Dispatches: Undercover Mosque

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Originally Posted by Wigferth Ironwall

That would be 1, correct, or 2?

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3

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Originally Posted by PanzerJager

It is a particularly sad satiation when the enemy can prosper and become more powerful within your own borders and the leadership is too weak to do anything about it.

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...to which I present this...

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Originally Posted by Wigferth Ironwall

Right now the English, including myself, are willing to put up with quite a lot but any remotely serious rumblings of an Islamic state would put a lot of us, probably myself included, on the litteral warpath.

I will fight tooth and nail to protect my way of life, but I'd much rather not have to.

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Think about it. There are problems, there are tensions, but there isn't the remotest chance that our way of life is threatened. Most people are bright enough to realise that the troublesome elements are a minority and are to be found on all sides of politics. And if things do get out of hand, the minority can be handled.

This doesn't apply only to immigrants, but also to the more reactionary aspects in a country.

What is an issue is the lack of serious dialogue. Ignoring minority groups is bad, actively attacking minorities is counterproductive; if anything the opening of a dialogue with the more extreme sides of left-wing and enviromental politics, and the resulting assimilation into normal political practices in the '70s and '80s, should be a model situation for the assimilation of minorities into the politlcal mainstream.

Aren't these guys peaches, shame about the multicultists drive to please them. Just kick these foamboys out of the country and close these mosks, how hard can it be. Well actually it's very hard with all these usefull idiots protecting them, live the dream.

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Originally Posted by Fragony

...and close these mosks, how hard can it be.

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...and we have a winner for the Dunce Hat.
:dunce:
Did you know, few things crystallize group and cultural identities previously vague and diffuse enough to have little practical meaning as rapidly as someone else starting to restrict them ? A couple of empires tore themselves apart that way about a century back you know, and they weren't the first ones.

Nobody's really going to care about a couple of spooky preachers, but you start messing with the actual buildings and symbols of worship in a climate like the current one and you'll do much of those zealots' work for them. Pretty much quaranteed, but if they mail you thank-you packages I'd advise against opening them.

Yeah we might just push the fundies away. Exactly what is there to diffuse, absolutily nothing. If such a thing as moderate islam existed, the muslims would thank us for closing down hatebarracks.

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Originally Posted by Watchman

Did you ever, anyway ?

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Schools where you learn the Koran instead of English?

Look how long it took to get Abu Hamza prosecuted. The English are utterly terrified of being called racists, well the politicians are.

Geoff: You know people actually plotting to destroy the UK?

Irrigardless of what problems are currently in the UK, restricting entrance to those who are likely to be a problem will lessen the risk in the future. And this comment applies to all genders, colours and creeds. I'm much happier with moderate Muslims than clinic-bombing Christians.

~:smoking:

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Originally Posted by Wigferth Ironwall

Geoff: You know people actually plotting to destroy the UK?

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Yes. A minimal fringe, one which can be damaging but is still manageable without hysterics and certainly not one which should dominate our views of the minority as a whole.

As you said, were such people to become a real threat to the UK, or pretty much any other western country, there is no way the general population would give them even a chance of success.

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If such a thing as moderate islam existed

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:laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:
Fragony you never fail to let yourself down do you :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:
So of the 10 major branches of Islam (or some of the minor ones) none are of the moderate flavour in your "all Muslims are extremist fundamentalists" mind .:dizzy2:

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Irrigardless of what problems are currently in the UK, restricting entrance to those who are likely to be a problem will lessen the risk in the future. And this comment applies to all genders, colours and creeds. I'm much happier with moderate Muslims than clinic-bombing Christians.

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Yep , but how do you restrict entrance for those that are British(in your case) ?
Unhappy youngsters with a chip on their shoulders about their country , politicians , religeon , ethnicity ...flow to extremism , be it religeous , ethnic or political extremism .
Can you spot the poster in this topic who is a prime example of embracing extremism because he doesn't like the way his country is being run ?

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Originally Posted by Tribesman

:laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:
Fragony you never fail to let yourself down do you :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:
So of the 10 major branches of Islam (or some of the minor ones) none are of the moderate flavour in your "all Muslims are extremist fundamentalists" mind .:dizzy2:

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Moderate muslims yes, moderate islam no. A moderate muslim is someone who doesn't follow islam to the letter no?

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Moderate muslims yes, moderate islam no. A moderate muslim is someone who doesn't follow islam to the letter no?

