Racism in the UK in 2011

Originally Posted by thulfi

reading newspaper articles isn't travelling. have you actually been to any of these countries?

Actually...


yes.


Hope that helps

Originally Posted by emcf

here's some more links if you don't think that one is valid -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...ar-churchgoers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12101748

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010...=ILCNETTXT3487

like I said though, in these regions the muslims are getting it worse. Iraq is a melting pot, a war zone in turmoil for many decades. after all, the arab christians are fleeing to other arab muslim countries. simply read about how the christian palestinians and muslim palestinians are practically united against the opression both faiths face. the articles below don't even touch the surface.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english201...c_13700330.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12440175

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/8014390.stm

no of suicide bombings in iraq since invasion
2.1 2003: 25 suicide bombings
2.2 2004: 140 suicide bombings
2.3 2005: 478 suicide bombings
2.4 2006: 297 suicide bombings
2.5 2007: 442 Suicide Bombings
2.6 2008: 257 Suicide Bombings
2.7 2009: 76 Suicide Bombings
2.8 2010: 44 Suicide Bombings

"Suicide bombings in Iraq since 2003 have killed thousands of people, mostly Iraqi civilians, and arguably constitute a new phenomenon in the history of warfare. Suicide bombings have been used as a tactic in other armed struggles, but their frequency and lethality in Iraq is unprecedented". wiki

Originally Posted by speedplay

Actually...


yes.

really, which ones?

Originally Posted by thulfi

really, which ones?

Iran, Iraq, Just did Afghan (not with the forces I might add I'm not Dangerous Dave), Saudi and Egypt.

I also have friends in Jordan and Syria too.


You want to see the stamps on the passport too...?


Stop being a knob, its just a debate.

There is no side to prove right or wrong, its a debate about peoples views.

Originally Posted by thulfi

like I said though, in these regions the muslims are getting it worse.

i never denied that, neither do those articles that I posted

na not being knobish, genuinely interested as to which ones you'd been to.

Fair enough, so you've been to a few countries over there, didn't come across many churches or christian people from those regions on your travels then?

Well you wouldn't in iran or afghanistan to be fair. Also, wot were you doing in afghanistan if not with the forces...really though, genuine question, keep your hair on not being knobish.

Originally Posted by emcf

i never denied that, neither do those articles that I posted

Well doesn't it slightly undermine the point of 'christians in iraq are under attack because they're christian because this church and this place got bombed' when virtually everything theyre is getting bombed, regardless of race, religion, etc?

Originally Posted by thulfi

Well you wouldn't in iran or afghanistan to be fair. Also, wot were you doing in afghanistan if not with the forces...really though, genuine question, keep your hair on not being knobish.

Camp Bastion has a number of civilians out there, looking at the build project of prefabricated buildings across the region for when "we hand it over"...

yeah right.

But this is off topic.

On topic though, no I didnt see many churches, many signs of christianity, church fayres ect...


loads of mosques though...

Originally Posted by thulfi

Well doesn't it slightly undermine the point of 'christians in iraq are under attack because they're christian because this church and this place got bombed' when virtually everything theyre is getting bombed, regardless of race, religion, etc?

not at all. it happens as does other cr@p. saying 'regardless of religion' is missing the point a bit - the christians are being targetted because of their religion, the muslims are killing each other because they follow slightly different versions of religion.

and anyway, my original post in this thread was in response to your overly general statement
"You will find many muslim countries (particularly the middle east and north africa) have very many christians residing happily within, and there are many historical churches in the region."

Originally Posted by emcf

and anyway, my original post in this thread was in response to your overly general statement
"You will find many muslim countries (particularly the middle east and north africa) have very many christians residing happily within, and there are many historical churches in the region."

I don't believe it is an overly general statement. I'm not saying all, but very many. Iraq is an exceptional circumstance at the moment, but prior to the downhill spiral the country faced post Saddam, very many Jews and christians resided happily within.

Look at Syria, Jordan, Lebanon (virtually 40% christian), Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey. I know several christians from a few of these countries, and they're always Lebanese or Moroccan before they are christians.

It's easy to pick out any news article where a place of worship is vandalised or people targetted in whatever country, but that does not portray an accurate picture. after all
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=23324
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...ks-498508.html

Christians may get attacked in Beirut, Muslims may get attacked in Beirut, but the vast majority are living happily within, and you'll find many arabs unite based on the fact that they're arabs and not christian or muslim.

The issue is that virtually most muslims in this country are of pakistani descent, and they have a very different mentality to different muslims elsewhere, and so peoples views in this country of a particular religion is really based on one countries culture mixed with that religion. Malaysia for example which is predominantly muslim is cultures apart from the muslims in pakistan - a very tolerant muslim coutry with many different religions and religious holidays for each one.