Prejudice and Freedom of Speech
I recently read this shocking comment about Muslims, from a reputable hubber which stunned me…..
He/she wrote, I Quote ...
"I mean, what has the Islamic world given us in the past 500 years? Oil? They didn't know it was there, how to get it out of the ground, or what use it had if they did. Camels don't use oil.".....
Some may say, “What about freedom of speech?” This person should have the right to say whatever they want. Well let me tell you this, do you know that Hitler also had the freedom of speech when he wrote Mein Kampf. In the book, this sociopath wrote that the Jews were the inferior race. This freedom of speech he was granted, proved to be dangerous and affected millions. Who would have thought that his words would lead many to the gas chambers. Twenty years later, the same man who published this book was also responsible for the extermination of six million humans.
In many cases, yes I do believe that we are entitled to freedom of thought and speech. And I as a writer at times do cover some controversial topics that could attack certain characters, social issues or political groups. But for me or any other writer to write discriminatory comments or articles about a certain race or religion is a hazard. And it troubles me, when words as these to put Muslims in the same category as “Camels” is used freely on a respectable revenue generating website as hub pages, by a reputable hubber who’s as I type this is at score 100 with over twenty five hundred followers. Then I’m sure he/she will have a great influence on many people, who trust him/her and their judgment.
Others may also say, “Well maybe this person is making an accurate statement?” Then let me ask you this; Do you think it’s fair to say that all Christians killed witches at the stake? The problem is not whether or not Muslims have contributed to society, but rather putting the whole belief system into one box. As we all know, we have Muslims in every race who have made many contributions to the world. And did you miss this sentence in this writers comment? “Camels don't use oil." Now I find this attack not only extremely red neck like, but also a threat to peace. For any human to think that he/she is above another because they belong to a certain race, is disturbing, yet more so when they call themselves a respectable writer.
Finally, a true writer to me, is an artist, a lover of humanity. A writer is someone who can put themselves into every race and religion’s shoes and goes deep with an understanding of empathy, analyses with an open mind. A writer is someone who not only influences the masses, but his words may hold true power. Their words of hatred and bigotry may spread like a disease, to nations far. Their words are as forceful as a gas chamber, with the annihilation of nations.
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Comments
I have to correct one factoid in your article. The Nazi's killed 11 million people, 6 million of which were Jewish. Also, in defense of the camel comment, he didn't say that Muslims were the same as camels. He's making a comment on the fact that camels don't require oil in order to make them work. This is a legitimate statement considering that in that area of the world, camels are more practical than a motor vehicle as a means of conveyance. I also believe that he is commenting on what the Muslim world would have done when they FIRST found oil and were still not as technologically advanced as we were at the time.
The last thing I have to say is that at this time Muslims are the scapegoat of our country. It doesn't matter that they are generally nice people and enjoyable to be around, they are still hated for no reason. This makes me sad as an American but it will happen regardless. At this point in time, one person making a terrible comment about the Muslim community isn't going to spark any flames or start a riot, that happened back on 9-11. At this point one more comment is just joining the crowd of thousands of other ignorant comments. I just hope that there are enough reasonably intelligent people left in America to see that the people making blatant racist and stupid remarks about a group of people as a whole, are completely off base.
I'm afraid you may have misinterpreted the comment about camels; it seems to me the writer was saying that the arabs did not drill their oil because they were riding camels, not because they are camels. It's still a nasty comment, but I'm pretty sure that's what was meant.
As someone who actually lived in the middle east as a kid, my dad was one of those Americans brought in to drill the oil and teach the arabs to do it once the expats left, which I'm pretty sure they stil haven't done.
Most arab countries are archaic and backwards and always will be as long as they let their governments be run on religion. When their radical muslim students come to America to study and then turn around and plan terror attacks on us, we don't have much incentive to trust or rely on their partnership. Arab governments should try building trust with the west by telling their citizens not to kill the non-believers in other countries and perhaps the world would be more accepting of their faith.
Hi Ranzi,
Good comments. We'll have to see how this all plays out. As you know, many secular dictatorships in North Africa and the Middle East are crumbling under the weight of popular revolt. The rebellious populations always talk about wanting more freedom. But really I think they want less freedom, i.e., Islamic theocracy. I think most if not all of these nations will end up being Iranian controlled and terror exporting.
Stu
- AUTHOR
Hey Stu,
I see exactly where you’re coming from my friend, you have very valid points also and I’ve held this opinion myself many times, and so have my Muslim friends. My Muslim friends are angry at the way Islam is been corrupted and exploited. They are angrier at Islamic supremacists than you and I. They did after all come on a boat, in dangerous waters, paying thousands of dollars, travelling millions of miles away from their violent land just to have a better life in Australia. They too left behind the persecution of Muslim fundamentalists against themselves, other Muslims. My Muslim friend have also contributed to society, they give 10% of their income to the poor every year as advised by their Koran. Some have PHD’s in engineering and others are doctors and surgeons. Others are peaceful people that would not kill a coach roach.
When a country has no true government, it will be entwined with corruption and exploitation. We even see it in the child sex slave industries where crooked westerners travel for miles just to exploit.