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Nope . Islam like Christianity or Judaism comes in many flavours .

Like Christianity or Judaism each flavour has distinct interpretations of what following scripture to the letter is and which letter means what .

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Originally Posted by Tribesman

to the letter

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indeed, to the letter. I'd rather learn about it from people that know what they are talking about by the way, like arabist prof. dr. J.J.G. Jansen or Afshin Ellian. All versions include the jihad, and yes jihad is actually war against the infidels, despite all the wooliness about personal growth and other nonsense.

edit, interesting article for your enjoyment

http://www.humanistischverbond.nl/op...ezing2006.html

Imho relevant for this thread.

The Koran says kill the infidel. Now, tell me how else can this be interpreted other than: Kill all the people who are not Muslims. Hardly a nice tolerant and peaceful religion eh?

Oh, and I fear that you can't battle the Islamic minorities. In France, there are 6 million Muslims; approximately 10% of the population. When you consider the havoc, chaos, and destruction that one million Muslim youths did in over 200 French cities, I think you can hardly ignore them.

The fact is, they are out-growing the non-Muslims by immigration. The birth rate in Scotland is 1.1%. Now tell me how that can compete with all these foreign immigrants.

I really hate how Western cultures are losing their identity. Where will the Anglo-Saxon/Anglo-Norman culture be in 50 years time? Where will the French culture be? We will all be islamised and Arabised before we know it.

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Originally Posted by Ignoramus

The Koran says kill the infidel. Now, tell me how else can this be interpreted other than: Kill all the people who are not Muslims. Hardly a nice tolerant and peaceful religion eh?

Oh, and I fear that you can't battle the Islamic minorities. In France, there are 6 million Muslims; approximately 10% of the population. When you consider the havoc, chaos, and destruction that one million Muslim youths did in over 200 French cities, I think you can hardly ignore them.

The fact is, they are out-growing the non-Muslims by immigration. The birth rate in Scotland is 1.1%. Now tell me how that can compete with all these foreign immigrants.

I really hate how Western cultures are losing their identity. Where will the Anglo-Saxon/Anglo-Norman culture be in 50 years time? Where will the French culture be? We will all be islamised and Arabised before we know it.

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You scare me. That's just racist, xenophobic nonsense.

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indeed, to the letter. I'd rather learn about it from people that know what they are talking about by the way, like arabist prof. dr. J.J.G. Jansen

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Ah I see , so he wouldn't talk about different wings of Islam , especially those who will focus their interpretations of small details that fit their particular religeo/politco ideology instead of following the broader tradition of interpretation of their scripture .

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J. Jansen - I follow more or less the Fundamentalism Project in Chicago. It accepted the term to indicate those wings of Islamic movements that are ready to use force to reach their aims. Not all terrorists are fundamentalists, not all fundamentalists are terrorists. As a rule, fundamentalists have selected a small number of points from their much broader tradition.

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So you were saying something Frag were you , or is it the sound of silence echoing through the void .

You really must try harder , posting links in Dutch will not make it harder to rip your claims apart , you should know that by now :whip:

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The Koran says kill the infidel. Now, tell me how else can this be interpreted other than: Kill all the people who are not Muslims. Hardly a nice tolerant and peaceful religion eh?

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And the bible says kill them all without mercy , so your point is completely invalid .
So ignoramus (very apt) since the Qur'an says respect and be friends with those peoples who rightously follow the Torah or Bible then where is your out of context assumption ?
Dangling in the wind I believe is an appropriate term .
You have managed to do exactly what the fundamentalist nutters do , take a passage with no referance to the context or other passages on the subject and say "this is the truth to the letter" .:no:
Rather silly of you .:thumbsdown:

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Originally Posted by Tribesman

So you were saying something Frag were you , or is it the sound of silence echoing through the void .

You really must try harder , posting links in Dutch will not make it harder to rip your claims apart , you should know that by now :whip:

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Hmmm, usually a lot of noise before the inevitable silence when I post links, have yet to see you rip any of my points apart, ever, I just see the excessive smiley-usage that goes so well with whiskey. This article isn't relevant for any claim I made but it does contribute to the topic, and since you understand dutch it would be cruel to deny you a different point of view when it's so easily provided, just a click away.

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Hmmm, usually a lot of noise before the inevitable silence when I post links, have yet to see you rip any of my points apart, ever, I just see the excessive smiley-usage that goes so well with whiskey.

