Extremism
Despite our web-interconnected, frequent-flyer, globalised world, we are still predominantly tribal people. We identify or invent enemies to scrap it out with, and occasionally this tribalism ends in violence. Extreme violence, as we’ve just seen in Oslo.
Tribes were once small groups of families, communities that lived together. People survived and prospered because of their commitment to those groups. Now tribes might be religious, or cultural groups. They might be left wing or right wing, emos or nerds. Footy supporters. Gamers, Nazis, fetishists, gypsies, gun nuts or just plain nutters who’ve found something in common.
We huddle together, sometimes in peaceful solidarity, sometimes with spears raised to the outside world. We use clothing, our words, our beliefs, to signal our membership.
Continue reading "Tribalism can lead to terrorism and tragedy" »
Our national security environment has changed dramatically in recent years. The 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings and the attack on our embassy in Jakarta in 2004 served as a stark reminder that Australia faces real terror threats.
Attacks overseas in places like London and Madrid demonstrated not only the threat posed to Australian citizens internationally but highlighted the possibility of an attack at home.
That’s why we invest a significant amount of money and resources in keeping the country and our interests safe from terrorism and violent extremism – most of which, for obvious reasons, is not and cannot be reported.
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John says:
just look at India. Even thier most muslims live in ghettos and do not look at getting educated but blame everyone else for thier problem. They dont even mix with the hindu, sikhs or christians in India but are prepared to wage war against India if called for by Pakistan.… Read more »
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John says:
darragh, I bet you this Doctor didnt point out the fact that other communities were effected not just muslims by these attacks. I bet she forgot to point out and even the whole muslim community forgot to point out that the first victim in a hate based crime as revenge… Read more »
Religious extremism seems to be on the rise, and the reaction against extremism is only getting more … extreme.
We in the Western world do so like to talk about banning stuff. All sorts of stuff.
But is banning radicals right and, more importantly, does it help?
Continue reading "How do you solve a problem like religious zealotry?" »
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Haraam Dogma says:
Its interesting to note that Rev. Terry Jones didn’t threaten or intimidate anyone. He burnt an inanimate object. Two days later “Sept. 13 (Bloomberg)—Two Iranian grand ayatollahs issued fatwas calling for the killing of those who insult the Koran, including anyone who burns the Islamic holy book, the state-run Fars… Read more »
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Aussie-Turko says:
@Levi - You say you are not Christian yet, while defending Christianity and opposing Islam you had said “the difference between us and them”. I’m sure you are not a right wing Christian at all… Read more »
The Clash of Civilizations is a theory, proposed by political scientist Samuel P. Huntington that people’s cultural and religious identities will be the primary source of conflict in the post-Cold War world.
With plans underway to build an Islamic centre and mosque near Ground Zero, New York, where the September 11 attacks took place, many are once again are questioning this theory.
A recent poll by Quinnipiac University showed 67 per cent of voters across New York state want the mosque and community centre to be moved further away from Ground Zero than currently proposed (which is two blocks away). The poll also found 80 per cent agreed the project was legally allowed to go ahead.
Continue reading "What I learned from meeting the Ground Zero Imam" »
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bobw says:
@Billy: Your response assumes a connection between the “religious nutters” responsible for 9/11 and the proponents of Park51, but it is self-evident that no relevant connection exists. The irrational aggregation of unrelated individuals for the purpose of casting moral judgment is a classic bigot manoeuvre. If there’s a “double standard”… Read more »
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Dan says:
Jon, sigh. No matter what you do, you can not paint Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf as an extremist. He’s not like you. “This insult to America is only a propaganda exercise used to convince useful idiots that Islam is genuinely peaceful and so far it has worked.” The only insult… Read more »
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