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OPINIONS

slam Vs The West: Round 2

 

Left Overs

Iain Reeve, OP Columnist

h what a glorious day! With Mr.

McCullough off spreading his

ctazy ideas in Europe, and per-
haps even having fun like a normal
person, I have free rein to spread my nutty
left-wing agenda. Well, actually I have
nothing too nutty to talk about this issue,
just a simple little idea called racial toler-
ance.

As you all now know, on July 7, during
the G8 conference in Scotland, a series of
bombs were detonated in quick succes-
in the transit lines of London.
Fifty-two were killed, hundreds more

sion

were injured. Two weeks later there was
another attempted bombing, which fortu-
nately failed when the devices did not
explode. I could spend some time here
talking about the implications of the
bombings, or spend a whole article talking
about why this type of violence is unac-
ceptable no matter what the justification.
I would, however, prefer to focus on
another issue.

After the New York terrorist attacks in
2001 were revealed to be the work of
Muslim extremists belonging to the group
al Qaida, there were massive shockwaves
throughout the US, including huge out-
pourings of hate and discrimination by
citizens and politicians alike. Hate crimes
were carried out against both factions of
the Muslim community and those who
“appeared” to be Muslim. This included
eight murders, which police linked to
attack backlash.

Talk in the US government was also
ripe with discrimination and misunder-
standing about both the nature and
teachings of Islam. Worst of all was the
right-wing media and pundits, led by the
likes of Anne Coulter, who on September
12, delivered her now infamous comment,
“We should invade their countries, kill

8 | www.theotherpress.ca

their and convert them to
Christianity.’ Spoken like a true imperial-
ist. Granted, Coulter is an extreme

example, but many of the more moderate

leaders,

views were not too far off in their
extreme nature.

I am happy to say that, to a large
degree, reactions have not been the same
in Britain. One of the first things I saw on
the news about the bombings was a press
conference by British officials, including
the head of Scotland Yard and the transit
chief. When asked by a rather moronic
reporter if any Islamic group was believed
to be responsible for the attacks, the head
of Scotland Yard was quick to shoot him
down. He said something about that
being a ridiculous question as it was far
too early to know. He stated that there
should be no connection drawn between
Islam and violence. He also stated that
Islam is a faith that encourages peace, not
violence, and that anyone who links it
with violence is severely misguided. He is
completely right. Thankfully, this is the
line that has been followed by the British
government and much of the British
press.

Tony Blair seems committed to engag-
ing the moderate Muslim community in
Britain and discouraging hate crimes. He
also has worked to ensure that extremists
will not find a welcome home with those
moderate Muslims who consider extrem-

ists a threat to the country they feel they
belong to. The actions of the US after
September 11 only served to fuel the ter-
rorism they were attempting to fight. By
ostracizing the Muslim community, the
US creates a group within their own coun-
try who will not only remain apathetic to
attacks carried out against the state that
discriminates against them, but may even
become involved themselves.

The Muslim community is on its heels.
Globalization and the mass exportation of
Western values and culture have been
seen by many as a threat. As in all cases
when a culture is threatened, many have
reacted by banding together to perpetuate
their culture peacefully, while others have
turned to violence. And as always, it is eas-
ier to blame religion for ferocious acts
rather than seeing the reality behind it,
that religion is usually used as a justifica-
tion for the acts of the malicious.

Do we ostracize all Christians because
of the Crusades and the Inquisition? Why
then should an entire faith be the target of
discrimination due to the acts of a
deranged few? By attempting to engage
the Muslims in their country, Britain is
taking advantage of the greatest weapon
against extremist terrorism, moderate
believers who see other resolutions.

See ee Ene ee

 

 

Colin s Bests

of New West

Colin Miley, Opinions Editor

 

Best cheap flowers:

Happy Dollar at Sixth and Sixth.
Best processed cheese omelette
for hangover-cure purposes:
Jim’s cafe, across from Starbucks on
Sixth.

Best cuppa Joe:

Americano from Kelly in the main
cafeteria here at Douglas.

Best place to see a ton of crazy
old shit stuffed into a very small
space:

Antiques at 435 Sixth.

Best restaurant to pretend you’re
not actually in New West:

The Orange Room.

Best cheap massage (without
release):

West Coast School of Massage
Therapy on Columbia

Best cheap massage (with
release):

No comment.

Best crack dealer:

 

td Momma.

August 10/2005