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Ah I see .
So when you name someone who is an expert on the subject and whose views you believe back up your thoughts .
Then that expert is quoted not backing up your views you strangely do not consider it a demonstration that you are clearly shown to be talking rubbish .

Interesting concept you have there Frag .
Have you invented a new name for that concept ?
Bollox might be an appropriate name for it :yes:

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Originally Posted by Tribesman

Bollox might be an appropriate name for it :yes:

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That one was sadly allready taken.

oh and,

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Originally Posted by Fragony

This article isn't relevant for any claim I made but it does contribute to the topic

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Seems obvious enough to me.

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Originally Posted by Ignoramus

The Koran says kill the infidel. Now, tell me how else can this be interpreted other than: Kill all the people who are not Muslims. Hardly a nice tolerant and peaceful religion eh?

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Islam is a fundamentally peaceful religion, like all religions some of the holy text can be interpeted, or in the case of the Koran even give conflicting messages (as does the bible)

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Oh, and I fear that you can't battle the Islamic minorities. In France, there are 6 million Muslims; approximately 10% of the population. When you consider the havoc, chaos, and destruction that one million Muslim youths did in over 200 French cities, I think you can hardly ignore them.

The fact is, they are out-growing the non-Muslims by immigration. The birth rate in Scotland is 1.1%. Now tell me how that can compete with all these foreign immigrants.

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basically what BDC said, the riots in france were not entirely caused by muslims, and it certainly wasnt only muslim youths who did the damage (although i know very little about all that) The bit abaout Scotland is crazy, especially as the as there is a very small muslim group in Scotland who are incredibly peaceful etc...

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I really hate how Western cultures are losing their identity. Where will the Anglo-Saxon/Anglo-Norman culture be in 50 years time? Where will the French culture be? We will all be islamised and Arabised before we know it.

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whats so important about culture? "losing identity" --> if that counts as the colour of your skin and the religious practice you follow, or even the food you eat, then surely having more different types of food to eat, having more openess and understanding of other religions is a good thing.

I also don't belive we will become Arabised.. the process works both ways, and the majority of muslims who migrate become slightly westernised, its a compromise..

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Moderate muslims yes, moderate islam no. A moderate muslim is someone who doesn't follow islam to the letter no?

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so you can have moderate christians, but not moderate christianity? :2thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Scurvy

whats so important about culture?

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You're joking, right ? I think you need to think about that one a bit more.

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Originally Posted by Scurvy

Islam is a fundamentally peaceful religion, like all religions some of the holy text can be interpeted, or in the case of the Koran even give conflicting messages (as does the bible)

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This I dissagree with Islam is not a peaceful religion, it is a practical one. The basic message is:

Try to get along but if you can't and you're going to fight a war then don't do it by halves.

Which seems perfectly reasonable, really, the same applies to the Tirah.

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so you can have moderate christians, but not moderate christianity? :2thumbsup:

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Homosexuality is right out as far as the Bible is concerned. If the Bible defines Christianity then your statement is correct.

Wow, it's an interesting phenemenon that whenever something that has anything to do with Islam is brought up some chap comes over and sort of calls out for the "elimination of all infidels". And also I happen to find Navaros's statements to be less disturbing (actually a lot less disturbing) than the neo-crusaders who use much the same thinking as the participants of the German crusade: "Why should we travel thousands of miles to fight the infidels in the holy land when there already are infidels (jews) a few miles from where they lived" Then they went out and killed, converted and drove many infidels from their homes.
I have to agree with many others here (Banquo, English Assassin, Tribesman and others) that the number of Muslims in Western countries who are accessible to these... preachers probably is very small, well at least concerning those I have met, who don't seem to harbor any such thoughts and except having darker skin and hair are not very different from us (for better or for worse). Which also reminds me that during christmas we had an "Advent calendar" (we basically buy a bunch of stuff and put it and a box and then we have a lottery each day to see who gets something) and one of the guys who were in charge of this was a muslim, how you wish to interpret that I don't know, but it seems he was not bothered by doing something associated with Christianity.

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I also don't belive we will become Arabised.. the process works both ways, and the majority of muslims who migrate become slightly westernised, its a compromise..

