Muslims: “Down With Terrorism!”
Muslims in Bahrain (a little island off the coast of Saudi Arabia, near Qatar) protested in front of the British Embassy holding signs that said “Not in my name,” “They aren’t Muslims,” “United we stand against terrorism,” and “Our sympathy with victims of the London blasts.”
Here’s a link to a very encouraging series of photos.
I think that’s good, since a lot of Americans think that all Muslims are terrorists. This opens their eyes that the terrorists are just one extreme group of Muslims, not all of them. In fact, a lot of Muslims actually denounce terrorism and are dealing with it in their home countries, in one form or another.
Encouraging indeed. I suspect that there is a lot more of this sort of thing going on in the Muslim world but we rarely see it here in the states. The conservative-owned mainstream media doesn’t think it makes for gripping televison, and the Bush regime doesn’t have enough Arabic translators (they keep firing the gay ones).
If you are a Muslim living by choice in a free society like America, I imagine you’d have to be okay with such freedom and reject Islamofascism. Still, it would be nice to see more Muslim faces affirming that rejection. It wouldn’t have any effect on international terror, but it could lessen the slight anti-Muslim backlash effect here. Ignorant assholes are pretty much going to remain ignorant assholes, but you might at least reduce the number of “go back to your cave, Osama” comments shouted out of 1983 Ford pickups if Muslims were a little more vocal against terror (or if they were given more of a change to be vocal about it.)
On foreign soil, anti-American and pro-terrorism support is inflamed by the media. One of the first things you learn when you study television journalism is that the camera is not a perfect witness. The viewer only sees what the camera sees, and the mere fact that a camera is on changes human behavior. I’ve heard reports from cameramen that at anti-American demonstrations in the Middle East, as soon as the camera crew has their shot and leaves the scene, the demonstration fizzles. There have also been reports that camera crews have actually staged protests. “Anti-American party at the center of town… you bring the signs and burning flags, we’ll bring the cameras.”
It’s a delicate balance. Certainly you cannot hide the support of terrorism, but if you overstate it, you almost legitimize it, and certainly help spread its hateful message. People would rather watch things that excite them, like violent hateful protests, than watch things that calm them, like solemn candlelight vigils. “Fair and Balanced” comes second to “give the people what they want.”
Extra extra! Tonight only! Helping the war on terror vs. Destroying the fabric of American morality! Watch as hawkish social-conservatives start to collapse under the pressure of the internal conflict!
Also, reminds me that a “don’t ask/don’t tell” post has been a long time coming, for me.
most news outlets are afraid of contradicting the Bush regime. The Bush regime, of course, is too invested in keeping Americans fearful and hate-filled, to avoid any messy questions as they continue the for-profit occupation of the Mideast. Thanks to Tempest Fugit July 11, 2005 in myth of the “liberal media”, war |
Pics of Jordanian vigil at British Embassy
Yahoo! News Photos Chan’ad Bahraini notes that some pics from the candleight vigil outside the British embassy in Amman are available on Yahoo!. Here are a couple of them: I’m not really sure why more isn’t being made out of…
I like how they come out against terrorism just as they’ve screwed up royally once too often. I say let them taste a few kilotons of low yield righteousness, say one in every islamic city over 10,000 in population, including Detroit, that place is a shithole anyway.
[...] Muslims: “Down With Terrorism!” [ Tempus Fugit | TxFx.net ] Says: July 11th, 2005 at 9:31 am [...]