Last Friday Norway suffered two horrifying terrorist attacks that left 76 people dead in Oslo and the nearby island of Utoya. Anders Behring Breivik, the terrorist apprehended for these attacks, claimed sole responsibility for both attacks.
Breivik published a 1,500 page manifesto explaining why he committed such heinous crimes. A self-described Christian and right-wing fundamentalist, Breivik believed in cleansing Norway of liberals, proponents of multi-culturalism and immigrants (particularly Muslims). In the manifesto, Breivik praises the Tea Party, the ultra-Zionist government of Netanyahu in Israel, the English Defense League in Britain, and other movements all over the Western world.
Details of this manifesto were obviously not available in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. In the absence of any information, contrasting the reactions of the American media to the European media was quite revealing.
Fox News placed the blame on so-called “Islamic terrorism” almost at once, not waiting to consider how such speculation could harm Muslim immigrants in the US and abroad. The European media, on the other hand, refrained from repeating such racist stereotypes.
Perhaps we can forgive the right-wing in this country from doing what they do best — race-baiting and jumping to conclusions when there was little information to go on. However, nothing excuses their reaction after it became clear this was not an Al-Qaeda attack as they claimed.
The perpetrator was no longer called a terrorist, he became a “lone-wolf.” And, of course, his ideology was no longer important to the story since it implicated the Fox News machine.
Most inexcusably, the American media continued to discuss the dangers and supposed inevitability of Islamic terrorism despite the fact that it was completely irrelevant to the Norway incident.
The American conservative movement, led by Fox News celebrities, proved that no situation is too sensitive for them to abuse. They blatantly attempted to take advantage of the Norway terrorist attacks in order to blame the ills of the world on an imaginary “clash of civilizations.” The right-wing in this country is not beyond using any tragedy to legitimize their cynical narrative of Islamophobia and racism.
The sad reality is Breivik is indeed a terrorist, and not a lone wolf. To characterize him as anything other than that is disingenuous and dangerous. He was preceded by many right-wing extremists—such as Timothy McVeigh, Robert Cottage and Nathan Worrell.
And, he was animated by right-wing propaganda in Europe and in this country. In that sense, right-wing fascism is more dangerous than “Islamic” terrorism; at least the latter is kept out of the mainstream while the former demands a place in it. Conservative pundits and politicians share the blame for such tragedies, and yet all we hear from them is more fear-mongering about Muslims.
Despite the horror of such a tragedy, the Norwegian people and government have reacted in a way that is an inspiration for all civilized societies. They have affirmed their commitment to a multi-cultural, liberal democracy and have resisted stigmatizing traditionally marginalized populations. In this country, we would do well to learn from their example.
Dana El Kurd is a senior political science and economics major and may be reached at [email protected].
What happened to the comments previously posted?
Is the Daily Cougar taking license with our First Amendment Rights?
What happened to the comments previously posted?
Is the Daily Cougar taking license with our First Amendment Rights?
Comments from opinions were showing up as comments on different news and opinion articles, so the DC simply deleted them all as an easy solution until they got it fixed.
I hope not too many Muslims are surprised about the Islamophobia of the Oslo terrorist, as many Europeans and Americans much more moderate than him are tired of radical Islam spreading like wildfire in Europe. If their brothers keep building more radical mosques in Europe, enforcing honor punishments, and making Europeans feel unwelcome in their own countries, while they stay silent, then they have reason to be afraid. What happened in Oslo was monstrous, but it was bound to happen, and I can guarantee there will be more attacks like this in the future, but against Muslims in Europe instead. Especially since muslims have already brought there Shariah Courts to Europe.
· 2 days ago
Page 2.
If one relied on the western media – and only the western media – one would not know that there have been over 17,000 Islamist terrorist attacks since 9/11. Meanwhile you are hard-pressed to name four terrorist attacks committed by non-Muslims, and those you mention are NOT done by Christian fundamentalists, but by deranged individuals who do NOT look to Christ for guidance. (In fact I'd guess 90+% of the people who read your article have never even heard of Robert Cottage or Nathan Worrell.)
Simply put, Christ was a man of peace who never lifted a finger in anger against anyone. McVeigh was an atheist and he most certainly acted in violation of all of Christ's teachings.
