I note the two opposing sides in the Bendigo protests are, one opposing a political / religious system's Mosque in the town; the other claiming, to oppose the belief in Islam a racial slur. One could be telling the truth the other a blatant political lie.

Is Islam a race as we often hear? If it is a race then it cannot be changed as it is genetic, and everyone of that genetic make up is Islamic. Is that the case? If it is a belief system then anyone holding that belief can change their mind.

Clearly we are being fed the RACE CARD because it is is a slur against an unchangeable genetic base. Because persons of the same genetic base hold vast differences of belief it is clearly not Race.
Who is promoting lies to the Australian public?

The very fact Islam is murdering persons of the same genetic base for their differing beliefs is evidence it is a political and not a genetic fact.

I would like to hear from persons on both sides of the protest.

Are there faction in the Media deliberately giving the public a misrepresentation of facts, by calling Islam a race of people? If so are these media outlets that need to be exposed as fraudulent liars?

Question: "What is Islam, and what do Muslims believe?"

Answer: Islam is a religious system begun in the seventh century by Muhammad. Muslims follow the teachings of the Qur’an and strive to keep the Five Pillars.

The Five Pillars of Islam
These five tenets compose the framework of obedience for Muslims:
1. The testimony of faith (shahada): “la ilaha illa allah. Muhammad rasul Allah.” This means, “There is no deity but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” A person can convert to Islam by stating this creed. The shahada shows that a Muslim believes in Allah alone as deity and believes that Muhammad reveals Allah.
2. Prayer (salat): Five ritual prayers must be performed every day.
3. Giving (zakat): This almsgiving is a certain percentage given once a year.
4. Fasting (sawm): Muslims fast during Ramadan in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. They must not eat or drink from dawn until sunset.
5. Pilgrimage (hajj): If physically and financially possible, a Muslim must make the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least once. The hajj is performed in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.

The Doctrine of Islam
Muslims summarize their doctrine in six articles of faith:
1. Belief in one Allah: Muslims believe Allah is one, eternal, creator, and sovereign.
2. Belief in the angels
3. Belief in the prophets: The prophets include the biblical prophets but end with Muhammad as Allah’s final prophet.
4. Belief in the revelations of Allah: Muslims accept certain portions of the Bible, such as the Torah and the Gospels. They believe the Qur'an is the preexistent, perfect word of Allah.
5. Belief in the last day of judgment and the hereafter: Everyone will be resurrected for judgment into either paradise or hell.
6. Belief in predestination: Muslims believe Allah has decreed everything that will happen. Muslims testify to Allah’s sovereignty with their frequent phrase, inshallah, meaning, “if God wills.”

Because of these essential differences and contradictions, Islam and Christianity cannot both be true. The Bible and Qur’an cannot both be God’s Word. The truth has eternal consequences.

Islam is a religion not a race.

However there are a lot of racists who use opposition to Islam as a cover for their racist policies.

But whether by race or religion, discrimination is wrong.

Aidan,
All roads lead to Jerusalem in this "debate", by law in this country the race question in this context is only to be answered by Muslims, Jews and Zionist helpers.
The Neo-cons and cuckservatives chant "Islam is not a race"so the Socialists and Anarchists have printed placards declaring "No Islam is not a race, but you're still a racist".
The left are fundamentally opposed to nations, traditions and Christianity and use Trotsky's description of the Russian peasantry as the basis of their allegation of "Racism" in non socialists.
So, Islam is a political and religious system and not a race, Judaism is racial and religious and Socialists simply use the term "Racist" to describe anyone who won't accept the word of Leon Trotsky as gospel (pun intended)
Australian Nationalists are tolerant of Christians, dismissive of Zionists, Orthodox Jews and Muslims and have a "wide and shallow" definition of Australian nationality.
The goal of Australian Nationalism in a nutshell is national independance, patriotism as the higher loyalty rather than religion and re focusing the state to serve the continuing development of a unique Australian culture rather than catering exclusively to the needs of foreigners and global multinational companies.

Islam is a religion...consisting of people who believe in an invisible being called Allah, and a book called the Koran, written by humans. It sounds very like Christianity really, except for the names of the God and book. Many different races are made up of people who follow Islam.

Jay of Melbourne, where does your little nationalistic group stand on the original nationals of Australia, our indigenous people? I assume they are leaders in your group?
They were here first after all....