Anders Breivik, the Norwegian terrorist who killed 70 innocent teenagers and young men and women in the name of purifying Europe from Muslims and immigrants, was clearly a Christian fanatic. He referenced his religion many times in his manifesto. After his massacre, no one expected the Christians around the world to somehow apologize or dissociate from his actions, since everyone realized he was a mental nutcase and a psychopathic killer who had nothing to do with his religion. The Sydney hostage taker and ISIS supporter, Man Haron Monis, was also clearly someone who had mental issues. Yes, he waved an IS flag with the kalima on it, and his Twitter account is full of rants against the West, but he is not all that different from Breivik (apart from the fact that Breivik actually killed 70 people and Monis, as of writing these lines, appears to have killed none). So why should I or anyone else have to dissociate him from the religion of Islam, and condemn his actions, when the co-religionists of Breivik did not have to dissociate themselves from the religion of Breivik and condemn his actions? The answer is simple: from a purely academic perspective, I shouldnt have to, and I shouldnt need to. But from a realistic, pragmatic perspective, and taking into account: 1) Basic human psychology, where one understands ones own culture and makes many excuses for it, while stereotyping other cultures and making no excuses for them (just stating a fact here, and not agreeing with it!) 2) The narrative that the media and politicians continue to paint, exaggerating the real threat of radical Islamist jihadist groups in the West and making it a top priority (you are far more likely to die in an accident involving your furniture than you are to die in a terrorist attack) 3) The continual highlighting of all such atrocities around the globe and their direct linkage to the religion of Islam (whereas no such highlighting or linking is done in the case of other religions)... In light of these factors, and more, I do see the need and wisdom for some Muslim groups and organizations to condemn such attacks. As usual, trying to navigate between theory and reality is a very difficult path. The academic, rational side of me hates to condemn something I have nothing to do with, while the pragmatic, daee side realizes it must be done. gawker/sydney-siege-guman-identified-as-man-haro…
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 04:41:23 +0000
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