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Originally Posted by Ramrod
I posted this not to 'have a go' at Muslims as such
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It seems to be having that effect, however.
Not that I'd worry about that unduly, I don't think that's avoidable atm.
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Originally Posted by Ramrod
but to get your thoughts on why they feel persecuted here since it's their side that spouts off at our morals, blows us up etc
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Maybe it has nothing to do with whether they are 'persecuted' here or not. After all, this has erupted all over the world, whether there was publication or not.
It is quite clear that Muslims everywhere are saying they have been 'insulted' - I wouldn't be surprised if there were even those who haven't seen the cartoons who would still claim to have been insulted!
Attacks have been made on innocent people in many places, based on nothing more than their nationality, race or religion - because they certainly had nothing to do with the cartoons or their publication.
But since the cartoons were published within the freedom of speech (FoS) right, I suppose that Muslims have decided that everyone from a country that supports FoS are guilty by association. (Except any Muslims in those countries, even those born there, of course.)
We have had a number of clashes in recent years between the values, ethics and beliefs of 'the West' vs. those of Muslims. Some of these have seemed trivial (e.g. issues of dress), but now we have a direct confrontation between one of the fundamental rights of our democracies and one of the many faiths that coexist here.
Any one faith making such a challenge should be opposed, otherwise we'll descend into theocracy - history is already awash with blood spilt to separate church and state across Europe, so a return to a situation where any religion holds sway in that way is unacceptable.
Considering the many objections that Muslims seem to have to the way Western societies function, why are they here? If they want their religion to have primacy in their lives, to have it rule their every waking (and sleeping) moment, then why aren't they all rushing to Iran or Saudi? There, they could be assured of the presence of Sharia law. Comforted in the knowledge that should they step out of line, then a whipping, stoning or beheading is not far away.
We cannot go any further to adjust our societies specifically to their demands. Not ever, but certainly not while we are faced with violent protest and terrorism as the ever present threat that they are today.
There have been few, if any, significant changes required to accomodate a vast range of faiths in this country. We have been able to satirise, make fun of and ridicule just about every one of them - until now.