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I believe you there, and I've seen it at work, as many others of you probably have, for an example hearing immigrants use Norwegian (or English or Dutch, depending on where they live of couse) expressions ("faen altså") when speaking Turkish (or Arabic or Urdu, whatever)

Anyway, I think that what should be a top priority is to find some sort of way to make Immigrants and ... "natives" (? don't know what to call it as a general terms) get along. Which could be through rather subtle things like the teaching of history or other things, making the history taught at school more international for an example. And not use the religion subject to basically work our way through the bible as we did some times, which is a reason for me knowing the basics of it even though I am not a Christian nor having ever read it, the other were not dealt with nearly as much. Though this may be different in many schools and countries and vary with your teacher.

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Originally Posted by Scurvy

Islam is a fundamentally peaceful religion, like all religions some of the holy text can be interpeted, or in the case of the Koran even give conflicting messages (as does the bible)

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One wonders if there was the same rhetoric about the clash of civilisations regarding the Chinese around the time of the Boxer rebellion. If that episode is any guide, there will always be reaction against imperialism, and that reaction will often take on the garb of traditionalism, as opposed to the modernity that sees their country exploited by the west. Step back a little, give them time and space to adjust, free of obvious western intrusions, and they will find their own way to the modern world as China has. That's why neoconservatism is so idiotic, aiming to do all the wrong things.

At home, on a fundamental level we should demand that non-natives (the term describing everyone who do not themselves feel fully British) should respect the traditional host-guest relationship. The guest is accorded certain benefits, such as the ability (not right) to be themselves, and respect as individuals and as a group from the host, but the host has the ultimate say on what is acceptable. If the guest argues with this last point, they can go and find themselves another country to live in. That should be the overall drive of policy.

On a lower level, we should allow these lunatic preachers to remain, but keep tabs on their audiences. In the current climate, there may be troublemakers whatever we do, so these clerics help to concentrate them and let us know where we can find them. That's if they can find an audience. If not, they'll be alienating the majority of Muslims while we conspicuously keep our hands clean. We win either way, and if we need to, existing laws will allow us to deport them on charges of inciting violence (which there'll be plenty of evidence for, thanks to our surveillance). There is no need to take radical action right now, which will most likely be counter-productive.

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Originally Posted by Pannonian

At home, on a fundamental level we should demand that non-natives (the term describing everyone who do not themselves feel fully British) should respect the traditional host-guest relationship.

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Very interesting phrase. If I, as an immigrant, or descended from immigrants don't feel fully British, whose fault is that? Is it mine for not wanting to integrate, or has this feeling grown because I have faced abuse, discrimination and intolerance?

The "cricket test" is a good measure of how at ease a society is with recent arrivals and how happy they are, but its main flaw is that it seeks to apportion blame. If new arrivals and their descendants don't support the host nation in sport, it might indicate problems and tensions but it won't tell you why those problems have arisen.

btw I am only a non-native according to Pannonian's definition in that I don't feel fully British. 15 out of 16 of my Great Grandparents were born in the UK, but I still don't feel myself to be fully British.

It's a two way street and I'm not saying we shouldn't be sensetive to immigrants. Ultimately though we were here first and we still ofrm the majoriety. As such we should have a far greater in what goes on.

For example, if a Muslim comes into my house I won't show him the soles of my shoes out of respect, on the other hand if that Muslim wants to smoke, something far more acceptable outside the West, he'll have to go outside just like anyone else.

What does bother me a little is that apparently ethnic minorieies now make up over 9% of the total population, whereas at the last census they made up less than 8%. Britain cannot sustain that level of immigration without serious consequences.

At this point I would be in favour of closing borders completely for four years until we can get a grip on the current situation, clear the backlog and deport those who need deporting.

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Originally Posted by Duke of Gloucester

Very interesting phrase. If I, as an immigrant, or descended from immigrants don't feel fully British, whose fault is that? Is it mine for not wanting to integrate, or has this feeling grown because I have faced abuse, discrimination and intolerance?

The "cricket test" is a good measure of how at ease a society is with recent arrivals and how happy they are, but its main flaw is that it seeks to apportion blame. If new arrivals and their descendants don't support the host nation in sport, it might indicate problems and tensions but it won't tell you why those problems have arisen.

btw I am only a non-native according to Pannonian's definition in that I don't feel fully British. 15 out of 16 of my Great Grandparents were born in the UK, but I still don't feel myself to be fully British.

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If you want to know, I am even less qualified to be British than you are, and thus am even more aware of the host-guest relationship. If the host has discharged his duties adequately, which Britain has, mostly, the guest should not abuse the host's generosity and patience. Britain doesn't make many demands of its immigrant population, mainly that they should observe its laws and pay their taxes. If even this is too much for them, then the guests are unwelcome here.