Now on the subject of the persecution of other religions. The people are being persecuted by a small group of individuals who use the Koran, and their power to support their sociopathic habits. The people and masses in these countries you talk about, do not agree with the cruel treatment of another human being. We can see this clearly through mass demonstrations in the middle East that have been happening lately, were lives are sacrificed in the name of justice and human rights.
I myself do not agree with what some of the Koran verses teach, but also in Judaism it teaches an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth…and there is some beautiful and peaceful teachings in the Koran btw….
Also the Islamic supremacists fabricate and interpret the religion the way they choose to. And so does the Media…. In the end it’s the people that suffer. The way the crusaders interpreted Christianity their way and the catholic churches chose to burn witches at the stake their way. Unfortunately Islam is still behind, but getting there slowly. And this is why we must show compassion for its people who only want peace. But also condemn the violent individuals, like the violent individual of the Al-qaeda, Jewish Zionists, Corrupt politicians of the West, Racists, the KKK, violent individuals of rape and murder anywhere on earth.
Thanks for taking out the time to comment – And you too also have very valid points which I can emphasise with.
Hi Ranzi,
Good points. I guess the real answer is that it's a spectrum. Sometimes all stereotyping makes no sense, other times alot of it does, and in yet other cases a middle dose is more accurate.
I'm hardly prepared to compare all Muslims with the Nazi's, but you really have to look at societies where Islamic penetration reaches critical mass. Genocides are hardly unheard of. Malaysia is an example. Mass murders of all Chritian males in Malaysian villages have occured multiple times. Nobody even gets arrested. Multiple fatal attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt have also occured at the hands of radical Islamics. The Egyptian army is on the Muslims' side. If the MB attains a parliamentary majority in Egypt, or a radical Islamic is elected president, there could be a genocide against the Copts.
Stu
- AUTHOR
Hey Wesman! Always good to see you on my hubs…
Thanks for pointing that out, you’re so right, the middle ages would be lost if it wasn’t for islam,,, Yes, it’s usually the ignorant Americans with this view, but the sad part is this person is really smart and well educated. But I guess the most intelligent could be subconsciously brain washed by the media and propaganda which has been transmitted through subliminal messages to their minds from childhood.
thanks for stopping by,
- AUTHOR
Hey Frog, how you been? In can understand where you’re coming from.
The argument was not whether or not you may agree with the religion itself, (I myself neither agree or follow it) but putting its people and belief system into the one box, and of course calling Muslims “Camels.” Whether or not you agree with the way they live, cover up or pray, it is their right as individuals, and I know many who are happy, and have found peace within their faith.
As a writer you may have your own opinions about any religion and write that you do not agree to its teachings and chronicles. But it lacks intelligence to put the believers of one religion, or the citizens of one country into the same category. Say hypothetically I wrote “What have Christians contributed to society other than crusades, theft of the Africans and slavery.” But we both know that this statement is not correct as we know that there are many Christians who have contributed greatly to society. And that said, there are Muslims who live in America, around the world and the middle east, that have also contributed to art, culture, science, medicine, philosophy, the world’s growth and evolution.
Stu nice to see you here! The king of the comments lool :) Yes I do agree with you to some extent about going too far with the “no stereotyping’ To put Muslims in the same category of the Nazis is, an exaggeration. It’s important to separate the religion Islam, from the individuals who use Islam as a tool to terrorize. We must stop been brain washed by the media, and the government who have ulterior motives. And if it wasn’t for the U.S trying to take over the world, then the terrorists such as al qaeda, may not even exist.The U.S.A has been terrorizing people all over the world, the U.S.A has been throwing their bombs over civilians as they please, staging wars in the name of propaganda. You are a U.S citizen right? So do you think it’s fair for me to call you a terrorist? To put you in the same box as your government? To say, ALL AMERICANS have contributed to this society is colonization’s, theft of African people, slavery, war and terror?
btw this person’s stereotype had nothing to do with terrorism, he/she was trying to put Muslims in the same category as camels. Backward, useless and have nothing to contribute to society.
Frog and Stu thanks for taking the time out to read this and your comments, although I may disagree please don’t take it personally. Always love a good debate :P Peace and love to you both.
Ranzi,
I agree with your point of view in general, but you have to be careful about going too far in the "no stereotyping" direction.
As an example, during the Nazi period, the order police (ordinary "beat cop" policemen not indoctrinated in SS philosophy) volunteered in droves for death camp and Einzatsgruppen duty when the SS was short handed. This clearly showed that ordinary citizens of Germany (especially in the north) as well as Austria (who were even more zealous admirers of Hitler than many Germans were) were enraptured with the National Socialist eugenic goal.
Similarly, many Muslims are either dangerous radicals, front men for radicals, or financial supporters of the same. Islam may possibly have been a religion at one time, but now it is a geopolitical philosophy founded on infiltration, terror, forced conversion, and murder.
I agree that falsely jumping to stereotyping is wrong, but where it really applies, apply it.
Stu
Well, without the Islamic world much knowledge would have been lost during the middle ages. The comment sounds like one a typically ignorant American would make.
Ranzi - I somehow, as a writer myself, can't put myself in the mindset of the typical Muslim. I have compassion for humanity in general but this mentality I have very little for. That's just the way the cookie crumbles with many people.
The Frog
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