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Is Islamaphobia Irrational?

Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 1 month ago to Education
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Since a phobia is described as an irrational fear, Islamaphobia becomes an oxymoron.
Need proof? The following are some reasons for a rational fear of Islam and its Muslim followers. I use the word "some" because for the sake of brevity, I could have listed many more. Keep in mind that the following were all perpetrated by Muslims:
The shoe bomber
The Beltay shooters
The underwear bomber
The USS Cole bombers
The Madrid Train Bombers
The Bali Nightclub bombers
The London Subway bombers
The Moscow Theater Attackers
The Boston Marathon Bombers
Pan Am 93
The Iranian Embassy takeover
The Israeli Olympic Team massacre
The Kober Towers bombers
Embassy Attack in Benghazi
The Beirut Marine Barracks massacre
The 1st World Trade Center Bombing
The 2nd World Trade Center Attack on 911
Tha Achille Lauro Hijack
The Peshawary Schoolchildren massacre
If that doesn't prove that it is perfectly rational to fear Muslims, nothing will. However, that doesn't mean that one should run cowering when encountering a Muslim. Quite the opposite should be the case.

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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Which is why I modified my statement with the 10% statistic.
    Objectivist look-alikes? You're right. A bunch of nerds wearing black rimmed glasses who refuse to turn their slide rules in for calculators.
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  • Posted by Mitch 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    I disagree with you again… I feel a group has an obligation to curtail the radicals in their group or abolish them. The vast majority of Islam does nether…
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  • Posted by conscious1978 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    I hear you, Herb. I just question whether the significance of someone associating with Islam, or any religion, is greater than someone signalling irrational, dangerous behavior. That's the individual to watch.

    I detest group smear; it's typically inaccurate. If the concept is true for the whole group, then fine. The "broad brush" can destroy the innocent.

    C'mon, you know those Objectivists all look alike. :)
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  • Posted by Mitch 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    My message is in response to conscious1978, we're on the same page here
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Which, so far, is the sane and proper attitude. If the situation changes you can always change with it.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    I am not trying to downplay other examples of violence in our and other societies. But Islam seems to have world-wide apologists. You'll not hear people defending murder, or rape, or assault, or kidnapping. But you do hear defenders of Islam for the very same things. Therefore, when someone is accused of being Islamaphobic, my stance is that he/she has a perfectly rational reason and it is not phobic at all.
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    Posted by edweaver 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    The questions I have are, based on the teachings of the Koran that states, believers are to do anything necessary to blend with society until they are in a position of power and then they are to kill all infidels. How does anyone know if 10% is accurate? Can a believer of Islam be trusted to tell the truth about their position?

    I'm with JB, not cowering but not turning my back either.
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  • 10
    Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    As the saying goes, "Caution is the better part of valor." I dislike painting any group with a broad brush, but it is said that only 10% of Muslims are radicalized. That's still around 200 million. A lot of friggin' radicals, a juicy portion of which are sure to be living down the street.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Willing to illustrate?
    Since the 70s no religious group can compare to Islam. No political group can compare to Islam. When it comes to violence, torture and atrocities, you cannot name a more consistent enemy of the West and particularly an enemy of Israel and the USA.
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  • Posted by Mitch 9 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    I disagree with your assertion, I don’t believe you could compile such a list for other “modern” groups. I append the qualifier modern because I would assume we are speaking of today? Human history is littered with bad dudes but no religion goes as far as Islam in perpetrating violence.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_a...
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    Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 1 month ago
    I'm not cowering in fear, but I am more guarded than I would like to be. Out of my 200+ students each semester, probably 40 are Muslim. They pay their bills. Most of them show me respect. Some show more respect than others. There are a few, however, who cheat on my exams, and definitely more Muslims than those in the general population at my school. It is those who concern me. On the days I return exams after such cheating incidents, I get my best opportunity to express John Galt's values: "No one gets to this place by faking reality in any way whatsoever."
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  • Posted by conscious1978 9 years, 1 month ago
    I think you could fill a list of atrocities for many 'groups' that would be comparable.
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