gmail.com> wrote:
--Dear All,
I found this, an excellent article on Islamic Sharia and Sharia lawInsaAllah, it would clarify many of the apprehensive uneasiness that many of us, Muslims or Non Muslims have.I hope it would help us to have a better understanding of not only Sharia, but about other distinct characteristics of Islam as well..Thank You.
Rezaul karim
--
* Disclaimer: You received this message because you had subscribed to the Google Groups "Bangladeshi-Americans Living in New England". Any posting to this group is solely the opinion of the author of the messages to BangladeshiAmericans@googlegro ups.com who is responsible for the accuracy of his/her information and the conformance of his/her material with applicable copyright and other laws where applicable. The act of posting to the group indicates the subscriber's agreement to accept the adjudications of the moderator(s). To post to this group, send email to BangladeshiAmericans@googlegro ups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to BangladeshiAmericans-unsubscri be@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups-beta.google.com/ group/BangladeshiAmericans?hl= en ].
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bangladeshi-Americans Living in New England" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to bangladeshiamericans+unsubscri be@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/op tout.
You received this message because you had subscribed to the Google Groups "North America Bangladeshi Community forum". Any posting to this group is solely the opinion of the author of the messages to nabdc@googlegroups.com who is responsible for the accuracy of his/her information and the conformance of his/her material with applicable copyright and other laws where applicable. The act of posting to the group indicates the subscriber's agreement to accept the adjudications of the moderator(s). To post to this group, send email to nabdc@googlegroups.com.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "North America Bangladeshi Community" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nabdc+unsubscribe@googlegroups .com.
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/grou p/nabdc.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/op tout.
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PFC-Friends" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pfc-friends+unsubscribe@ googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/ optout.
--
Sitanggshu Guha--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PFC-Friends" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pfc-friends+unsubscribe@ googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/ optout.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PFC-Friends" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pfc-friends+unsubscribe@ googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/ optout.
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PFC-Friends" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pfc-friends+unsubscribe@ googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/ optout.
--
Sitanggshu Guha
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PFC-Friends" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to pfc-friends+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com .
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout .
__._,_.___
Posted by: Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com>
****************************************************
Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration:
Call For Articles:
http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68
http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
__,_._,___