I swear there's a bingo card out there, and you've hit quite a few boxes. Leftist? Can you define what your definition of leftist is, as I'd honestly infer that someone who's on the left would support government intervention in economic and social affairs.
Left-wing aka progressive/SJW - there is a thread for that. SylviaB's reply to your post I haven't read yet, so I am not sure where it sits with me.
edit: SylviaB reply I have now read, and I don't think he has the respect in his reply. (Although he is passionate, maybe too passionate).
Ah, yes. The international representative of all who follow Islam, ISIS, endorsed by the 1.6 billion people on this planet, right.
You really should avoid grouping that like so, it doesn't make your argument stand strong when you put it that simply.
And it's honestly a gross simplification to attribute Islam as the core reason to terrorist acts being committed.
There is also a thread for that too. I have issues with Islam of course for different reasons, but there are verses in the Quran that can and have been taken as justification for violence and bloodshed.
Unfortunately for most non-religious, Islam is doing a terrible job on the PR front (sometimes Christians aren't much better sometimes).
So, what are the causes of terrorism? As I have inferred from how you're putting it, it's simply as a result of people following a religion. Well, that's one way to put a single influential factor, but at the same time, I fail to see 500,000 or so Muslim terrorists in Australia.
So what are the other causes? Let me try and list a few which I understand are noteworthy contributors towards radicalisation,
Depends what you mean by Islamic extremism. A Sunni Muslim for instance wouldn't be considered extreme by another albeit moderate Sunni Muslim, while a non-Muslim would see it more extreme. Australia does yes have a moderate Muslim population. Radicalisation is more than just to do with death-groups like IS or that.
- Lack of acceptance into society, whether it be discrimination, isolation, no hope for a future there, etc.
As a warning before anyone does, please refrain from implying the Islamophobia card. While I understand the sendiment some what of people who draw that, I don't think that we should suddenly switch off and think what actually is going on, wrt Islam (application of Islam), more so.
- Lack of meaning in life. You're less likely to go run off to Syria when you've got a non-terror-supportive girlfriend, a future to look towards, friends, caring family, maybe even a job, a sense of belonging (sorry to those who may have forgotten, enjoy the flashbacks).
- Anger towards the western worlds approach towards the people, their families, and their traditional places of residents. We can't really say that there are many supporters in the Middle East of the western worlds efforts in destabilizing the region after the oh so many wars fought there and the thousands upon thousands of civilians being killed there, continuing on today.
Unfortunately your cause would stand except for the many wars fought there are mainly done in the name of Islam, or Islamic groups (although extreme) like IS.
Those are only some causes which I have thought up in a short period of time, there are obviously many more, and damn, they're sounding more convincing to me than simply 'Islam'.
Yes, Islam does facilitate this extremism, but that's not what you should be tackling to stop this, unless you've got an anti-theist approach trying to rid the world of all religions and superstitions, or one tries to establish a degree of monoculture, no small one either.
Of course not, I am a Christian, and frankly I disagree that bashing Muslims, is the solution either. Muslim people in the west need to take a firm stand against IS. Unfortunately most of them (particularly Shia) are viewed as scum anyways.
But I am precautious of using Waleed Aly, which somehow unintentionally links the actions of IS with Islamophobia. What you find is this is the real reason why people do these acts: is because it appeals to them. The ideological bent of IS appeals to them, their brutish ways etc.
But unfortunately there are still problems. The west, particular the media, is crippled by PCness, as people bent over backwards to make a real big deal about moderate muslims (we know), the issue is not the moderates, the issue is the extremists. I know for a fact, that the media makes a big deal when a Christian (or Jewish to a less extent) organisation fails etc. but turns somewhat a subtle blind eye to Islam.
You want to rid terrorism? I suggest that you give bored youth without meaning in life something other than a 'travel agent' who'll offer them projectile physics in an IS controlled university till the end of time.
Yeah that won't stop the problem.
These Islamic terrorists not only terrorize the general population, but also that absolute majority of contemporary and common Muslims around Australia, Europe, and many other developed nations. Do you have any idea of the fear and persecution that these terror attacks cause those of the Islamic religion? It's so much greater to those law abiding Muslims who'll be on the receiving end of the anger.
Interesting comment, is a lot of Muslims in the Middle East, including Iran are turning to Christianity because they are deillusioned with Islam. The problem I have in the West, is yes it is nicer form of Islam that we see (generally speaking, excluding certain people but that is another thread), but it is completely different in states/countries where Islam is the state religion. And sometimes it is done alright, and in other cases there is problems.
Have you talked to Islamic peoples stories about their persecution after events like the Sydney siege?
They change their everyday appearance so not to resemble someone who's a believer in their religion or of that cultural background.
If Muslims, want to make an impact I wouldn't see the issue with that. Also again be careful of drawing comparisons, as a Christian, I know and am well aware that Christians in the West are nowhere near as persecuted as Christians & Shia are in the Middle East. In fact, I will also say that it seems you are really exaggerating a problem that is not there. yes you have the likes of people in this forum, who express their much stronger distaste for Islam, than myself; and that is a view shared by Australians because of the links between what Islam teaches, and the practice of Islamic organisations.
They stay indoors and don't go out for fear of persecution for a crime they had not committed.
I'd find it hard to believe that you've heard of someone of the Islamic religion who had their son stay indoors with them for they fear what might happen to them after a terror attack.
Yes, so? Does that mean that somehow there isn't a need to address the issues at hand. It is not as simple as use another label. As I said a couple of paragraphs ago. A lot of Muslims, especially in Syria, Iraq and Iran are turning to Christianity, because they are deillusional with the teachings of Islam.
I acknowledge that there are many religious crazies, to put simply. Christians with grudges and guns towards abortion clinics, cults undertaking mass-suicides and, of course, the many Muslims acting out there, but it's gross simplification, and a potentially dangerous idea to target particular groups in society.
And yet it happens all the time, subtly. Some people in the media, really want to help "moderate Muslims", but bashing Christians, or more specifically the church, is not a solution (if the church needs a critique again a separate issue). The reaction to attack another religion so that one feels more comfortable, and I am not talking about a reasonable debate (even if it is heated). I am talking about the mentality/attitude of some, that in order to avoid the issues at hand, say well Buddhists are like this, Christians are like this.
Honestly I have three things to say on that:
1. Firstly, all humanity sucks and evil is not something limited to special people only (I am certainly not a humanist in that regard)
2. Just because one religion has specific problems at this time, doesn't mean we have to equate other religions on the same scale. The level of extremism in Islam is significantly more concerning than that in for instance Buddhism, simply because of the numbers.
That'll only push more over to hating our society and prejudice and hate from some in our society to them, and that's what we all do not want more of.
Here is an interesting question, do you hate what is evil and what is wrong?
Turkey... I honestly wished that the recent coup would've been a successful one and overthrown that authoritarian, abusive, and theocratic government. What's needed today is a modern day iteration of a coup, and how one would be developed.
No treason herre, though. Only for personal interests of political science and the like.
Hmm... I think I get your point and I don't think you can have a peaceful resolution in this situation.
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I do have one agreement though, is that fear fuels the fire. My disagreement is that, Islam is a religion that in my reserved opinion, is a religion that seems to promote such fear.
