It is sad to see that there are so many swept up in the fear-of-Islam disease. To me, fear of an idea, or a concept, is irrational. And religion is only that: a mental construct.

Froggie has clearly succumbed, and tries to draw parallels between Islam and Nazi Germany. A common enough strategy these days amongst the fearful, but one that doesn't hold water.

Nazism created the fighting force that enabled Germany to challenge the European status quo. It was the armed forces that invaded Poland, not a political ideal. It was the 4,722,000 members of the 1939 Wehrmacht, and the total of 17,893,200 that served between 1939 and 1945.

Also, may I remind you, they were defeated.

Islam, on the other hand, has produced... what?

Small bands of terrorists.

And - it would appear - a great deal of fear.

Most people consider fear of the unknown to have far more impact on the human psyche than fear of a tangible, present reality. This is the phenomenon we see here.

Which is also the reason why I try to point out whenever I can that soap-box rabble rousing, of the "mozzies are coming, hide, hide, hide" variety do pointless, unnecessary harm.

Another small point.

When quoting two-and-a-half year-old articles, it helps if you step back a moment from the journalism, and just read the words.

"A significant majority viewed western populations as selfish, arrogant, greedy and immoral."

I would venture to suggest that the same result would occur if you asked a group of Christians.

Disagree? Just ask runner. Or Gibo.

Good point Pericles.

I was on a train recently with a friend when a Muslim lady wearing a veil sat down a few seats away. "Reckon she's got a bomb or something? Should we move carriages?" my friend asked. Little Johnny would've loved him.

Those who consider themselves responsible for our safety cite all the possible catastrophes that might arise from a terrorist act. Once we start devising all the possible responses the only logical course of action is to prepare for the most extreme possibility – anything less would be dereliction of duty of care.

It is far easier to spread fear than it is to spread goodwill, even when the odds of something bad happen are demonstrably minimal. Poly drank the Kool-aid long ago and has been trying to share it around ever since.

Scenarios can only become more and more tragic and it’s a race to the bottom from there. Whoever dissents simply doesn’t appreciate the clear and immediate threat posed by musl, ah, extremists.

I almost forgot this classic. Thank you for this, Froggie.

>>The only chance we have got is to stick together to uphold the values of the West, which have resulted in the greatest good to the most people of any time in history.<<

Let's just savour that for a moment.

I know that the twentieth century is but a dim and distant memory, Froggie. But there are more than a few souls who, if they could hear you, would utter a hollow laugh, followed by a fairly pungent oath.

The forty million who died between 1914 and 1918, thanks to some folk "upholding the values of the West" might just have an argument with you, I suspect.

Then there were the - oh yes - seventy million who were victims of the same upholding of Western values between 1939 and 1945.

I've probably missed a few million here and there, but hey, when "upholding the values of the West" is at stake, who's counting?

Or here's a thing. Let's go back another century or so.

Let's take a passing glance at how "the values of the West" single-handedly destroyed the economy of India.

http://www.mapsofindia.com/india-economy.html

"Before the advent of East India Company, each village in India was a self sufficient entity. Each village was economically independent as all the economic needs were fulfilled with in the village.

Then came the phase of Colonization. The arrival of East India Company in India ruined the Indian economy. There was a two-way depletion of resources. British used to buy raw materials from India at cheaper rates and finished goods were sold at higher than normal price in Indian markets. During this phase India's share of world income declined from 22.3% in 1700 AD to 3.8% in 1952."

That will do for starters, I think.

"The greatest good", Froggie?

"to the most people of any time in history", Froggie?

Whatever it is you're smoking, I have a friend who'd be more than interested in a toke or two.

Bennie:

"It is far easier to spread fear than it is to spread goodwill,.. Poly drank the Kool-aid long ago and has been trying to share it around ever since."

Pericles:

"Which is also the reason why I try to point out that soap-box rabble rousing, of the "mozzies are coming, hide, hide, hide" variety do pointless, unnecessary harm."

The resemblance those silly words (in both cases) have to the general content of my posts is purely coincidental, but to be honest, they seem to be coming from some twilightzone.

IF....I wanted to stir up,

FEAR....

I'd be arcing up about "Muslims" having vengeful attitudes... how "Muslims" are out to get us.. how "Muslims" 'must' (to quote Pericles)
follow surah 9 against all non Muslims.

HATE...I'd be ranting on about the grizzly details of how "Muslims" do this or that atrocity and listing large numbers of them repeatedly.

BUT....if I wanted to avoid such conditions in Australia where knee jerk/redneck reactions rule the day...along with the associated civil strife/violence that accompanies such emotions....

Then I'd be explaining the essential core nature of Islam as a religion.. drawing contrasts between it and our own predominant faith (albeit mostly nominal/cultural) and demonstrating how over time, the core values of that religion will cause serious social/political problems for Australia.

My hope would be, that political leaders will take the hint and limit the expansion of Islamic infrastructure (such as schools, mosques) without which Islam cannot become strong.

I'd also enforce a strict naming code for mosques which are permitted, and the first one I'd hammer is the Bilal Bin Rabah mosque in Newport.

The sensible solution for the growth of hideous ideologies is political action and public information.

Pericles is definitely in the twighlight zone with his "how dare froggie compare 'May Allah destroy the Jews and Christians' idea with the Nazi's 'Jews are sub human and the source of our problems'"

No..froggie didn't use those words, but that's what he mean't.

Pericles is in blissful denial.

But then..they say 'ignorance is bliss' right ? :)

While there are many 'moderate' muslims, there also many that are not so moderate. Have a look at what happened after the Danish cartoons were published. Over 100 killed and churchs burned. Even women marched in London with placards saying death to those who critisize islam. The best poster was the one saying "Death to those who claim Islam is violent"

The simple fact of the matter is that the moderates are too scared to take on those with more radical views. It has been shown that the extremes are quite capable of intimidating and even killing muslim moderates to keep them in line.

Mr Periwinkle

I decided to change your name, because you are so far removed from your namesake, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pericles
that to call you by that name would be a gross insult to the ancient Greek champion of democracy and freedom.

Quite amazing, Mr Periwinkle, that you should so greatly distort history in order to lend support to an alien totalitarian and fascist movement otherwise known as a religion called Islam.

It would be interesting to see just how sanguine Periwinkle would be if he were unarmed and suddenly faced with a heavily armed young terrorist who proceeded to shoot him to death.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/tributes-flow-for-australians-killed-in-mumbai-terror-attack-20081128-6msu.html

I guess you won’t recognise the danger until it is you or a member of your family in the firing line. Or maybe not even then.

We’ll see who is right in the long run, but don’t forget the people you will consign to a nasty death, because of your head in the sand attitude.

Or should we all just roll over and let the Islamists make Dhimmis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhimmi

of us?

Another thing: The Muslims are very fond of telling us how many there are of them- the usual figure bandied about is 1.2 billion. If only 5% become militants, then we shall have to deal with 60 million of them. The rest will sit supine, letting the Islamists do the heavy lifting.

My point is that instead of following a policy of appeasement, which will only encourage the Islamists to demand more and more concessions, we should now let them know that we will accept no more nonsense from them.

Cowards and bullies that they are, they will soon slink back into their shells, like a Periwinkle perhaps.