ARTICLE: Islam; Integration and Assimilation in Western Society A common position for everyone in civilised western society should be the condemnation of violence. Where evidence exists of individuals being inspired to conduct violent acts in the name of religion, an open, intelligent and constructive discussion needs to occur with the appropriate community members. There will be many in the left-wing community who will label people wanting to have such an open, intelligent and constructive discussion as bigots, racists and Islamophobics. It’s rather rich of the left-wing community to label everyone having concerns about Islam as bigoted, before being open to hear what those specific concerns are. A bigot can be defined as someone intolerant of those holding differing views. Based on that definition, it seems the left-wing are quite deserving of having the bigot label placed upon them. Is having concerns about Islam really bigoted? When you look at the world today; there is a vastly disproportionate level of violence conducted in the name of Islam compared to other religions. It is an appropriate and rational position for the average person to express views and concerns relating to the integration - or lack of it- of Islam in western society. The racist label is the left-wings favourite of course. They regularly depend on the word racist in an attempt to divert a discussion covering a topic they are not qualified to be having in the first place. As anyone with a modicum of religious knowledge is aware, the Islamic community is comprised of people from multiple races, including asian, black and white caucasian european. I continue to be perplexed by the racist label so liberally flaunted by the left-wing in relation to criticisms of Islam. Islamophobic is another example used by the left-wing. It doesnt deserve much airplay to be honest. A phobia is an irrational fear of something. Do the left-wing consider every single person in this country expressing concerns on Islam as having irrational fear? Well, yes they probably do, but obviously this is not the case. Yes, its just another tactic by the left-wing to divert constructive discussion. We must accept that these irrelevant terms will be flaunted around, but also must ensure we take ownership to drive the constructive discussion. We cannot let the left-wing divert, subvert and prevent constructive debate with irrelevant epithets. With a fundamental and basic understanding of the Koran it is undeniable there is content, that in its literal form condones violence. Thankfully a level of religious interpretation is applied by the majority of the Islamic community. I wish to stress, the majority are peacefully living in western society; not integrated and assimilated but peaceful. It certainly would be a bigoted view to suggest all members of the Islamic community are trouble causing terrorists. Such a view is equally as disruptive and counterproductive to progressive debate as the left-wings “everyone who is concerned about Islam is a racist bigot” doctrine. With the aforementioned ends of the spectrum, it is evident there is a large vacuum in the middle where no debate is happening at all. This vacuum needs to be filled with the constructive debate I have previously mentioned. It must not be allowed to be shut down by irrelevant left-wing slurs or by the kill-em-all rednecks on the other end of the spectrum. A common response from the Islamic community when the Koran is raised in a debate is to refer to the old testament, which also contains verses portraying violence. Why not, it’s a reasonable response to make isn’t it? It does contain violence, we cannot deny it. The issue here though is religious literalism. This is practiced by a minority of Muslims and various tenets obligate them - in their interpretation of the verses - to commit acts not permissible by Australian law. We cannot deny the many examples - with supporting evidence - of predominantly young Muslim men in society today possessing such views. I cannot emphasise strongly enough that if young Christian men were conducting violent acts in the name of the old testament I would condemn it in the strongest possible terms. Religious literalism practised by minorities is not going to go away. What are we going to do about it? It is frustrating to see government officials always trying to address the symptoms as opposed to the cause. I’m not interested in what the policy is to address violent extremists, I want to know what the policy is to address non-violent extremists. By the time violence is being committed by individuals in the name of Islam, it is too late. Investigations to address these issues is paralysed and will continue to be paralysed as long as our political leaders continue to tell us that acts committed in the name of Islam have nothing to do with Islam. It is embarrassing and entirely counterproductive. Over the years I have had many discussions with members of the Islamic community across different continents. In general, they have been very pleasant to me, and I pleasant to them in return. A common position reached after a discussion is that violence in the name of Islam - according to the Koran - is permissible, providing it is proportionate and specific justifications and conditions are met. What does this mean though? I cannot answer this question, because the aforementioned justifications and conditions are interpreted and practised in many different ways. To say it is complex, is an understatement. Islam is not a monolith religion, and the Koran is interpreted and practised in many different ways across the world. There are various different aspects of Sharia incompatible with western society. Although not all aspects are interpreted and practised literally by Muslims. The integration of Islam in western society is a very complex issue to fathom. In reality, western society makes considerations, exemptions and reservations to shoehorn Islamic society into western society. It should be the other way round of course, however we cannot blame anyone but ourselves for letting this happen. Firstly, we didn’t understand its full layered complexity. Secondly, the left-wing have continually prevented any constructive debate regarding integration and assimilation by bashing decent people over the head with their favourite bigot, racist and islamophobic conversation destroyers. What is the Islamic community proactively undertaking at the grassroots level to address integration and assimilation in western societies, pertaining to religious interpretation and literalism when it conflicts with local laws and culture? What community projects and workshops are underway within the Islamic community to help steer young Muslims away from the tents of Sharia that conflict with the local laws and culture? I don’t have the answer. I’m happy to be advised of such programs.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 07:41:43 +0000