Blasphemy riots: less about theology, more about power plays

[sinkingfeeling]

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2012/0912/Blasphemy-riots-less-about-theology-more-about-power-plays

The mobs that killed the US ambassador to Libya and assaulted the US Embassy in Egypt may have been provoked by a blasphemous portrayal of the prophet Muhammad, but Muslim scholars and analysts alike say the attacks have little justification in Islamic theology. Instead, they reflect societies roiled by power struggles and competing ideologies – in which Muslims are used as pawns for political gain.

But whoever was behind it, the film – whose quality suggests a far lower budget, it should be noted – was clearly meant to incite a response, just as the Danish cartoons did.

“Sadly, we had idiots on our side take the bait hook, line, and sinker,” says Arsalan Iftikhar, a Muslim commentator and author of “Islamic Pacifism: Global Muslims in the Post-Obama Era.”

But Mr. Iftikhar rejects that conclusion, attributing the violent response instead to societies just emerging from decades of dictatorial rule, during which there was no concept of freedom of speech.

[Igel]

1. Eh.

More of the "Islam doesn't support such violence."

Yet many people who call themselves Muslim fervently believe that it does. In Yemen. In Libya. In Egypt. In Jordan. In Syria. In Iran. In Pakistan. In Aghanistan. In Indonesia. In Thailand. In India. In Turkey. In Palestine. In Iraq. In Sudan. In Mali. In Somalia. In Tanzania. Even in Britain.

So, the question is, what do all those people actually believe?

Somewhere between the "no true Scotsman" and shifting definitions lies the problem in this article. Islam is narrowly defined by a small number of people who represent themselves and many Muslims.

The shifting definitions masquerading behind the no true Scotsman fallacy makes it impossible to discuss Islam intelligently. They say nice words, but they're part of the problem because ultimately they only diss these folk in public in English after the fact, and then primarily to protect themselves.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Yeah, just actually like the so-called Christians. "They say nice words, but

they're part of the problem...."