Immigrants are not treated as well as you think. They are subject to abuse and discrimination. They are treated as a group and accused of taking jobs, houses and healthcare and other services. Is it, then, any wonder that they don't some don't "integrate" but harbour resentment against the host nation. The surprising thing is how well the majority fit in and do far more to be a part of society than just obey the law and pay their taxes.

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Immigrants are not treated as well as you think. They are subject to abuse and discrimination. They are treated as a group and accused of taking jobs, houses and healthcare and other services. Is it, then, any wonder that they don't some don't "integrate" but harbour resentment against the host nation. The surprising thing is how well the majority fit in and do far more to be a part of society than just obey the law and pay their taxes.

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Good Duke , very good .
Now would you like to extend that further to take in the problems relating to this documentary regarding some of the 2nd/3rd or even 4th generation of immigrant descendants who even though they are born there and their parents did all the right things to fit in can sometimes develop the attitude that they are still "damn immigrants taking jobs and benefits off of the good ol natives" and respond as such .

Sounds absolutily terrible, poor guys, no wonder they want to kill Brits. Now can we please stop making up excuses we would never allow for ourselves? Wasn't the BNP a party for the socalled lower classes, feel free to excuse them with the same enthousiasm.

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Originally Posted by Tribesman

Good Duke , very good .
Now would you like to extend that further to take in the problems relating to this documentary regarding some of the 2nd/3rd or even 4th generation of immigrant descendants who even though they are born there and their parents did all the right things to fit in can sometimes develop the attitude that they are still "damn immigrants taking jobs and benefits off of the good ol natives" and respond as such .

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You'll probably find that this kind of attitude is most common in the areas where there is least everyday contact with actual immigrants. In the metropolitan areas, WASPs often identify more with brown people from the same city than with fellow WASPs from another part of the country.

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Originally Posted by Tribesman

Good Duke , very good .
Now would you like to extend that further to take in the problems relating to this documentary regarding some of the 2nd/3rd or even 4th generation of immigrant descendants who even though they are born there and their parents did all the right things to fit in can sometimes develop the attitude that they are still "damn immigrants taking jobs and benefits off of the good ol natives" and respond as such .

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I am not sure I can. This is partly because I was not talking about the programme, rather the idea that immigrants and their descendants should fit in, and if they don't it is their fault. Another problem is that I can't understand what you are saying. Is it the 2nd/3rd generation who think the are "damn immigrants .... " or do they perceive that attitude from others? If I had seen the programme I might know precisely what you mean.

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Originally Posted by Fragony

Sounds absolutily terrible, poor guys, no wonder they want to kill Brits. Now can we please stop making up excuses we would never allow for ourselves? Wasn't the BNP a party for the socalled lower classes, feel free to excuse them with the same enthousiasm.

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My "excuse" was for not fitting in. There is, of course, no excuse for sectarian murder.

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Originally Posted by Pannonian

You'll probably find that this kind of attitude is most common in the areas where there is least everyday contact with actual immigrants. In the metropolitan areas, WASPs often identify more with brown people from the same city than with fellow WASPs from another part of the country.

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Not my experience in Bradford.

But Bradford is a special case. It's not so much multi-cultural as bi-cultural.

The different populations tend to, by and large, stick to their own ethnic/religious groups.

That being said, I do a lot of business with various ethnicities, Sikh, Hindu, Jews and Moslems and I only know which religion they are if I ask (which I don't) or if they tell me (which they sometimes do).

I've had some belting (homemade) curries from several of my suppliers. :2thumbsup:

I think we need to admit that immigrants do take jobs, simply because they will work for less. Plumbing is a lot less profitable now than it was before Poland joined the EU. Ultimately the problem is with the employers who depand lower prices, but maybe also the immigrants for undercutting the locals when they could actually charge more and get away with it quite happily.

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Originally Posted by Wigferth Ironwall

I think we need to admit that immigrants do take jobs, simply because they will work for less. Plumbing is a lot less profitable now than it was before Poland joined the EU. Ultimately the problem is with the employers who depand lower prices, but maybe also the immigrants for undercutting the locals when they could actually charge more and get away with it quite happily.

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Rather misleading, don't you think?

The UK has a minimum wage. Immigrants can't "work for less" unless they are being exploited by employers. This is illegal and should be treated as such. It isn't the immigrants' fault.

