Your post is very well articulated and you get your point across well. However, your solution seems to be Muslims protesting in order to show their displeasure. Visit any mosque, before prayers the Imam will speak of tragedies that have happened around the world, and they will seek to reinforce the true messages of Islam. Many mosques have this in English.
Sadly the mosque is where muslims go, not the VAST majority of this country so we never hear it. I have no reason to doubt what you say and I don't actually question that most muslims just want to get on a live their lives without bothering anyone. Experience has shown me across the world that most of us just want that. However, suggesting I go listen to a Imam is kind of supporting my core point. English/British people have never really done 'the mosque thing'. We use churches, tv, radio, the internet, pubs, clubs, sport to chat with our friends. Go to the places we all go is the way forward, not seeking us to come listen as that will fall on dead ears now, for the reasons I mention.
In an ideal world, yes, Muslims would go out and protest against these terrorists, but would you expect Catholics to go out and protest against Protestants because they have tarnished Christianity's reputation as whole, and vice versa.
Would you expect Shia Muslims to go out and protest against Sunni Muslims because their actions have damaged Islam as a whole, and vice versa? Again, in an ideal world, yes.
What I expect cathloics and protestants to do is irrelevant. Awaiting for others to fix problems before you do something about your own is another part of the problem I reference. Stop waiting, take a lead.
Similarly, these terrorists groups are not part of the religion that I know, they have fabricated their own interpretation, and like everyone else, I do not understand how they can commit such acts.
I am sure you believe that, you are here telling us this and that is great, you are most welcome and I am pleased it hear it too. I am also sure there are many many other muslims who share the same view, be nice to hear a few of them though I feel. If their argument for not doing that is because that's not the way in our community, it's not the way it's done, then that again shows some things in that community need to change.
Speak to any Muslim you know and they will tell you of their displeasure at these attacks. Showing displeasure does not solve the problem. We need to address the root causes. Saying that, there is no simple solution, there are many factors at play, protesting would be a start, and as much as I'd love for it to happen, I just can't see it any time soon.
I know one muslim really well a good mate and I know him because we share a passion and he is what I would suggest well integrated. I respect his religion and we joke about it (in a none offensive manner) but I would not seek to insult it or demean him or anyone because of it. Religion as I say is the medium being used, it is the terror groups use of it that I have issue with, together with the lack of clear demarcation of the community who practice it. I am clear 100% that he hates everyone associated with such acts and would destroy them and report them at the slightest opportunity to do so, but I also know that others would perhaps not or would think twice because of their religious conflicts. That is a problem for me, because that mindset I do not recognise and doest not fit with the country I have grown up in.
Also, throughout history, people have always used religion as a means of violence. These terrorists are doing just that, if it wasn't religion, it would be something else. Killing in the name of religion is just easy, especially when many Muslim countries are 3rd world countries, and religion is all they have, they have no education and no prospects. These are the people that are brainwashed into these terrorist organisations. It is unfortunate that religion causes so much hate and separates people. I think even if there was no religion, people will still find reasons to hate each other.
On that we agree 100%. My issue is when that religion seems to remain in the main silent, for it does, about their total disconnection with those who seek to associate themselves or even seeks to understand and discuss some of their points, that is what I take issue with.
I'm not anti religion and though I don't have a religious faith or believe in any of it, I would not seek to debate it's merits or otherwise if it is important ot a person. If a group of people call the Birmingham Born and Bread for the wipe out of black people started going around killing people who were black from Birmingham, using the name of white people born in Birmingham as their reason for being, I would be making noise everywhere to tell the world and ensure others around me did the same, that these people are not me, represent me and if I see them I will turn them into the police and ensure they are locked up for good.
To your core point do I seek marches? No, I seek a clear and unified voice and actions that are visible to remove this hate from this country, no matter where it resides. Today I see very little of that and THIS is my point.
Why are we not including the near 3000 innocents killed by Islamic terrorists on September the 11th? The database begins on September 12th? How convenient.