In contrast to this, Mohammed was a warrior who led 60+ battles against non-Muslims, and whose followers today shout out "Allahu Akbar" when they commit terrorist attacks
Four Terrorist attacks – Baruch Goldstein (perpetrator of Cave of Patriarchs Massacre, First Crusade, Second Crusade, Third Crusade
The First Crusade was forced upon Christians due to endless Islamic warfare. The Crusade was not declared until four centuries of relentless warfare against Christians (by Muslims) left Christianity no other choice. Islam had conquered (occupied?) all of the Middle East, all of North Africa, huge sections of Asia and parts of Southern Europe.
What would you have done when the Muslim hordes started marching northward in Italy toward Rome to destroy the heart of the Catholic Church? The Crusades were not "terrorist" actions, but were defensive wars necessitated thanks to Islam's endless Jihad against non-Muslims.
Yoyo · 2 days ago
El-Kurd, Fox News does not represent America. Just because one news organization had an anti-Muslim bias does not mean that all of America's media was like that.
Also pray explain what ultra-Zionist means. And how about mega-Zionist? Super-Zionist? Supra-Zionist? Hyper-Zionist? Hypo-Zionist? Netanyahu is *merely* extremely hawkish and right-leaning.
vid · 2 days ago
Snore. More of the same from Dana El-Kurd. Dana is the Glenn Beck of The Daily Cougar.
Arafat · 2 days ago
Yoyo
The Crusades were declared after Islam had ruthlessly conquered all of the Middle East, all of North Africa, huge swaths of Asia, Southern Italy, Spain and was moving towards Rome. And you’re blaming Christians for this? What would you have had them do? Be the Buddha and let blood-thirsty Muslims continue to rape their women and kill their men?
Furthermore, Christ was a man of peace. War declared in his name – arguably even at the defense of Christianity – is a sin. In Islam Jihad against non-Muslims is a basic tenet. They are, Islam and Churistianity, as night is to day.
"And you’re blaming Christians for this?"
You asked for four terrorist attacks committed by non-Muslims. You did not specify a date range. By definition, the purpose of terrorism is to strike terror into people, and my examples certainly did make people afraid.
"In Islam Jihad against non-Muslims is a basic tenet."
Only in the extremist Wahhabist strain of Islam promoted by Saudi Arabia for the past several decades. They have poured time and money into their own sect, obscuring the sane majority of Muslims.
rafat · 2 days ago
I'd like to make clear I did not intend to denigrate Buddhism in my previous post. Buddhism is arguably the most intelligent, logical, healthy, honest and therfore most beautiful of the so-called religions, in my opinion
Good article! The only issue I see is when you talk about it being only a phenomena of "US meida", because I think more accurately it would be "Mainstream US media" with the bias, and in this particular incident, there was an English paper that also picked up on the racist, Islamaphobic misinterpretation of the incident. This paper was The Sun, another Newscorp, Rupert Murdoch owned (same as FoxNews) media outlet.
I think it's important to see this as an international rather than US issue, because though Islamaphobia may have some of it's most vulgar expression in our country, as this shooting among racist legislation among many other issues show, Islamaphobia is a huge problem in Europe and the rest of the "developed world".
This talks about The Sun's coverage. http://www.democracynow.org/2011/7/25/headlines
Islamophobia is nothing more than seeing Islam accurately. Seeing the countries where it is practiced for what they are. Seeing the imams who preach hate for who they are. Seeing the Qur'an which preaches hatred of non-Muslims for what it is.
Find me a Muslim country where women, Christians, Jews, Gays, Buddhists, Hindus can breath deeply, can speak freely, can dress as they wish without fear.
Racism, is what comes out on this blog when you write. You can interpret horrible things from the bible and torah, as you're implying you can from the Koran, and I'm sure most major religions have nasty things in their scriptures. This doesn't mean you can generalize a whole religion and a billion+ people like you are trying to do out of racist ignorance.
Find me a country in the world where religious minorities, women, LGBTQI people can breeth deeply, speak freely, dress as they wish without fear. Sexual assault is an endemic in the entire world, including this country where 1/4 of women will be victims in their lives, and often these assaults are blamed on women for dress and "speaking freely".
I grew up a religious minority in this country, and no it was not easy to breath all the time. I can't imagine how most Muslims feel who more than being a minority are actually singled out for attack. It's similar for non-heterosexuals, and women who don't submit up to societal norms.
Religious oppression, sexism, and homophobia all exist in pretty much the entire world, and punish people all over the world. This does not make them a Muslim creation or a strictly Muslim phenomena.
In the US religious minorities, women, LGBTQI people can breeth deeply, speak freely, dress as they wish without fear. They can even try to pass their Shariah laws. In muslum countries all of these groups would suffer a "honor" killing.
