Quote: Anyway, this protest has been condemned by Muslim Leaders in Australia and I can only trust that this will discourage the fundies from taking this sort of violent action in the future.

Muslim leaders always condemn this type of behavior, every time it happens, time after time (wink) (wink) (giggle) (ha ha ha)

They are laughing at us and not even behind our backs.

Instead, ask a Muslim leader to condemn the hate and violence in the Quran.

Ask a Muslim leader to condemn the evil actions of their dear Prophet.

Ask a Muslim leader to not just condemn the legal and cultural discrimination practiced against non-Muslims in Islamic societies, but to actually do something about this - but don't hold your breath.

The only thing that will discourage these so-called fundies (and the so-called moderates that support them) is to ship their collective arses back to Islamland

scribbler:
I disagree with totally on this issue! We should concentrate on our own country and our own internal problems, and every other country in the world should do the same.

For too long now various countries have interfered with the performance and occurrences within other countries, (there are usually vested interests behind it), and more likely than not the interferance is of a covert nature to alter the political balance accordingly.

Nationalism in Australia has generally been lacking for quite some time now, and it is time that we Aussies became a little introverted and exercised some of the fervour exhibited by other nations on a regular basis, instead of simply cheering a winning football team, or applauding a victorius Olympic competitor! This is the cement that bonds a nation together, Nationalism, the taking of pride in one`s own country, flag and symbolism!

I may live to see the day when Australia will have a national leader with outstanding intestinal fortitude and the ambition to genuinely improve the internally perceived concept of a free and democratic country beholden to no one.

I may live to see the day when this national leader will stand up and make a regular speech to the nation, applauding the successes of the achievement of loyalty, at the same time castigating those citizens who defame or bring disrepute upon this country. This would require a leader of vision, strength and most of all...honesty!

The time has arrived whereby we as a nation have to forego the tugging of the forelock, cast off any perceived loyalties to other nations, nations who consider Australia to be simply another source of cannon-fodder for exotic forays into their own national endeavours!

Scrib, Do you want to understand the motivations behind these riots?

It is power! It is because Muslims need rage and it gives them respect. This is not really about a stupid film, but a chance to be angry and to show that anger.

That rage may not impress your or me, but it makes our mealy-mouthed, weak-legged, pee-in-their-pants leadership in government, the media and academia tremble. "Oh my, we have offended those pure, suffering Muslims. How horrible we are! Let us grovel and maybe, oh maybe, they will love us!" To our leaders, our rights and traditions are of no importance compared to the hurt feelings of Muslims.

There will be more and more of this, and it is all Muslims, not just the so-called fundies. As I have said before, the radicals attack and kill, but the moderates make excuses and pretend this has nothing to do with Islam.

This will not end well. Blood will flow.

My post here at OLO, 2005
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=3447&page=0#9922

I have serious doubts if there is even a "moderate" Muslim majority. It seems that 'extremist' Muslims persecute and kill, while 'moderates' make excuses, saying it has nothing to do with Islam and Muslims.

Islam is intolerant and promotes hate. Period. Or maybe it is just coincidence that almost all Muslim countries are major human rights abusers, that women, minorities and other religions are oppressed. No wonder they want to come to the West - and when they arrive in numbers in a Western country, they bring their intolerance and violence with them. The issue of rape is old. Do a Google search for "rape", "Muslims" and the name of any country in Europe (or Australia).

Islam is what Muslims do, not what they say. The same is true for Christianity and Buddhists and every other religion. It must also be said that Islam is what Muslims do where they dominate, not where they are a minority.

I don't even believe that Muslims want honest dialogue. They want to set rules so they are exempt from criticism, and cannot be offended.

Well, If Muslims have a right to be offended by what people say about their religion, I have a right to be offended about what Muslims do to women, or to other religions where they dominate. I am offended by a belief that calls itself a "religion of peace" and then immediately starts making threats (ask Irshad Manji or Hirsi Ali!). I am offended by a religion that states that "there is no compulsion in religion" on a web page, and on the same page says that any Muslim leaving Islam should be put to death. I am offended by people that say Mohammed was a shining "example", and do not consider *people murdered, robbed, tortured, raped and enslaved by islam's prophet (*edited for length)

The fact is that the "muslim" problem is not going away. Within about 5 years it will become a major social issue, and people will get hurt, unless Muslims change and become tolerant. That probably won't happen.

Well it would seem the actions of the intolerant have given the intolerant on OLO a call to action. Fear is playing its part in both the initial protests and the responses.

The promise of what my country is and will be in the future will be flagged in its responses to this issue.

Many of the post above are touting regressive, violent, nationalistic, racist solutions but are born from fear and ignorance.

My love of this country lies in my belief that we are far better than that. Time will tell if that faith is well founded. I hope for all of us it is.

@Producer,

Was intrigued by your suggestions.

<<I believe we can reduce the problems the above and other example not mentioned by:
Ignoring them.
Removing their tax free status.
Not subsidising them.
Not accepting any form of violence or intimidation.
Removing advertising as a tax deductable expense.
Reduce your ignorance and gullibility.
Don’t seek power.>>

For this lot:
-Removing their tax free status.
-Not subsidising them.
-Removing advertising as a tax deductable expense.
The Humans Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission would like to know who you mean by “them” and “their”?

And, for these two:
-Not accepting any form of violence or intimidation
-Ignoring them.
I would like to know how you reconcile the two.
I mean,I envisage it would work something like this:The Harbour Bridge suddenly disappears in a puff of smoke and we say
“I’m not going to be provoked …I will ignore that”


And,as to these two:
-Reduce your ignorance and gullibility.
-Don’t seek power
Siddhartha and the ghosts of 10,000 Buddhist monks want to know why their great wisdom didn’t blunt the swords of their jihadi murders?

Cheers

@Scribbler

<< I fail to understand your rancour.>>
Rancor?
Hardly …more like good natured incredulity.
After all –unless I am mistaken – you were implying on an earlier thread that all such woes were the result of the West interfering in the Middle East—prior to that all was bliss.