Obama: Religious Acceptance Key to Combating Extremism

[AlbertCat]

President Barack Obama told world leaders on Thursday that promoting democracy and acceptance of people of all faiths are essential to stopping the spread of violent extremism.

"Groups like al Qaeda and [ISIS] peddle the lie that some of our countries are hostile to Muslims. Meanwhile we've also seen, most recently in Europe, arise inexcusable acts of anti-Semitism, or in some cases anti-Muslim sentiment, or anti-immigrant sentiment," Obama said at the closing session of a White House summit on combating extremism. "When people spew hatred towards others -- because of their faith or because they're immigrants -- it feeds into terrorist narratives."

The president's remarks come as anti-Muslim sentiment is on the rise in Europe following terror attacks in Paris and Copenhagen.

(snip)

"When people are oppressed and human rights are denied, particularly along sectarian lines, or ethnic lines, when dissent is silenced, it feeds violent extremists," Obama said.

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/barack-obama/obama-religious-acceptance-key-combating-extremism-n308951

*******

How about instead of:
"When people spew hatred towards others -- because of their faith or because they're immigrants -- it feeds into terrorist narratives."

we get:
When people legitimize different ancient superstitions, all of which are ridiculous, no one can be right and no one can be wrong and the fighting just goes on for centuries. Best just to recognize mythology and make believe for what it is instead of giving it authority and an importance it doesn't deserve.

RELIGION is the problem.... in the case of ISIS, Islam. In the case of murdering abortion providers, Christianity. In the case of a caste system, Hinduism..... etc (Islam seems to be the biggest problem at this point in time.... but things change....)

[Cartoonist]

1. How about acceptance of Atheists?

Tell that to the middle east

[AlbertCat]

2. How about acceptance of Atheists?

Now now...

If we all just accept the religion, laws and practices of ISIS, everything will be fine....right?

[trotsky]

3. "the lie that some of our countries are hostile to Muslims"

The problem is, from the fanatic's perspective, Western democracies are BY THEIR VERY NATURE "hostile to Muslims." And we absolutely should never change that.

We don't hide our women under burqas. We allow them to go to school, get degrees, and even enter the workplace! We are more accepting of LGBTQers (still lots of work to be done of course). We don't execute people for leaving the faith of their upbringing. My goodness, the hostility never ends!

[onager]

4. Yep. Many people don't seem to grasp that.

Or maybe don't want to.

But to many Islamic fundies, the world literally IS divided into only two spheres:

1. Dar al-Islam: the House of Islam, i.e., countries currently living under Sharia law.

2. Dar al-Harb: the House of War. Every place else. Especially the West. The Arabic phrase is sometimes rendered as "Dar al-Garb," which literally means "House of the West."

This Wiki-islam article does a great job of explaining the concept. Notice what the article says right up front: That Wikipedia and many other sources don't really talk much about the idea. But IMO it's critical to understanding some of the stuff we hear coming out of ISIS and other, similar places.

http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Dar_al-Harb

[mountain grammy]

5. and the fundamentalist Christians also divide the world.

Those who are saved and will have eternal life, and the rest of us.

My sister in law once told me how worried she was about her son who had a drinking problem and had several DUI convictions. She was worried he would kill someone who hadn't been saved, and that person would go to hell without ever having accepted Jesus. I said something like worrying about her son's soul if he did kill someone while driving drunk. Oh, no worries about him, he's been saved.

[trotsky]

6. Absolutely correct.

And they find justification in the bible to do just that. That's one f'ed up story about your sister-in-law but definitely fits with the mindset of the "saved." I've met people just like her.

[AlbertCat]

10. Oh...so selfless and righteous!

Were you duly impressed?


Religion is so egotistical...even when it's trying to be altruistic.

[trotsky]

7. Can I just say again how much I appreciate having you around, onager?

I have learned more about the Middle East and Islam from your experiences than from any other source.

[Fix The Stupid]

9. 2d this...I love his/her posts.

Actually, all you fine peeps in this forum are tops.

We're the intellectuals here - spend some time around the other forums and I think you can make the same conclusions

Just ask yourself this....

If you had to be put on a desert island with 10 other duer's and you had to pick between the religious apologists on this site, or the peeps in this room...who would you pick?

Pretty simple answer.

Watching some of you interact with that dishonest lot and SOMETIMES I do pity them. It's not even a fair contest. The wit, the intellect, the smarts - I only see that going in one direction. I have sent some links around the office from 'that' forum, and trust me, we all have a good laugh at the deflections, the butt-hurt, the ''never-answer-a-direct-question" MO, and just the general "get-your-ass-handed-to-you on every topic" that happens so frequently over there...

Like I say, it's not even fair.

But it sure is entertaining....and a little scary that people like that actually exist and we have to respect these stupid beliefs.

I'm in Ontario, Canada, so we don't have as many brainwashed suckers around to drag us down. I feel for some of you and what you have to endure.

[mountain grammy]

11. and another 2nd from me too...

I just subscribed here and read every new post. Best posts on DU, in my very humble opinion.

[haikugal]

14. I agree with both of you!

Give me 10 from this room anytime.

[mr blur]

15. You are absolutely right - have on of my new stickers:

[Gore1FL]

8. Gore1FL: Elimination of Religion Key to Combating Extremism n/t

[RussBLib]

12. I can sympathize with your sentiments, AlbertCat

If only.....

But Obama is obviously not the person to do as you suggest, and I suppose we all know it:

How about instead of:
"When people spew hatred towards others -- because of their faith or because they're immigrants -- it feeds into terrorist narratives."

we get:
When people legitimize different ancient superstitions, all of which are ridiculous, no one can be right and no one can be wrong and the fighting just goes on for centuries. Best just to recognize mythology and make believe for what it is instead of giving it authority and an importance it doesn't deserve.

I wonder how far away we are here in the good ol' US of A to having an atheist, or even agnostic, as President? I guess it's a long way off, as it is such a struggle just to get one or two members of Congress who profess no faith in religion.

on a side note:
I was recently shocked to learn that England, considered by many to be one of the most anti-religious citizenries on the planet, still observes "Easter Monday" (April 6) as a holiday. I set up a videoconference between Houston and London on Monday, 6 April, only to be bombarded with "that's a holiday!!" from the Brits I work with. I thought it would be fine, as we don't observe any such holidays in America, although we are considered to be deeply in the pocket of religion. Just goes to show how hard it is to shed this religious straightjacket.

[AlbertCat]

13. we don't observe any such holidays in America, although we are considered to be deeply in the pocket

... of religion."

We are deeper in the pocket of capitalism.

[mr blur]

16. We may not like religion much here, but EVERYBODY likes a holiday!

And you still get paid for a day at home.

[Rainforestgoddess]

17. We do good Friday in Canada, easter Monday is only a government holiday.