In a fair choice between applicants for low paid jobs, responsible employers often do choose immigrants over residents - why? - because the immigrants are invariably harder-working and better qualified. Are you arguing that employers should employ the feckless and illiterate just because they are local?

Plumbing is less profitable because supply has caught up with demand. Back in the day when plumbers were scarce, they could command high prices, and often delivered shoddy work. Ever try and get a plumber in the late 90's?

Now the country has lots of well-qualified, courteous, hard-working plumbers who charge a reasonable amount and are likely to be available right now when the central heating needs fixing, not some time in late August. Competition has benefitted everyone.

Undercutting competitors is a perfectly normal business practice. The consumer wants lower prices and better quality. This is called a market. It has invariably been seen as a good thing in comparison to a command economy where the state tells you what you must pay and to whom.

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Another problem is that I can't understand what you are saying. Is it the 2nd/3rd generation who think the are "damn immigrants .... " or do they perceive that attitude from others? If I had seen the programme I might know precisely what you mean.

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OK lets try an example .
There is this woman that drinks down my local , she is often in there on a Friday after work with her kids while I am in there with mine .
On the walk up to the bus after the pub sometimes she and her kids get verbal racial abuse .
On most occasions a good verbal ******* in their native tongue(which strangly enough most of the racist idiots cannot even speak themselves) shuts them up , occasionally it is neccasary to introduce their heads to the pavement .
Now then , do you think that that her kids (3rd generation Irish of part Indian descent) will develop some sort of resentment towards a society when gobshites shout "**** off home you Paki (the idiots cannot even get that right) ******** " at them in the street ?
To expand it further I wonder if her father got the same treatment when he was working in India , or for a really funny one I wonder where the idiots tell her brother who emigrated to London to bugger off back to when he encounters them over there ?

The point is that racial hatred and discrimination can breed resentment , that resentment can breed hatred .
That hatred can be harvested by exremists . Those extremists attract more racial hatred which in turn breeds more resentment ........
A seemingly unending cycle .
Its about time them human being thingies actually try using their brains for once to attempt to break the cycle .

Good job at introducing their heads to the pavement then. I dunno, maybe there just is a lot more racism in Brittain. I have never seen or heard anything like that. Still problems with immigrants though.

I find it hardly to believe that Islam is a religion of peace when ten years after the death of its founder, it had already conquered Suryia, Palestine, Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia and Armenia, and after which it would make some of the most aggressive expansions in human history, reaching as far as Tours in 732 and the Indus in 750.
Some like to say that Jihad is not so much a concept of expansion against infidel countries, but a more defensive approach. As this is formulated by more modern Muslims, I believe this is more an attempt to soften this particular aspect of Islam, and besides, this has not been the definition for the past 1400 years.

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Originally Posted by Tribesman

OK lets try an example .
There is this woman that drinks down my local , she is often in there on a Friday after work with her kids while I am in there with mine .
On the walk up to the bus after the pub sometimes she and her kids get verbal racial abuse .
On most occasions a good verbal ******* in their native tongue(which strangly enough most of the racist idiots cannot even speak themselves) shuts them up , occasionally it is neccasary to introduce their heads to the pavement .
Now then , do you think that that her kids (3rd generation Irish of part Indian descent) will develop some sort of resentment towards a society when gobshites shout "**** off home you Paki (the idiots cannot even get that right) ******** " at them in the street ?
To expand it further I wonder if her father got the same treatment when he was working in India , or for a really funny one I wonder where the idiots tell her brother who emigrated to London to bugger off back to when he encounters them over there ?

The point is that racial hatred and discrimination can breed resentment , that resentment can breed hatred .
That hatred can be harvested by exremists . Those extremists attract more racial hatred which in turn breeds more resentment ........
A seemingly unending cycle .
Its about time them human being thingies actually try using their brains for once to attempt to break the cycle .

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I think you are making the same point I am.

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But Bradford is a special case. It's not so much multi-cultural as bi-cultural.

The different populations tend to, by and large, stick to their own ethnic/religious groups.

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Different from what Panonnian is used to perhaps, but not unique.

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Originally Posted by King Henry V

I find it hardly to believe that Islam is a religion of peace when ten years after the death of its founder, it had already conquered Suryia, Palestine, Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia and Armenia, and after which it would make some of the most aggressive expansions in human history, reaching as far as Tours in 732 and the Indus in 750.
Some like to say that Jihad is not so much a concept of expansion against infidel countries, but a more defensive approach. As this is formulated by more modern Muslims, I believe this is more an attempt to soften this particular aspect of Islam, and besides, this has not been the definition for the past 1400 years.

