Sunday, 6 March 2011

Islamophobia: Hate Comes to Orange County

How is this different to the mind set in Nazi-occupied Europe?

How is this not hate speech? 

This is not just talk and it is not harmless.  Young children were verbally assaulted in this video, men and women who were doing nothing but peacefully going about their business.  How is this different to the harassment that Jews, homosexuals and other minorities experienced in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s?

There is no doubt in my mind that the more people believe this is okay, apologise and make excuses for these types of actions, the more people pave the way for acceptance when mass murder, ethnic cleansing and genocide occur. 

I don’t think we’ve learned anything.  9/11 was a terrible action committed by terrorists and I abhor and denounce terrorism.  Every year I remember victims of 9/11 (as well as 7/7 and the Mumbai terror attacks).  But if you say (as was said in this video) “remember 9/11” then you need to remember the other event where we said “never forget”.  Never forget that unchecked hatred, propaganda, stereotyping, bullying and harassment can lead to 10 million deaths. 

Not all Muslims are terrorists, not all Muslims are radicalised.  Islam is a religion of peacefulness and charity but really, if you took the time you would learn that Muslims are just individuals like you and I.  But you don’t take the time, do you?

"First they came for the Jews
...and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
...and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
...and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
...and there was no one left to speak out for me"


- Martin Niemöller

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5 comments

  1. The video seems to have been removed because of a copyright issue, but I think I can imagine what it was about. I've heard people talking about Muslims and tarring all with the same brush,, so I'm going to memorise the Niemoller quote because I think it's a close to perfect answer.

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  2. Hi Sheila, thanks for letting me know. I have uploaded the original one from The Salon article now so hopefully no copyright claims!

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  3. Now that I've come back and seen the video, I am horrified. Words fail me.

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  4. @ Sheila: I know. It actually made me physically ill the first time I watched it and I had to go back to it a little later. It is horrible.

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  5. Thank you for standing up against hatred.

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