I've been a bit busy, but I have to say that this is a great article that has elicited predictable responses from the bigoted rabble that Pericles accurately characterises as "Boaz camp-followers". I'm no fan of Islam (nor any other religion), but it's pretty clear to me that Islamophobia provides a contemporary outlet for frustrated xenophobes and racists to express their odious hatred for those people who are culturally and/or ethnically different from them.

It seems to me that Islamophobia is every bit as threatening to world peace as is Islamism - probably more, because those who engage in it tend to reside in wealthy Western nations that need to have an alien Other to demonise, and which have lots and lots of weaponry and soldiers who need to be deployed somewhere.

It's nice to see that Leigh has gotten over his identity crisis, but curious that he pretends he doesn't know that Porkyboaz is still mired in his own pathetic deception.

Where is this widespread Islamophobia that we must guard against?
I don't see it.

I see leftist activists trying desperately to shield radical Islamists, who they see as comrades in the fight to overturn the current order.

But Islamophobia will come, unless ordinary Muslims begin to condemn the Islamist radicals. Until they do that, until Muslims living in western countries start caring more about those countries and less about their Ummah brethren in Palestine (or wherever), until the ordinary Muslim demonstrates that he cares more about his neighbor (be they Christian, or Jew, or Hindu) than about the latest Muslim martyr somewhere in the world, until he does that, he will be subject to growing suspicion by his neighbors.

Because the terror problem is now identified as due to Islamism. If Muslims do not tackle it, the problem may be identified as Islam, rather than Islamism, and the consequences would be terrible indeed.

Much wringing of hands, I notice.

>>it is impossible to get the masses on the streets to finally say: Enough is enough, we don't want any more slaughter in the name of our religion. Instead of this silence, utter silence<<

KeesB, that post was all very drama-queen emotional, but you forget: these are terrorists we are talking about.

I did not see too many Christian masses on the street when the IRA and UDA were at each other's throats, with innocent civilians both caught in the crossfire and deliberately targeted.

In fact, I saw collection tins in Boston bars raising money from supposedly good Christian family men, for guns and bombs to continue the slaughter.

Those who cannot tell the difference between barbaric acts of individual terrorism and acts of outright war are condemned to live in constant fear.

The problem arises when they take it upon themselves to communicate this fear and loathing to others unable to think clearly for themselves.

Try to have a hate-free Christmas, everybody.

HAS IT OCCURRED TO ANYONE?

.....that if this article had not been printed.... published.. no-one would be saying any of the things it has attracted here (from either side).....

The problem with articles whining about "Islamophobia" is that they actually CREATE IT......

TRTL...you said a very valuable thing:

<<"The other explanation is that within the billion Islamic people, there are indeed violent lunatics, who will target the moderates who are willing to speak out.">>

GOOD GRIEF...why has it taken you so long to get this? and accordingly, to understand why people tend to highlight the things about Islam which are the ideological fuel FOR those 'violent lunatics'.

If you don't attack the idea...there is no point in complaining about those who follow it...

This is where you will begin (hopefully) to understand why an understanding of (bloody) Surah (bloody) 9 is so important.

Islam is a religion which is based on the written Word and recorded History of it's prophet.
With all due respect and honesty... this is where your approach seems weakest..in not recognizing that ALL Muslims without exception will agree with this.

Where the 'moderates' and 'lunatics' diverge is:

[The degree that they decide to apply that word and example to modern life.] (especially in demographic minority status locations)

What I feel some in the 'Pericles' camp don't appreciate is that the 'degree' of application does vary with the percieved political/military/social power of the Muslim community.

Can you disagree with that?

Polycarp shouts:

".....that if this article had not been printed.... published.. no-one would be saying any of the things it has attracted here (from either side)....."

Does this make it the only site in the whole world where this issue is being debated?

"The problem with articles whining about "Islamophobia" is that they actually CREATE IT......"

So David, if we printed lots of articles about Islamophilia, we would actually create it?

Now there's a thought at CHRISTmas. Love not hate! Perhaps if we talked more about love and less about hate, we'd all be better off?

Quote: Unfortunately, Islamophobia - the discrimination against Muslims- still prevails in Australia, and even appears in On Line Opinion, supposedly a quality Australian e-journal of social and political debate.

So says Guzeldeniz. I would like to comment on something that I have noticed elsewhere and is well illustrated by this quote: to Muslims and their friends words have different meanings.

Has anybody at OLO censured Muslims? Has Boaz banned them from posting? Has Pericles or TRTL been making special rules to deprive them of jobs or housing? Please tell me who here at OLO is doing this vile thing?

What she means is that we (some of us) are CRITICIZING Islam. I saw this same thing when a Muslim woman I know wrote to an Islamic website (altmuslim) saying that "Muslims are persecuted everywhere". Really?

What she and Guzeldeniz are saying is what most Muslims appear to believe: that criticizing Islam and Muslims is a form of persecution or discrimination. They don't understand that this is called free speech and is a fundamental right. Actually most Muslims have very little experience with this Western ideal and they don't like it. As I have said before, Muslim values are not Western values. This explains the human rights situation in Islamic societies. Muslims have double standards, or different standards.

This is one more reason why I believe the future will not be nice. I blame both the terrorists and the so-called moderates who refuse to be honest about their religion, its teachings and practice.