[Sandwich]

I cannot believe nobody's posted about this yet. Y'all are slipping.

The Pope quoted some emperor from the 14th century or some such basically saying that Islam is a violent religion. In response, Muslims all over got pissed and started rioting and murdering people - a nun and 2 Christians so far. The nun, by the way, is quoted as having said "Father forgive them" with her dying breath.

So yeah, Islam is called a violent religion, so Muslims go out and protest against the incident - violently. Why am I not surprised?

{cue the liberal attempts at "defense" of the Muslim reactions}

[IPAndrews]

I think there's a whole topic somewhere you must have missed.

[Culando]

Well, there ARE sane Muslims out there and I'm fairly sure they'd never do anything like that. I've known a few. You only hear about the idiots on the news cause they're the only ones worth talking about in the news.

And speaking of the idiots in the Muslim community (which unfortunately is a damn lot of them it seems) if they don't want to be viewed as violent, they should really stop...BEING VIOLENT and rioting at the drop of a hat.

Sidenote: The Pope is a retard. The muslims have a right to be pissed at him, but there are better ways to react than rioting. *looking at the idiots, not the decent ones*

[Blue Lion]

If only we got rid of all the Muslims in the world! Then the violence would magically vanish!

Oh we can dream though, we can dream.

[Sandwich]

I think there's a whole topic somewhere you must have missed.

I would have thought so, but I did a search in the Hard Light forum, past 30 days, for any instances of the word "pope" - zilch. :shrug:

[Blaise Russel]

Parp.

[Turambar]

If only we got rid of all the Muslims in the world! Then the violence would magically vanish!

Oh we can dream though, we can dream.

replace "Muslims" with "Religious people and politicians" and i'll agree

[Rand al Thor]

I'm reluctantly becoming more and more convinced that it is a violent religion. Although thats still tempered by my belief that a large percentage of any culture/race/religion would be driven to violence by the situation they're faced with. I mean someone same age as me (25) in palestine, how likely is it they'd have had schooling as far as college, be able to have a well paid job (although I wouldn't say mine is) be able to go traveling at a whim, and basically have nearly any options for the future open to them? With no hope of change, who can say what you'd do.

I do accept that that situation is to a big degree because of the society that they have constructed, religious beliefs, as well as violence committed previously. That would be why its a vicious circle. But still..

Back to the point at hand. It's depressing to see that this speech, which by all accounts was as pro-Islam as could be, has been hijacked by those who do know better and the ignorant masses. There's been one or two Irish born Muslims on the radio here and man they made me angry. Nearly as angry as that stinking conversative american radio host, and only less so because they were at least polite. But they've gone on about Sharia (?) law and essentially stated several times that any apologies by the Pope are pointless and anyone who follows sharia law would be within its rights (in their mind) to assassinate him. I mean its uncomprehendibly rediculous.What are they trying to do? Apart from the fact that I think they should be arrested for incitement to murder, they're actively helping position the entire western world against Islam. Ireland would have been up till now largely sympathetic to the Islamic point of view, and it's yet to be seen how that will change but just on this topic people are fairly indignant about it. (I'm sure the world waits with baited breath to see how we go from here).

And its not a completely religious issue. Among my agegroup and maybe up to 30-35, like myself, people are no long heavily religious here. I would actually say I've an issue with the Catholic church for the social damage it's done to my country in the past, despite the fact that it has numerous beneficial effects. It's just the complete ludicrousness of the issue. Absolute law, especially religious absolute law, has no place in modern society. They're just not compatible. It just seems to me that a conflict (moreso than whats already happening) is building up. It's been bubbling for a long time but it finally seems to be starting to accelerate.

I don't like where it's headed. Genocide is being uttered more often even if it is still just by fanatics on both sides.

[Blaise Russel]

Islamic fundamentalism is the symptom, not the disease.

[Mobius]

If someone kills the Pope another Cusade will begin...and I will volunteer. 

[Mars]

If somone kills the pope I think the world will probably have another big war on it's hands.

[Tyrian]

Islam is unique among religions because it condones war.  However, war is only acceptable to them if it is to either defend themselves, defend their beliefs, or defend their allies and friends.  The version of Islam practiced by terrorists is a distortion of the real religion.  The Koran specifically bans suicide attacks.  Unfortunately, the more extreme elements of the religion seem to be very skilled at manipulating the masses.  This is what causes riots and gives most Muslims a bad name.  A friend of mine is Muslim, and he's just as normal as any of us.

That said, the Pope never should have said what he did.  Anyone with an ounce of common sense would know that's the way to get a lot of people very angry very quickly.  It's the equivalent of me walking up to you and insulting the thing or person most important to you.  You will get angry with me.  But you throw in mob mentality and a small number of armed fanatics, you have recipe for disaster.

And in case you are wondering, I'm not a Muslim.  I just don't like seeing people getting the short end of the stick.

[vyper]

{cue the liberal attempts at "defense" of the Muslim reactions}

Oh sandwich for goodness sake give it a rest. Ooh, the big bad liberals who actually give a **** about other people eh? There is no real "liberal" defence of the reaction; There is however a very clear example of how Islam is a developing culture very much like Christianity was hundred/two-hundred years ago. We just have to hope we can stem the tide of morons attacking us in the name of that culture until it, as a whole, evolves.

[Bobboau]

the funny thing about evolution is you can never tell what it's going to evolve into or how long it's going to take. it might evolve into an empire of conquest. you can't excuse people because they might some day be saine, you must make your determination based on how they are now, and now they are a bunch of violent thugs.

[spartan_0214]

The Islamic people are some of the most violent religious fanatics of this century, and the one previous. However, they are a lot like the Christians of old. The Christians of the 15th century went on the Crusades believing that they were doing good for their God. Though I do not condone their actions, the Islams are just.......ignorant. The 9/11 attacks are proof of that. So, I ask you this: if they ARE a threat to the world, do they need to be removed? or just pacified?

[vyper]

the funny thing about evolution is you can never tell what it's going to evolve into or how long it's going to take. it might evolve into an empire of conquest. you can't excuse people because they might some day be saine, you must make your determination based on how they are now, and now they are a bunch of violent thugs.

I'm not excusing their actions, I'm simply stating a reason why they choose to take those actions.

[Blue Lion]

The Islamic people are some of the most violent religious fanatics of this century, and the one previous.

Way to label all Islam religious fanatics. Yea, can't understand why they'd be upset about that.

Though I do not condone their actions, the Islams are just.......ignorant. The 9/11 attacks are proof of that. So, I ask you this: if they ARE a threat to the world, do they need to be removed? or just pacified?

Again with the lumping together, like all of Islam had a meeting.

[Bobboau]

like were all ****ing morons who groupe all humans into the catagories wich accurately describe the masses, quit with the sesime street, not all $GROUP are the same, bull****, yeah we know, lets get on with the actual point. please.

[Blue Lion]

Sometimes I seriously wonder though.

A. Muslims are not all violent. Islam is not a violent religion, any moreso than any other.

B. The world has religious fanatics.

C. When the leader of a group makes sweeping generalities about another group, someone somewhere is bound to get pissed and probably violent.

D. There were well over 1 billion muslims last time I checked.

[Mefustae]

I think there's a whole topic somewhere you must have missed.

I would have thought so, but I did a search in the Hard Light forum, past 30 days, for any instances of the word "pope" - zilch. :shrug:

What the hell are you talking about? You were the third bloody person to post in the last topic!

I like how they threaten lives in protest to their basically being called a violent religion. Yeah. That's totally logical, Spock.

Something fishy is afoot.