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But as has been repeated ad nauseam, this political activity is not any more of a characteristic of Islam the religion than the same brutal expansionism is a characteristic of Christianity. Heck, even Buddhists have been known to go empire building with fire and the sword.

You might just as well claim that all Christians are bloodthirsty warmongers because of the actions of the Crusades through to George W Bush. It's nonsense, and you know it.

~:rolleyes:

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You might just as well claim that all Christians are bloodthirsty warmongers because of the actions of the Crusades through to George W Bush. It's nonsense, and you know it.

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oh, I dunno......:juggle2:

However, for the first centuries of Christianity, it was a presecuted and underground religion and still followed the original teachings of Christ. It was only much later that it undertook campaigns to ectend its realm, such as with Charlemagne's conquest of pagan Saxony. However, with Islam, this expansionism was seen a mere ten years after the death of its founder, when is contempory followers were still alive.

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Originally Posted by King Henry V

However, for the first centuries of Christianity, it was a presecuted and underground religion and still followed the original teachings of Christ. It was only much later that it undertook campaigns to ectend its realm, such as with Charlemagne's conquest of pagan Saxony. However, with Islam, this expansionism was seen a mere ten years after the death of its founder, when is contempory followers were still alive.

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Ah, so it's purely a matter of timing?

Immediate bloodthirsty expansion = religion of war.
Delayed bloodthirsty expansion = religion of peace.

~:rolleyes:

Look, it's very simple. Islam is no more warlike than any other religion. Wise and spiritual people can find solace and guidance for their lives of peace and kindness in all the religious books and myths. Hate-crazed lunatics and marginalised eejits can find justification for their evil acts in the same books, often wielding the very same words. In neither case is the book or religion good or evil, but the people using it.

To paraphrase: Faith doesn't kill people, people kill people.

Islam isn't the problem - the cause of hate and marginalisation is. People who feel themselves powerless often turn to gods and their more populist representatives. And not only gods - witness how marginalised peoples turned to Hitler not so long ago, who provided them with just the same hatred and easy solutions tacked on to a dogma.

Generally, the closer in time one is to the founding of a religion, the closer its followers are to its original message. I'm not saying that Christianity is a religion of peace, however, what I do say is that Islam is a more belligerent religion than others.
As far as I know in the teachings of Christ, there is no provision for war based on religious reasons. In the teachings of Mohammed, there is.

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Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost

Rather misleading, don't you think?

The UK has a minimum wage. Immigrants can't "work for less" unless they are being exploited by employers. This is illegal and should be treated as such. It isn't the immigrants' fault.

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Well for starters some immigrants will work for below the minimum wage quite happily, if they know it is below minumum wage, and I'm not saying they always do as many don't have great English and it's probably still better than back home, but if they do aren't they then committing a crime.

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In a fair choice between applicants for low paid jobs, responsible employers often do choose immigrants over residents - why? - because the immigrants are invariably harder-working and better qualified. Are you arguing that employers should employ the feckless and illiterate just because they are local?

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No, you should choose the immigrant, but if you didn't have an immigrant then you'd chose a local. So now you have a local without a job because an immigrant has a job.

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Plumbing is less profitable because supply has caught up with demand. Back in the day when plumbers were scarce, they could command high prices, and often delivered shoddy work. Ever try and get a plumber in the late 90's?

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My dad is a plumber, and a chippy, a brickie and a car mechanic, if he can't fix it it isn't broken. My mum is an accountant, you wouldn't believe the money we've saved over the last decade. The reason my father is all these things is because getting someone else to do it wasn't worth it.

[qutoe]Now the country has lots of well-qualified, courteous, hard-working plumbers who charge a reasonable amount and are likely to be available right now when the central heating needs fixing, not some time in late August. Competition has benefitted everyone.[quote]

No, it's great. It's just a same the English have gotten so bad at competing. However, if plumbing was very profitable and now is not so profitable it's very hard for people to go back to that, they have houses, cars, loans etc.

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Undercutting competitors is a perfectly normal business practice. The consumer wants lower prices and better quality. This is called a market. It has invariably been seen as a good thing in comparison to a command economy where the state tells you what you must pay and to whom.

