Comments on: Are there similarities between Muslim and Mormon persecution?

By: MichaelD

MichaelD — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:53:58 +0000

People might find this article interesting as well. Apparently not satisfied with owning insurance and automobile companies, the Feds are moving into taking ownership of mosques (albeit mosques owned by the Iranians …)

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13773144

By: Geoff B

Geoff B — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:47:56 +0000

This article may be an interesting read for anybody following this subject:

http://www.conservativeblogwatch.com/2009/11/12/nyt-defends-muslims-after-ft-hood-attacked-mormons-for-prop-8/

By: MichaelD

MichaelD — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:58:31 +0000

In a similar vein to Yeechang, if I were a Muslim and was facing increased scrutiny from my neighbors because of the acts of some of my co-religionists, how better to prove that I’m not a threat than to voluntarily subject myself to additional scrutiny? When people complain that their rights are being violated if they are asked some additional questions or have their bag searched, I wonder what they have to hide.

By: Yeechang Lee

Yeechang Lee — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:20:37 +0000

A Muslim authored an op-ed (which I can’t find at the moment) in the Yale Daily News a few days after the September 11 attacks, observing that he would gladly have accepted the inconvenience of being scrutinized closer at airports if such measures would have caught the hijackers.

If the United States were fighting a war with my birthplace of South Korea; or if Mormons had flown hijacked airliners into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, a Mormon group in Buffalo had been convicted of planning and training for terrorism (the Lackawanna Six), a Mormon engineer in Northern California had been found guilty of same (Mike Hawash), a Mormon had killed two at the El Al ticket counter at LAX (Hesham Mohamed Ali Hadayet), and a Mormon officer had just killed and wounded dozens of fellow soldiers at an army base; I’d expect *and welcome* greater scrutiny when boarding a plane, or employed by the government, *even if I had nothing to do with any of this*.

Whatever happened to being willing to sacrifice, to endure the occasional inconvenience, for others’ benefit?

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:30:59 +0000

I’d say this pathetic, sad episode that occurred earlier today suggests (at least anecdotally) that racial/religious profiling of Muslims is a bad idea, especially in the military.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1050707.ece

I can’t wait to see how Michelle Malkin spins this one.

By: Chris H.

Chris H. — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:10:47 +0000

JA,

My point is that your “example” is a pretty extreme one. There are plenty of forms of racism (both legal and cultural) that do not reach that point but are still immoral.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:54:43 +0000

bbell. Of course there’s tow sides to the equation in the history of Islam. There, of course, is two sides to the story of 19th century anti-Mormonism, too. But that doesn’t justify or excuse prejudice, discriminatory, and violent actions aimed at either group. What exactly is your point?

By: bbell

bbell — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:37:56 +0000

Personally I am of the view that a stifling version of military PC is the reason why this guy was not stopped. See the video of Gen Casey for an illustration. Who wants to be the officer who puts his career on the line? The investigation of all this is going to be really damning to anybody who had direct knowledge of this guy.

Christopher. My view of the history of Islam is that Islam is as aggressive militarily and culturally historically as Christianity. Ask a Eygyption Copt for more details. Or ask Greeks about the Ottomans. There is two sides to the equation.

Lets not forget that the marines fought there first engagements agains Islamic pirate states who were raiding Europe for slaves and plunder.

By: Geoff B.

Geoff B. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:58:40 +0000

Katie, please re-read comment #21. Could you please tell me where I say we should treat Muslims differently because they are Muslim?

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:13:43 +0000

If you are suggesting that we shouldn’t give Muslims special treatment just because they’re Muslim, then that’s a great statement. Everyone should be treated equally. Anyone who makes violent threats should be dealt with, no matter what they’re background.

If you are suggesting that we are justified in treating Muslims differently because they’re Muslim, then that is a racist statement. It doesn’t matter what other Muslims have done – there have been many violent crimes done by professed Mormons, we just don’t talk about them as much. I don’t think that’s what you’re saying, but frankly in some points it does sound like you are suggesting that.

Some have suggested that you can’t compare Mormons and Muslims because what Mormons have experienced in the past is so much less than what Muslims have experienced. This may be true in the US, but it is not true worldwide. The reason why so many Middle Eastern people hate our country so much is because of the meddling we have done in their countries. That doesn’t mean it’s right to retaliate, but if you’re going to compare at least compare apples to apples.

It doesn’t matter what Muslims have done, or how many of them have participated. Even if 99% of them were violent jihadists, it would still be morally wrong to discriminate against them just because they’re Muslim. Of course that is hard to do, and we’ll probably never get it perfect, but it is still the right way to treat people.