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Interested
Joined: 10 Feb 2003
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 Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:58 pm Post subject: Don't suppress radical Islamic ideas, challenge them |
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This is a serious problem, and one that seems likely to get worse before it gets better. How do we persuade those most likely to adopt radical islam that there is a better alternative? I don't feel we are doing enough. Certainly banging on about veils and niqabs isn't the answer...
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Policing political activities on campuses represents a threat to open debate. The right to free speech is not a negotiable principle that can be withdrawn in order to "protect" impressionable students from their eloquent peers. On the contrary, it is only through open debate that regressive ideas can be countered and discredited. The alternative is to drive dissident views underground and undermine genuine dialogue. Perversely, if Kelly's guidelines are implemented they will lend moral authority to the targets of repressive measures. It is very easy to push the repression button. It is far more of a challenge to effectively counter the appeal of radical Islam.
In reality it is not the "impressionable" student the government wants to protect from dangerous ideas. Those who associate with radical Islamic groups are often highly motivated, articulate and intelligent. In contrast to many of their peers, they take themselves very seriously, are idealistic and deeply interested in the world around them. At public meetings these students stand out and often command authority. At a time when the traditional political societies lack conviction, and leftwing activists have become disoriented, Islamic radicals appear to have something important to say. That is why, on many campuses, they constitute the most active and best-organised student societies.
One reason why such groups succeed in gaining influence is because their ideas are rarely challenged on campus. Their arguments are rarely countered by persuasive democratic ideals. So a large constituency of students are more disposed to accept the radical Islamic account of global events than the government's. |
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| Instead of closing down debate, universities ought to provide greater opportunity for a free exchange of opinion. Instead of policing radical Islamic speakers, we need to confront their ideas in public debate. |
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/comment/story/0,,1929469,00.html |
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mateomiguel
Joined: 16 May 2005
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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if you challenge radical islamic ideas, you get fatwas called out on your head and then you have to go into hiding or die.
how about we come up with an idea that doesn't involve us dying? |
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happeningthang
Joined: 26 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| mateomiguel wrote: |
if you challenge radical islamic ideas, you get fatwas called out on your head and then you have to go into hiding or die.
how about we come up with an idea that doesn't involve us dying? |
How about stop being a girly wuss for one?  |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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Fatwas aren't nearly as respected in the Moslem world as you might think. It has been reported that you can buy a fatwa on just about any topic you want for the right amount of money. And before you ask, the 'right amount of money' can be as low as $22. Moslems are aware of this abuse of the system and respect or ignore fatwas based largely on which cleric issues it.
In other words, you can send $25 to Pat Roberson and 'save your soul' or spend the same money with a different cleric and condemn someone else's soul. Money + religion = corruption, no matter what religion is under discussion. |
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mateomiguel
Joined: 16 May 2005
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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| yah yah yah. I propose an anti-fatwa fatwa, proclaiming that all previous fatwas are now defunct and any fatwa attempting to proclaim against this fatwa is not a real fatwa. fatwa. |
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