Muslem matters
News.com report a senior Islamic leader in NSW has accused John Howard of trying to oppress Muslims and said new counter-terrorism laws would achieve the aims of terrorists by proxy.
In an angry speech to a summit designed to condemn terrorism and promote harmony between Muslims and non-Muslims Islamic Council of NSW acting chairman Ali Roude does neither;
“If John Howard gets his way, we will not be able to talk about it. We will be tagged and monitored and maybe interned,” he said. “I hate to see someone who is not a Muslim scared of me.”Then tell them how you dispise the actions of some of your extremist bretheren and they might calm down. You can’t blame any westerners for being wary of a religious group that are providing the world with 100% of it’s terrorists from among it’s adherents. While Simon Kearney or John Kerin describe Ali’s speach as angry and designed to condemn terrorism and promote harmony between moslems and non-moslems they then go on to report his condemnation of our reaction to terrorism. I don’t think he has either condemned terrorism or promoted harmony.
The summit, controversially held in Sydney on the fourth anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks in the US, condemned terrorism without qualification, saying terrorists were not Muslims.Saying terrorists are not Muslims is not condemning terrorism without qualification at all – it’s simply denial and what do Simon Kearney or John Kerin see as controversial? The fact that the conference was held in Sydney or that it was held on September 11. I just don’t get their point. I see the location as irrelevent and the timing as opportune. While Ali says terrorists aren’t Muslims, a representative of an extremist Muslim group, Al-Qaeda, threatens Melbourne
The masked man warned that the attackers would show no compassion. “Yesterday, London and Madrid. Tomorrow, Los Angeles and Melbourne,” he said. “We love peace, but peace on our terms.”I can sort of understand the no passion thing about Melbourne but I don’t like it that we are on their radar again. Over at Evil Pundit a debate rages over wearing of the Hijab by muslem woman. I see a woman wearing hijab and I see subjugation – whether she is aware of it or not. Readers at EP compare wearing the hijab with wearing the christian cross and therebye show their confusion. One act is covering up lest men succumb to lust and is enforced in many families. The christian cross is worn as a statement and in my experience is done so by choice and never by direction. By the same token I don’t think outlawing wearing the hijab is the way to go either. I would think that time and education will see it’s demise. There are, I’m sure, many young moslem woman who wear the hijab or scarves or clothes that completely cover their form for perceived modesty reasons. Education will change their perception of modesty. I might have thought the first bikini wearing woman as exciting but now hardly ever get distracted by the scenery yet my great-grandfather could well have been driven to uncontrolled lust by the sight of a pretty turned ankle. Perceptions change and people assimilate after generational change.
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Kev, you know as I that Asians, Arabs, Indian, or African who have been colonies of the Europeans harbour an internal hatred by extremists that will take centuries to melt away.
Post WWII with the collapse of the colonial powers had the USA and USSR impose their will by capital or military threats and powers, according to national agenda, we have left in the 21st Century the USA and its ‘friends’.
The Arab extremists who manipulated the Koran to raise the anti-European hatred is not been identified, nor promoted, by either side, although some over the horizon commentators have spoken on this.
To play the racial game, always promoted by non-Europeans, is a bullshit but if that is said in the media the possibility of invoke the wrath of the legal action is most likely.
For hundreds of years forts and barrier have been built to defend and protect the people, we still are but not with rock, earth and steel but by pen on parchment of strokes on the keyboard. All previous efforts in defence of the folk have failed and so will the legislation but we must do what those who fear the most and do the least to participate demand.
In forty years or children and grand kids wonder what all the fuss as they grapple with environmental and governments failing to do their duty for which they were elected.
Bob
Hi Kev,
Just a minor correction: the spelling is “Muslim� for a believing servant who follows the religion of Islam.
Also, please note that the majority of terrorist attacks are performed by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. Tamil Tigers are certainly not Muslim yet are generally Hindu.
In relation to the wearing of the headscarf, people can perceive it as they like. When I leave the house wearing my ‘hijab’ (and yes I choose to wear it!), I am letting everyone know that “hey I am a Muslim�. Nothing more, nothing less. People can draw their own opinions on me, discuss how they feel sorry for me, discuss how “hot� I must get in summer, etc. The bottom line is Kev, it is a requirement in our religion, and despite all secondary reasons about modesty, we believe as Muslims, that God has requested this for all pious women. Don’t forget that Orthodox Jewish women cover their hair (often donning wigs instead), and also Christian nuns wear head coverings. Mary mother of Jesus also covered her hair (just look at any painting or statue!). I recently travelled to Europe and viewed first hand many old paintings by which women wear covering their hair. And sure, as you said, people often change and “assimilate� after generations. In Australia, with the rush of Muslim migrants, you can already note that many Muslims are losing their religion (hence many women are no longer are wearing the hijab that identifies them as Muslims). But they are still Muslim. We all want to live together in peace. It is just a small group of so-called Muslims that make it hard for the rest of us.
And Kev, I do despise the actions of some of my extremist brethren. They are disgusting. They should never associate their actions with Islam or being a so-called Muslim.
VN
Thanks for commenting. Muslem was a typo as I spelt it correctly eight times in the body of the post. Still, it’s bad editing and I apologize.
You’re right about not all terrorism being instigated by muslims. The Tamil Tigers are still active but an unfortunate fact of life is that as they don’t attack us they slip below the radar. I do have a friend who is the last of her line courtesy the Tamils. Her parents and brother were slaughtered on the alter of extremism.
On your wearing the hijab. It is your choice and I have no problem with that but while it becomes a public debate then some thought and comment from people outside the religion is reaonable. I’m not sure that the muslim woman who decide not to wear the hijab are neccessarily losing their religion. I’m of the opinion that religion needs to move with the times to reflect changing society and maybe they are simply adjusting their dress standards for this reason. It is common for people coming into a new society to change to the dominant norms. When in Rome….
You quote Nuns and Mary, mother of Jesus as doing similar but the Nuns, in Australia at least, no longer wear habit, let alone a veil and I suggest if Mary were alive today her dress may be more in tune with todays society than one that prevailed two thousand years ago.
I was closely involved with the arrival of Greek and Italian peoples coming to Australia after WW2 – my parents even sponsored some. Their matriarchs dressed as they had for centuries in the rural areas of Italy and Greece but view thier grand daughters today…little Miss Aussies all of them.
You are obviously educated and confident so do as you believe and do so with my blessing (as if that matters) but watch your daughters and their daughters and tell me in years hence that it isn’t so.
Having said all that I still believe there are woman who wear the hijab, not for the most noble of reasons, but for the most ignoble – subjugation.
I note that you despise the actions of some of your extremist brethren and can only suggest you do more of what you have done here. Say it often in a public arena and tell your friends to do like wise.
It is calming on a troubled day.
God bless