The Myth of Islamophobia?

[Decado]

If the priests are democratically elected then yes they can obtain office - regardless of their beliefs. Of course having extreme beliefs would work against you when running for election which is basically a popularity contest but the chance is still there.
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[Sniper_Zegai]

[Timbo]

[Nimble Jack]

I think that Sniper made this thread about the perceived problem with politicians attempting to please the Islamic community in order to gain votes/support. Which those links (particularly the second) have relevance. So Timbo you were entirely correct the problem is

[Sniper_Zegai]

I guess thats my point.

In a truly eqaul and free society we should'nt be bending the rules for anyone if we would'nt bend them for someone else.

In retrospect it would have been easier just to say that, but Im afraid as more allowances are made, muslims will continue to push the bar. And as said politicians probably wont know how to react. I guess the real problem is with the political system. Politicians dont seem to care about anything except racking up votes.
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[retrospect.]

I dont understand how someone can say "I'm really afraid of islamic people having an influence in my country" and still not be sure if that makes them an ignorant fearing retard. do you still fear russians and germans? how about the british? or if you live down south what about the mexicans and the spanish? or how about the fact that america has fucked with the middle east for decades.

the world has some how convinced everybody that we're all civilized and intellectual beings now a days. if that was the case i'm pretty sure blockbuster movies and nascar wouldn't exist. and yet here we are in a site full of people who think that if you're islamic you beat children and slaughter puppies. or you rip women apart with whips and chains because they weren't wearing 99% body coverage. i'm actually pretty surprised to see a thread based entirely on hate get so far.
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[Sniper_Zegai]

[Elc]

Personally speaking, I don't have problems with anybody based on their beliefs, skin colour or what language they speak, what I do have a problem with is when people from other countries (not restricted to muslim countries, but any immigrant) into my own and then start protesting the laws of my country and demand exemptions while screaming about discrimination and violations of human rights.

Yes, what I described above has happened, at least in British Columbia, far too often and, as has been mentioned by others in this thread, the politicians cave and give these people what they demand, likely because they fear losing their votes. I don't personally like it when there are different laws for different groups of people, but there's not much I can do about it except not support the government responsible during the next election.

I'll give an example just so you know what I'm talking about. Years ago, the provincial government of British Columbia passed legislation requiring cyclists to wear helmets and, shortly thereafter, introduced similar legislation for motorcyclists. Almost immediately, in both cases, vocal members of ethnic groups who wear religious headgear rose up and declared this to be a violation of their human rights and demanded that they be exempt from this law. They also claimed that their cloth headgear would be protection enough from any impact. In the end, the government caved and allowed exemptions for people who wore religious headgear as well as people with, and I am not making this up, unusually large heads.

Naturally, the ones who are demanding the exemptions and screaming about discrimination and whatnot aren't representative of the entire community of said immigrants, they are the ones giving their community a bad name.

Am I racist? I would have to say, in the strictest sense, no. I do believe that we'd be deluding ourselves if we claimed we weren't prejudiced in some way, since all of humanity is prejudiced is some form or another.

[Timbo]

[Elc]

Well, with the example, it's not an issue about religious holidays or whatnot, it's about a law promoting safety. If these exempted people were to be seriously injured should they be hit by a car while riding their bike, their medical expenses would be covered by the taxpayers and said group had flat out refused to exchange free medicare coverage in the case of an accident for the exemption. Basically, they wanted everything their way. I think it's wrong that the taxpayers would have to pay for medical expenses incurred by an injury which could have been presented had said people not demanded and received an exemption.

Again, I'm not talking about the entire community as I'm sure there are those who wouldn't have any problem obliging, and there was actually one person in the community who wrote an opinion piece on how the exemption could be exploited by those who don't wear religious headgear. But I can say with absolute certainty that had a group represented the white population demanded exemptions, it would have been flat out refused without question.

One thing about catering to religious demands which I have a problem with, is it isn't universal. I'm not sure how it is in the US or other countries, but up until recently immigrants (those uptight, unreasonable ones who want things their way and only their way) would get up in arms about Christmas music and decorations in shopping malls and in general, saying how it offended their beliefs. The politicians caved to these demands as well, primarily on the Christmas music as the decorations didn't seem to disappear. Even using "Christmas" is public advertising wasn't permitted, as it was changed to "The Holidays."

But what I've found is that the politicians were bowing to the minorities of the minorities as I've worked with people of the community who would wish us a Merry Christmas. So, really, it's not the ethnic communities I have a problem with in these cases, rather the politicians who have no trouble trampling over other religious practices or customs in favour of others.

So, in the same vein that I feel there should be one law for all, I feel that all the religions should be treated equally, which still isn't the case but it is getting better. I don't think that's an unreasonable concept.
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"You make me smash the clock and feel, I'd rather die behind the wheel.
Time was never on my side, So on I wait my whole lifetime."

[Sniper_Zegai]

This is mainly what Im refering to Gregory.

The real problem I have (Im saying this way too much) is that laws that apply to all the public are being bent for one particular group.

We had a very simular thing with Christmas and the Nativity. Im not religious, my mother is Athiest and Im Agnostic and Ive been that way all my life but I consider Christmas and the Nativity a tradition, and one that Im proud of.

I just find it strange that these people knowingly immagrate to a mainly Christian country, with these traditions and beleifs, and then have the cheek to actually protest about something that really does'nt affect them; I mean no school is forcing muslim children to take part in these plays if they dont want to or forcing them to write Christmas cards. And yet they act as if publically celebrating Christmas is some sort of deliberate act carried out in order to offend. Another funny thing is that some of these immigrants even come from countries where even attempting to promote Christianity is a crime punishable by death.

I guess the ultimate irony is (as Gregory points out) that they preach about their right to be treated eqaully, with eqaul respect and rights yet they expect changes to those very laws to cater to what they think is right and eqaul.

One Law, One Rule for everyone! No Gregory, I dont think thats an unreasonable concept, in fact I think its a brilliant idea; if only there was a country in the world that actually backed it up.
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[kuwaizair]