“… I tend to agree with Pericles, in that I see Islamophobia as more of a product of ignorant fear…”

The ignorant and those in a state of denial are Pericles, C. J. Morgan and the Islamophiles who disregard what the Muslims have done over the years killing not only Christians, Jews but also Hindus, Buddhists and coming into conflict with ALL non-Muslims.

Where Islam is present, chaos reigns.

Presently, the Muslims in Sudan are killing the nominally black African Muslims in Dafur while the Islamic world looks on approvingly.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID={6560F4B3-DCE5-4609-8845-4CD1BF0FE115}

Muslims are also killing Hindu Kashmiris to make it completely Muslim. The secessionists have completed a program of ethnic cleansing, expelling about 350,000 Kashmiri (Pandits) Hindus - something that has unfortunately gone largely unreported in the Western press. These Pandits are at present living as refugees in their own country.
http://www.kashmir-information.com/history/fundamentalism.html

In 1971 the Muslims killed 3 million Hindus in Bangladesh, and this non-Muslims genocide is still being carried out.
http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate/
http://india.indymedia.org/en/2003/02/3394.shtml (Far Eastern Economic Review)

Almost on a daily basis the cowardly Muslims are killing Buddhists in south Thailand. About 2800 have died since 2004.

“Islam imposes a threat to the whole world which is far worse than deforestation, nuclear destruction or AIDS. It is an insidious, devilish disease creeping into the veins of the world. Every individual must realise the destructive and evil nature of this religion, for it eats away at the very foundation of humanity which is an individual's ability to think individually and act accordingly.” Zulfikar Khan(ex-Muslim)

Irfan

Looks like the above posts have proved your point.

Mac

'which person suffers more opression, a Moslem in the West or a non-Moslem in an Islamic country, Saudi Arabia for example?'

This comment is completely irrelevant.

To isolate a quote above: "Where Islam is present, chaos reigns".

I never feel good about these sort of comments. As someone who has lived in many cultures as a child, youth and adult, I find it is the attitude of individual groups that can make our common ground harder.

A magic moment I truely remember was once in an airport coming back from Vietnam. I had been doing a film on the Vietnamese Health System. I was exhausted, short of time but needed sleep. The footage and camera gear I had was valuable and important. I couldn't relax, shut my eyes, sleep in case it was pinched. The airport was crowded, noisey, hot and uncomfortable. My flight was ten hours wait.

At Bangkok airport there is a special Muslim Rest area. No non-Muslim people are suppose to enter. It is a rented space.

After meeting someone at the check-in, a Muslim male, and he realising (concerned) that I needed rest, he invited me... (in sign language) to follow him.

Wait here here gestered. He then went and spoke to a group of men who spoke in a foreign language, in the Muslum space. I could see they were pointing at me.

I was nervous at first... all the fuss, what do they want?

The man then came back and told me, they would watch over me and my camera gear... if I would like to rest.

He lead me to a quiet corner. I sat down on the floor. Put one hand on the camera gear, my head on my rolled-up coat. Rest yes, I went out like a light.

A few hours later I awoke to find the gentlemen who invited me in, smiling knowingly - pleased from his chair. He handed me some water, I felt wonderful, refreshed and so grateful.

The imprint of culture, it's humanity and our joint needs as human beings is so important and, as you may understand, it is when you least expect it that the goodness in many of us human... shines through.

http://www.miacat.com
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Miacat,
I'd say your bloody lucky you didnt get yourself raped at best your a foolish woman.

Liz,

Macs quote is very pertinent to this thread,

I can guarantee a non-muslim in a muslims country will get the rough end of the stick. You people like to gloss over such things as mere details, everythings rosey in your utopian suburban lifestyle.

Answer the question LIZ.........

As Irfan noted:

"On the ABC each week The Chaser's War on Everything lampoons popular perceptions of terrorism and security. In one skit, a Chaser chap dresses up as an American tourist taking video shots of the Sydney Harbour Bridge without any security present. He then dresses as a stereotypical Arab, with long beard and chequered kuffiyeh headdress. Security was onto him within minutes.

But not all skits elicit laughter. A recent episode showed their man in the US, Charles Firth, interviewing a sample of everyday Americans. All agreed Muslims should be forced to carry ID cards and even wear special identification badges. Most suggested Muslims should be incarcerated in internment camps. Comedy can be a potent vehicle for exposing uncomfortable truths".

Um, actually I did laugh at this skit because it played up to our well-established prejudice that the average American is an utter moron. But for every redneck in America - and that is what Charles Firth found - there are people with rational, reasonable views who would not support the incarceration of Muslims. Actually by far and away the majority wouldn't support this. Charles Firth's sample was probably about as representative as the sample of Australians that The Chaser found who couldn't even name the date for Australia Day. But that made us laugh as well.

Irfan

I believe you're a hardworking intelligent man.

Therefore, by accessing the following URL, you will begin to understand why some of us are prejudiced and are unable to accept the Muslim customs that your religion regards as joyful and happy occasions.

Please reassure us here that you neither condone or participate in these festivities.

Warning: Sensitive viewers are advised not to access the following URL.

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:sz0e41mclaMJ:sweetness-light.com/archive/the-eid-festival-around-the-world-graphic-photos+animal+torture+muslim+festivals&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=au&lr=lang_en