Studying Europe's Muslim terrorists

Yes, Walter, thank you.

Interestingly, that made far less headlines than the protests in Cologne. Sigh, not sensational enough, I suppose.

The mosque in Edinburgh is popular because it serves inexpensive curry lunches which the students like.

heh, i'd be down for that, too. especially here. all that is edible comes from surinam or indonesia anyway...certainly NOT from dutch "cuisine".

Dag I'm not defensive. I'm being offensive* against certain political or religious ideas which advocate violence. Its not my fault if Islam is one of them.

Walter, pleased to learn of the Turkish brewery. If more Muslims relaxed over a beer or two perhaps there would be fewer jihadists. On the other hand, if they had to drink the beer with cola...well that could make anyone pretty sick...

* I'm sure you understand the meaning with which I use this word.

Dag, Steve

Interesting report here:

http://able2know.org/topic/125278-1#post-3468414

Popular in Germany since about 50 years, called - regionally different - "Diesel" or ...
“Beer-based mixed drinks” have always been very popular here. Since beer taxation changed in 1993, those beverages are sold pre-mixed in bottles. (Though someone tried to stop the production in a brewery some years ago )

That is interesting McT thanks. I know Dag probably wont believe me but I actually feel sorry for most Muslims. They have no choice when it comes to religion. And for the millions who take it seriously they find the good name of their religion traduced by the few who use violence in its name. Lets hope violence in the name of religion will cease. But somehow I doubt it.

There was a jolly good punch up between monks at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem over the weekend. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7718587.stm

Yesterday, I started a thread about that, with link to a video: "Holy War"

The insurgents causing problems in Mumbai at the moment are being identified in the news bulletins as "islamists"

I dont know what to do about the scourge of religious terrorism. And greater brains than I dont either. At a time when the world is facing real and immediate problems, global recession, climate change, resource and food stress etc, we have these religious fuckwits running around with machine guns thinking they are doing God's will by killing as many westerners as possible. I'm totally against killing people. But I'm not against using the disinfectant of rational thought to wipe out harmful and contagious religious creeds.To all those muslims in Bradford Rochdale and Birmingham who quietly revel in the slaughter in Mumbai, I tell you Allah is not pleased.

How do you know that? Is "Deccan Mujahideen" active in the UK? (It is said that the terrorists were foreigners, not Indians.)

The Indian PM said they were probably foreigners, but I think he is probably wrong. This looks like an inside job.
Anyway, we should know today or tomorrow.

Might - but many analysts say the same.

Islam in Europe ...
Here's one man's view
Caution .. may cause offence to some ...

It show how easily things can get polarised.

If we (as a nation) want to be hospitable, and kind to immigrants (required for our economy) and accommodating to genuine asylum seekers, and tolerant of other religions (without being patronising as we do so), it doesn't help if some of them (and funnily enough it's usually not the immigrants themselves, but their offspring) denigrate our society and even try to kill us.

We could co-exist okay without that. And the catalyst is religion.

So the solution, if there is one, needs to come from within the muslim clergy. Among which there are plenty of moderates, it seems.

Your post brings something to mind that helps to establish commonality and discipline in students: uniforms from primary school into intermediate grades.

Even in Bhutan, students are required to help clean up the school yard, and many walk to school - one hour to school, and one hour home. And that's during the winter months, when snow can hamper the best of us adults in good health.

They prey at the beginning of the school day, and pray at the end of the school day. It's about the only time I agree with a country's culture of religion in school.

Anything which increases social cohesion is to be welcomed.

To that end, I think for example that it is a bad mistake to encourage a polyglot society.
What the hell are we doing, issuing translations of official documents and pamphlets?

We all should speak only American!

McTag, I find it impossible to be tolerant of a religion which allows beheadings, stoning to death, female mutilation, honour killings, wife beating, and not to mention what you can do to be assured a place in paradise.
To be tolerant of those things would be against my upbringing.

I too find it impossible to be tolerant of people who think killing me is God's wish.

Every morning here in the UK on radio 4 is a 3 minute slot at 7.45am reserved for a religious view. It usually alternates, Christian Sikh Jewish Muslim etc etc. And usually I switch it off. But this morning I wasnt quick enough and it was a Buddhist speaker. Of course he was talking about Mumbai but what he said was quite interesting. To summarise, clear thinking on such a matter can only be achieved by not over reacting...not becoming filled with hate...and declaring "war on terror"...being sympathetic towards suffering but not over sentimental and by not being consumed with fear and anxiety.

Anyway it made a refreshing change from the inane trivia they usually pump out. (One of the worst offenders here imo is rabbi Lionel Blue..I know you like him, Mct, but imo there is a limit to funny stories about cake and homosexuality ...)

Walter, I think I have as much authority to speculate on the unknowable as any Iman or Ayatollah. Moreover I have an infallible holy book that I just wrote and on page one it says "Thou shalt not machine gun passengers at Mumbai railway station or I will be severely pissed off".