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Oh, I agree, but as I said, our economy can't take the change and even the conciencious workers can't compete.

If I said you had to take a 50% or even 25% pay cut wouldn't it cause you problems?

I'm not blaming immigrants but they are taking jobs that would otherwise go to natives, it's a simple fact and we need to face up to it and find a way for local buisnesses to be able to compete. Persuading Poles to take a pay rise would help to do that.

:bow:

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Originally Posted by King Henry V

As far as I know in the teachings of Christ, there is no provision for war based on religious reasons.

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:laugh4:

--> the crusades?

While I agree with Wigferth Ironwall in essence I have to say that the old "they took our jobs!" line seems rather hollow at times. There are masses of people claiming benefit in this country, there are teenage girls that go out and get "in the family way", so as to be able to secure these benefits for the next 16 years at least, there are others that have "bad backs" and are also claiming indefinitely. There are the "stressed" ones, also claiming. Next up are the blingers in the boy racer cars, screeching into the job centre car park, signing the paper, back into the blingmobile complete with italicised number plate, spoiler kit, and blacked out windows, wheelspinning away to the off license, and finally back to bed. They have absolutely no intention of working. Daz, Baz or Shaz or whatever their names may be, no doubt regard themselves as being among the jobless due to a few Somalians or Polish having stolen their chosen vocations from them, and not because of the fact that they simply cannot unglue their backsides from the mattresses before 2pm.

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--> the crusades?

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yeah and God is with us and all that , not actually teachings of Christ but churches backing of politics or nationalism and interpreting scripture purely to fit their purposes .
The problem isn't Christianity or Islam , it is silly peoples intepretations and applications of it .

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Originally Posted by Tribesman

The problem isn't Christianity or Islam , it is silly peoples intepretations and applications of it .

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I might have to go get my head checked. I actually agree with Tribes on this.

:2thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Tribesman

yeah and God is with us and all that , not actually teachings of Christ but churches backing of politics or nationalism and interpreting scripture purely to fit their purposes .
The problem isn't Christianity or Islam , it is silly peoples interpretations and applications of it.

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Having articles of faith that have large passages dealing with killing nonbelievers is hardly going to help matters.

~:smoking:

I'd like to agree with Tribesman, really, I would.

But I agree more with Rory. Islam may be, by and large, a peaceful and acceptable religion but it makes specific provision for making Holy War, which the New Testemant does not.

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Originally Posted by Wigferth Ironwall

I'd like to agree with Tribesman, really, I would.

But I agree more with Rory. Islam may be, by and large, a peaceful and acceptable religion but it makes specific provision for making Holy War, which the New Testemant does not.

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Doesn't it also make specific provision for civilised war, for government of a kingdom/empire, etc? The NT is mostly about personal advancement, and much of it is inapplicable to real life (try turning your other cheek until both have been slapped raw). Islam is a religion firmly rooted in the real world, and deals with real world issues. Look at their provisions for war, and you'll find they're closer to our way of thinking than the wishy-washiness of the NT.

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Originally Posted by Navaros

What's wrong with an Islamic Republic of Britain, that would be totally awesome.

I wish good luck to the Muslims who strive for that goal. Even if they don't meet it, at least they are standing up for morality and trying to do something good for society.

Certainly is a lot more respectable of a goal to turn Britain to Islam than it is to try to shove the infidel institution of democracy down the throats of Muslim nations (ie: War on Iraq).

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Erm...what?

Islamic Republic.....'infidel institution of democracy' :juggle2:

We tried being a republic once, we didn't like it much. :laugh4:

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Originally Posted by InsaneApache

We tried being a republic once, we didn't like it much.

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:yes:

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Originally Posted by Pannonian

Doesn't it also make specific provision for civilised war, for government of a kingdom/empire, etc? The NT is mostly about personal advancement, and much of it is inapplicable to real life (try turning your other cheek until both have been slapped raw). Islam is a religion firmly rooted in the real world, and deals with real world issues. Look at their provisions for war, and you'll find they're closer to our way of thinking than the wishy-washiness of the NT.

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Oh granted, there's that whole bit about non-combatants and not salting the earth. What I'm saying is you cannot say it is a peaceful religion, because it just isn't.

Doesn't make it bad at all. As a religion Islam is probably the best out-of-the-box one there is.

I just happen to believe in the Christ and if he happens to make things slightly less clear I'll deal with those issues as they come up.