Brian Ross wrote on Jul 12^th, 2015 at 12:06am:



Do Muslims have ANYTHING in common with each other? If not - what is the meaning of the word 'Muslim'.

If they do have something in common - do tell us what it is, Brain.

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 4:25pm:



That's it?  A 'Muslim' is someone I 'unfairly demonise'?



What does that mean' unfairly demonise'? 'By Soren'? 

Am I the only one who can 'unfairly demonise' or can others do it too?   Who else? What does 'unfairly' entail"?  'Demonise' - is that different from 'reject' or 'disagree with'? If so, how?

"Are you aware of just how stupid you actually are, gweg' - is that a valid question or a demonisation - DEMONISATION!!!! - of a thicko??

Who can tell authoritatively?

If I say that you are a complete idiot without any redeeming features - is that a hate crime or a considered diagnosis?  Who decides?

Soren wrote on Jul 14^th, 2015 at 4:06pm:


Their belief in Allah and Mohammed as it's prophet, Soren?   

Their belief in the Seven Pillars of Islam?   

So, what do the various denominations of Christianity have in common, Soren?   

They're all ragheads K.

polite_gandalf wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 5:21pm:


A valid observation - see?? I am not always in disagreement with Muslims!

Re Armenians and whatnot - I did correct my mistake when it was pointed out.  Not something either you or PB are willing to do.  You delight in the sleight of hand recall.

Gandy, if you actually dug up my post you would see that I made a couple of exceptions, especially for older Muslim women who have lived in a Muslim country all their lives and arrived in the West past 40 or 50 years of age.

But it's true, I think if you are young Australian woman and you don the hijab and especially the niqab, you are demonstrating and advertising your support for values and norms that are antithetical to your own country's culture and system.  As it is perfectly possible to have a privatre Muslim faith without anyone on the street knowing, Muslim women's relationship to ALlah and Islam is perfectly possible in a fully religious, private way. There is no meed for hijab or niqab in the West for a Muslim woman to be a Muslim woman.

So putting on the garb they are doing something over and above religion. They are demonstrating civilisation alientation from their home countries, they are demoinstrrating conscious opposition to the values, customs, habits and norms of their own country, in favour for a much less free, less tolerant, less open, less civilised, less cultured and more primitive tradition and customs.

The hijab and the niqab are not merely counter-cultural, like the mini skirt or long hair in the 60s, two fingers to the establishment, to be grown out of by 30. They are signs of submission to an alien culture. They are pro-cultural, pro-anti-Western cultural (sorry about the clanky construction but you know what I am saying).



You can search my posts and you will see that I have always said I don't care if you are a Muslim as long as you don't parade it in the public space, and don't demand accommodation from everyone else. Your private communion with your god is not my business.

polite_gandalf wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 6:50pm:


True, not all cultures treat women equally, not even Western cultures but we are trying to get there.  Happily in Australia a woman can wear pretty well what she wants.  Unhappily not all countries or cultures allow that. 

Wether or not you think that is a good or bad thing, is as you say subjective.

Me, my preference is for greater freedom and equality for women, they need not walk behind, or have separate seating and can wear what they like.

Secret Wars wrote on Jul 15^th, 2015 at 7:07pm:


Part of being a free and fair society is to learn to judge people for how they behave and treat others - and not what they look like. Soren is just demonstrating that he is not suitable for a society like ours.