DH; don't talk down to me, there's a good chap.

We are NOT 'still a colony', something you offer up I suspect to justify what happens there;-happens here.

Perhaps you are hoping for this? Perhaps because of the symbiotic and inevitable stultifying relationship between Blair/(who?)Howard/ and let's not forget Bush.

I note you use of the terminology us/them? A clear mindset. Who will be next I wonder?

Is this what you joined OLO for?

Gin x, I have reviewed my post and I don’t see how you think I was talking down to you. I wasn’t even writing down to you. Maybe you have an inferiority complex that makes you think that anyone who disagrees with you or questions your views is taking a swipe at you. I never wrote that we were still a colony, my exact words were ‘in fact, it almost appears that we are still a colony’. That’s certainly the case.

As for my use of ‘us/them’ terminology, are you the only one allowed to use it without comment? Refer your post from Tuesday, 11 September 2007 10:20:07 AM.

Peddling crap? Call that an objective comment? If you haven’t a reasonable, sensible reply to my views you should stay off-line. This is 'On Line Opinion' not 'On Line Nyah Nyah I don't Like What You Think So I'm Going To Spit The Dummy'.

Boaz, how many times do I have to repeat myself.

>>PERICLES.. Does "Islam" according to it's own sources and commentators support Paedophilia or not ? Its a simple question. Before you criticize me.. ANSWER IT..with a 'yes'...or 'no' and defend your answer.<<

Let me say it one more time.

I am an atheist, Boaz.

I no more believe that Islam is based in reality than Christianity. To me, they are fundamentally alike.

They each have a massive following of ordinary people who - cheerfully and harmlessly - choose to believe in a God. And a tiny minority who trade on the fears and gullibility of ordinary people to create fear and loathing of "the other".

Guess which category I place you in?

My answer to your highly loaded question is therefore "I haven't a clue".

But the reality of the matter is that it is only of concern to the general public when laws are broken. In other words, acts are committed that are unlawful.

And even if these acts are committed in the name of, or under the protection of, or using the influence of, a particular religion, then it is still the act itself that should be condemned.

Which is, to me, where the Crusades come into the picture. Blind belief in a particular religion caused the massacre of "unbelievers". How can that be justified?

Which is also where paedophile priests become relevant. Using the trust that is placed in their profession, they ruined the lives of many. How can that be explained away?

Which is where the stolen generation comes in. Using the power allocated to them by a misguided society, also trusting in the "rightness" of their beliefs, they split families and brought fear and loneliness to thousands. How can that be a caring, loving way to conduct a life?

It's the deeds that speak, Boaz. Far, far louder than the words.

It is your fear that misleads you. Otherwise you would understand.

Furthermore, Gin x, as you are anti-colonial, I am sure that you wouldn't want us to become a Moslem colony, eh? A lot of posters here would seem to like that idea.

To Gin x

Dorian Hawkmoon has hit the nail on the head regarding your little complex. He wasn’t ‘talking?’ down to you, just making a fair reply. No need to get your knickers in a twist if someone doesn’t agree with you. I don’t agree 100% with him either but I think that we should be mature about it. Childish behaviour doesn’t do this site any good.

People are posting here to be reasonable and put their various views across. If you must post, please be relevant to the subject and, if you disagree, state why you do so. And, please, no more silly little accusations. Not everyone will agree with you…get over it!

Now for the serious posters, Pericles, I agree with your view that Christianity and Islam are fundamentally alike and that neither are based in reality. It’s just that Islam appears to be on an expansion/conquest stage and will never give up until the whole human race is Islamist, or they (Islamists) suffer utter defeat. When younger, I was almost brainwashed to support them. My relatives still do so.

I guess this is where we disagree:

>>Islam appears to be on an expansion/conquest stage and will never give up until the whole human race is Islamist, or they (Islamists) suffer utter defeat<<

I don't see any evidence for this.

I do see some small cadres and factions practising a form of random terrorism, their activities fed and watered by the hatred aimed at them by fearful individuals, other religious groups, and nations. These are dangerous at an individual level, as were the IRA in their bombing campaigns, but are not threatening at a global level.

I also see self-proclaimed "freedom fighters", fighting for what they believe is right within their own homelands, also performing acts of random and indiscriminate terrorism against their perceived enemies, some of whom they see as "forces of occupation", some of whom are their own countrymen whom they believe are aiding and abetting the "forces of occupation". These are dangerous - the Tamil Tigers, ETA etc. are some other examples - but confined to their own countries. Their raison d'être is domestic, first and last.

I totally reject that what we are seeing is a coordinated attack on the non-Islamic world. I do accept there are individuals and groups who make a great deal of extremely unpleasant noise about their personal aspirations for a totally Islamic world, but these people are i) a tiny minority, ii) highly visible (and therefore controllable) and iii) relatively powerless.

As for the idea that we will all somehow fall under their magical religious spell, that I totally reject. On the basis that most people are too sensible to sign up for a religion - any religion - en masse, particularly if it involves conquering the world.

Too much effort. Too much responsibility. Too much hassle.