Coogie is playing the relatavist game trying to make us believe all religions are the same. Problem is they're not. Let's take the two largest religions to help clarify this, Christianity and Islam.
Christianity's prophet was a man who never harmed a fly. He never raped, stole or enslaved. His message was one of peace, tolerance and love of your fellow man.
Islam's prophet was a man who harmed any and all without remorse. He raped, robbed his way to great wealth, and enslaved women and children. His message was one of war against non-Muslims, intolerance and hatred for those who refused Islam.
There is nothing remotely similar between these two people, their lives, thier message, nor the religions they were prophets of.
Thanks Dana, Norway does seem to be handling this very tastefully. If this had happened in the US, it would have been so much worse (not that I am "glad" that it happened elsewhere). ALL religions have crazy fanatics who adhere to them. I personally know Jews and Christians who are irrational, hateful bigots. That people turn a blind eye to their own associations is really sad.
As for minorities having ultimate freedom in the US, I just don't agree.. when people talk about "great American freedom and equality," they completely ignore the social stigmas we consider normal or harmless, which can be just as bad. Think about groups of teenage bullies beating up a homosexual boy for no apparent reason: how is that any different from a woman being lashed for something in public? Does it matter if one is sanctioned by "law"? Either way an innocent person is victimized.
R Fahri writes, "ALL religions have crazy fanatics…"
Yes, but only in Islam are they considered praiseworthy and promised a place in paradise with 72 virgins awaiting them.
R Fahri writes, "As for minorities having ultimate freedom in the US, I just don't agree.."
Last I'd checked we have a black president, a woman as Secretary of State, a woman was leader of the House, Hispanics hold public office in most all capacities as do Jews. This is not to suggest America is perfect in this regard. Yet when compared to ANY Muslim country America is practically perfect in comparison.
Women can't even drive in many Middle East countries.
R Fahri, in America we have a saying which goes something like this: “He who lives in a glass house shouldn’t throw stones.
As a Muslim you must be aware of how minorities are treated throughout the Muslim world, no? Are Jews treated as equals? What about gays, are they treated with respect or are they literally hung out to dry? Why are Christians being persecuted in Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sudan, Nigeria and elsewhere? Why are Buddhists being beheaded in southern Thailand and Hindus threatened throughout southern Asia?
It's easy to criticize America; but why is it you, nor any other Muslim, never writes an article criticizing Islam? Never a word criticizing Muslims starvation and rape of the people in Sudan, never a word of criticism of the killing of Jews in buses or restaurants, never a word of criticism of how no non-Muslim can be a citizen in Saudi Arabia. Why are you so silent about these issues when they make America’s injustices look trivial by comparison?
My name is FARHI, not FAHRI, and I am agnostic. My mom is Christian and my dad is Jewish. But you can pretend I'm Muslim if it makes you feel better, I guess…
The problem is not Islam, it's corruption, greed, and desperation. Those are universal human traits.
No, the problem is Islamic extremists. Bin Laden was plenty rich, not especially greedy and not particularly corrupt and certainly not desperate. He simply hated all non-Muslims. When the west is considered "The Great Satan," there's nothing in that description that has anything to do with corruption, greed or desperation. It's entirely religious (and psychotic.) Saudi Arabia has plenty of money and yet they seem to be a continual terror breeding ground. If poverty bred terrorism, then we'd have a huge influx of Cambodian, Bangladeshi and Indian terrorists. Gypsies in Europe would be blowing things up. Rural Chinese would be suicide bombers. But we don't. Modern terrorism is nearly universally Islamic, with a few isolated exceptions.
It's easy to criticize others, but why don't you write an article criticizing Christianity? Here you go on and on about terrible parts of Islam and yet continue to maintain that Christians are essentially all peaceful. Let's see you write a guest article about the atrocities of Christianity.
Sorry for the misspelling of your name.
I agree corruption, greed and desperation are universal. Always has been so. Always will be so.
But when an organization (like Islam, or Nazism, or the KKK) preach ideologies which glorify supremacism and hatred of others, this serves to exacerbate these problems many fold.
This is why Islam's history is littered with mass murder. Be it the beheading of 700 Jews by Mohammed and his men 1,400 years ago, or the gang-rape and starvation of the Sudanese today.
If you cannot understand, or refuse to comprehend how a religion founded by a sadistic megalomaniac creates a propensity for, well, sadism, then it's clear you and I will never agree on much of anything. Hitler reaped what he sowed. And I would argue Mohammed and Islam has done much of the same. Buddhism calls it karma.
