Blind woman's 'Unclean' guide dog banned by Muslim cab driver

[Aenama]

I say screw Solaris..he was obviously brainwashed by his mother who lived in the UDSSR for a while.screw Muslims as well.
religion itself is a danger,if we want to get rid of Christians and Muslims be my guest.

 

[Saketi]

While Jack Straw appears to be on a suicidal mission to ensure he doesn’t get re-elected to his Blackburn constituency with its large Muslim population by, quite rightly, observing the problems of communication arising from the wearing of veils by Muslim women, other figures in the British establishment are allowing the country’s native majority to descend headlong into a state of dhimmitude.

A hardline Muslim teacher who caused a furore by denouncing pupils for celebrating Christmas has been made a Government schools inspector. Israr Khan’s Ofsted appointment was described by a former colleague as ‘absolutely astonishing’.

Mr. Khan, now headmaster of an Islamic school, launched into his tirade during a concert rehearsal at Washwood Heath Secondary School in Birmingham in 1996 after the choir including around 40 Muslim youngsters, had sung a number of popular Christmas songs, including carols.

He leapt from his seat, yelling: “Who is your God? Why are you saying Jesus and Jesus Christ? God is not your God - it is Allah.”

As children in the audience began booing and clapping, a number of choir members - both white and Asian - walked out, some in tears.

Khan, a maths teacher, was asked to work from home pending an investigation but there was no disciplinary action.

Hotbed

It has been claimed that Washwood Heath school was then a ‘hotbed of Islamic fundamentalism’. Rashid Rauf - the airline terror bomb suspect whose extradition is currently being sought from Pakistan - was a pupil there at that time.

Khan left Washwood Heath a year later to found the independent Islamic Hamd House Preparatory School in Small Heath, Birmingham, where he is headmaster. Earlier this year, he was appointed as a governor of Anderton Park Primary School, in Sparkbrook, Birmingham.

Definition: Dhimmitude is the status that Islamic law, the Sharia, mandates for non-Muslims, primarily Jews and Christians. Dhimmis, "protected people," are free to practice their religion in a Sharia regime, but are made subject to a number of humiliating regulations.

Links to dhimmitude:

Wikipedia
Dhimmiwatch
Useful books

 

[pomegranate]

You make me laugh, am i the one saying i want to kill myself in the name of Allah..NO! So how can i stir up hatred amungst the community?

SOME Muslims do.

Am i the one who goes round burning flags of the UK (the country that helps them) & America & shouting and holding up boards of hatred, with sickning words on them?

NO, the muslims do..so open ur eyes & see who is the threat pal!

SOME Muslims do. To generalise like this is blatant prejudice, and gross stupidity.

well done jack straw, when in rome do as the romans do. if we visited a muslim country we would have to adhere to the rule of the land so why is it not the same in britain ! people have to remove hoods hats & helmets when entering stores so why not veils. it is about time someone took the same approach as france & australia these people can come to our country but only if they want to live the british way !!!![/QUOTE]

The 'Muslim countries' you are referring to are conservative, restrictive, religous states. Britain is not, it is better in that way. It is tolerant and respectful of people choosing living different lives, provided they do no harm. Or at least it's supposed to be.

Jesus...open your damn eyes. What an inane and ignorant question. You truly amaze me.

Of course I am aware that something very horrible was done by some Muslims in Britain. A very very very small number of Muslim people did that. To ascribe the actions and feelings of a few nutters to the whole is ridiculous. That you did so rhetorically is why I refused to acknowledge it before. You say 'we have suffered for long enough' as if Muslims have been hurting other people in any significant way, besides the London bombing. Which they haven't.

By "sides" I mean hateful extremists of both ilk, i.e. people like yourself and people like the nutters who caused the London bombings.

Then there's normal people stuck in the middle, who are happy to let people live the way they want, unless they actually cause other people harm. Most British Muslims are in this middle zone. Certainly the (admittedly small number of) Muslim people I know are.

 

[repiV]

The 'Muslim countries' you are referring to are conservative, restrictive, religous states. Britain is not, it is better in that way. It is tolerant and respectful of people choosing living different lives, provided they do no harm. Or at least it's supposed to be.

Almost all Muslim countries are conservative, restrictive, religious states. Although I would choose much harsher adjectives to describe them. Does this not tell you something about Islam?

Of course I am aware that something very horrible was done by some Muslims in Britain. A very very very small number of Muslim people did that. To ascribe the actions and feelings of a few nutters to the whole is ridiculous. That you did so rhetorically is why I refused to acknowledge it before. You say 'we have suffered for long enough' as if Muslims have been hurting other people in any significant way, besides the London bombing. Which they haven't.