Did you seriously minus my post even though it said basically nothing? My Agnosticism is minus-worthy? Really?
I don't understand why you don't write for the Cougar if you have such strong opinions. Why complain so much about UH's and then do nothing constructive about it…
I am not complaining about UH I am commenting on the views expressed in its editorial section, as well as responding to comments I disagree with. Is there something offensive in doing so?
Sorry for the misspelling of your name.
I agree corruption, greed and desperation are universal. Always has been so. Always will be so.
But when an organization (like Islam, or Nazism, or the KKK) preach ideologies which glorify supremacism and hatred of others, this serves to exacerbate these problems many fold.
This is why Islam's history is littered with mass murder. Be it the beheading of 700 Jews by Mohammed and his men 1,400 years ago, or the gang-rape and starvation of the Sudanese today.
If you cannot understand, or refuse to comprehend how a religion founded by a sadistic megalomaniac creates a propensity for, well, sadism, then it's clear you and I will never agree on much of anything. Hitler reaped what he sowed. And I would argue Mohammed and Islam has done much of the same. Buddhism calls it karma.
Yet Obama and his people refuse to acknowledge the Muslim extremists right here at home. The Fort Hood shooting, the attempted Pioneer Square bombing in Portland, the Times Square bomber.. and on and on. Obama urged us not to "jump to conclusions" anytime there is a Muslim terror incident, yet he has no problem jumping to conclusions when he proclaimed that the "Cambridge Police acted stupidly." Face it, Muslim terrorists are a far bigger threat to world security than ANY other group. So what if a few Muslims are offended. When Muslims stop supporting groups that promote terror, then maybe we can talk about anti-Muslim bias.
Pg. 1)
Yoyo writes, “It's easy to criticize others, but why don't you write an article criticizing Christianity? Here you go on and on about terrible parts of Islam and yet continue to maintain that Christians are essentially all peaceful. Let's see you write a guest article about the atrocities of Christianity.”
If you actually have read my comments you will find many criticisms of Christianity. What Christians have done throughout history has been horrendous, frightening and about as un-Christ-like as is imaginable. But if you HAVE indeed read my comments you will also read that when Christians behave like barbarians they do so in violation of Christianity, Christ, his message and the example he set throughout his life. Christ’s message was one of peace, love, compassion and tolerance. Turn the other cheek, love thy neighbor, do not covet….
Pg. 2)
In direct contrast to this are Islam and Mohammed. The example Mohammed set in his life was one of rape, enslavement, burglary and unlimited quest for power: A complete and utter contrast to the example Christ set. And the writings and oral history found in the Qur’an, Hadiths and Sunnas are also polar opposite of those found in the New Testament. When Christians act sadistically it is against Christ’s example and his teachings, but when Muslims do so it is in line with Mohammed’s example and of the message he left for his disciples.
Yoyo, do you understand this distinction and its implications? Can I be any clearer? What is it you either do not understand or disagree with?
You do know the bible has a section on slavery, how to punish a slave, and the amount one is suppose to sell their slave at? Never mind the suppression of women, and the countless, senseless killings it speaks of, most of which were done in the name of God. No religion is perfect. The bible is full of just as many horrible things as the Qur'an. It's just that most people tend to skip over them, or ignore them all together. Personally, I think it's silly that most people take pieces of text written over centuries ago, so seriously. It's so archaic. Religion is archaic.
You do know the bible has a section on slavery, how to punish a slave, and the amount one is suppose to sell their slave at? Never mind the suppression of women, and the countless, senseless killings it speaks of, most of which were done in the name of God. No religion is perfect. The bible is full of just as many horrible things as the Qur'an. It's just that most people tend to skip over them, or ignore them all together. Personally, I think it's silly that most people take pieces of text written over centuries ago, so seriously. It's so archaic. Religion is archaic.
Also, you do realize the Qur'an, like the Bible, actually has some good things to pass along to its readers, as well? I promise you if you read the Qur'an, it's not all kill kill kill. As for Mohammed, and this might blow your mind a bit, but he was actually more lenient towards women than the Christian religion was during his time. From what I understand, women had more rights within his group of followers, than the Christian religion did, during that time. Also, the interpretation of the writings has changed over time and has taken on new meanings. Kind of like how some will change words in the Bible year after year, because the word that's already in place has changed meaning, so we feel the need to change the word to a new one that we're convinced holds the "real" meaning of the original text. How can we be totally sure this isn't altering the actual text from it's original meaning? The truth is, it does, or it will eventually.,