I didn't say "we have suffered for long enough". I am not Saketi. Please read more carefully.
Yes, they have. They have been disparaging our culture, issuing fatwahs against outspoken people, complaining about every little thing and generally causing trouble. Or have the Danish cartoon issue, the self-censorship of the Mozart opera of all things, the embassy bombings, the assassination of Salmon Rushdie and the double-standards applied to Muslims and others which favour Muslims all escaped your memory?
That is just the tip of the iceberg. Where have you BEEN?

By "sides" I mean hateful extremists of both ilk, i.e. people like yourself and people like the nutters who caused the London bombings.

Then there's normal people stuck in the middle, who are happy to let people live the way they want, unless they actually cause other people harm. Most British Muslims are in this middle zone. Certainly the (admittedly small number of) Muslim people I know are.

You keep believing that if it makes you happy. Just don't expect me to be sympathetic when you're suffering for your willful ignorance in the future. I am by no means a "hateful extremist", simply a realist. Believe it or not, some people deserve to be hated and fought. You would also do well to remember that I am most definitely on your side.

 

[Nemesis6]

And whenever I see little girls wearing the full Islamic dress and veil, and more often than not, speaking Arabic, it makes me want to puke. I see that with fair regularity.

Amen. One thing I witnessed once was two girls in a cinema, both veiled, talking Danish, and saying "Yesterday/some other day I had to sit next to a Dane!". That made me realize something, it kind of shook me up. In Denmark we have many Islamic front groups, the most prominent being Hizb Ut Tahrir, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if one or both of those girls or their relatives were involved with them.

Solaris, you can't call him a racist for that. Some people argue that it's their right as humans to wear it. That's true. But it's not their right as humans to be forced to. That's where I connect dots - You have a girl sitting alone on a row, talking about how she had to be close to a person of a different nationality than herself, covered up to guard her "modesty" which, in my opinion, is already in the toilet. Chances are that all these things combined are the result of indoctrination, hatred, and racism.

 

[repiV]

Amen. One thing I witnessed was once was two girls in a cinema, both veiled, talking Danish, however, and saying "Yesterday/some other day I had to sit next to a Dane!". You know, that made me realize something. In Denmark we have many Islamic front groups, the most prominent being Hizb Ut Tahrir, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if one or both of those girls or their relatives were involved with them.

Solaris, you can't call him a racist for that. Some people argue that it's their right as humans to wear it. That's true. But it's not their right as humans to be forced to.

This is how Muslims treat tolerance. Not with a grateful appreciation and acceptance, but with an arrogant disdain. Denmark is possibly the most tolerant country in the world, and look where that got you. You extend a hand of friendship and get punched in the face.
Enough tolerance, I say. The only language Islam respects is power and brute force.

Actually, your anecdote reminds me of when I saw Black Hawk Down at the cinema. These two Somalian kids got up and cheered whenever an American soldier got killed. Punks.

 

[pomegranate]

I am most definitely on your side.

Sorry chum but that's not your decision.

 

[Stigmata]

This is how Muslims treat tolerance. Not with a grateful appreciation and acceptance, but with an arrogant disdain. Denmark is possibly the most tolerant country in the world, and look where that got you. You extend a hand of friendship and get punched in the face.
Enough tolerance, I say. The only language Islam respects is power and brute force.

There's really only one word to describe this view, and it is "anti-Muslim". For all your talk of Solaris discounting anything and everything thrown at him, it seems to be YOU who can't seem to see things from the other side.

Not to mention the fact that your argumentative ability is equal to that of a computer program that repeatedly says "Yes, but Muslims still need to be dealt with!"

 

[repiV]

There's really only one word to describe this view, and it is "anti-Muslim". For all your talk of Solaris discounting anything and everything thrown at him, it seems to be YOU who can't seem to see things from the other side.

Not to mention the fact that your argumentative ability is equal to that of a computer program that repeatedly says "Yes, but Muslims still need to be dealt with!"

So I'm anti-Muslim, you say? Gee whiz, you mean it took you all that time to figure it out?
Is that supposed to be an insult or revelation or something? Of course I'm anti-Muslim!
The other side? The one that just decries anti-Muslim sentiments while offering no suggestions of any merit themselves, you mean? Just stomping their feet like babies at the offense caused to the poor Muslims, and denying that there is a problem? Yeah, that side is really worth seeing things from.
Come up with an insight on the subject yourself and maybe I will listen. So far, you've provided none. Criticism of my methods is not an insight.

 

[delusional]

i really dont see a problem with the taxi driver not letting the blind women in his car. true he might have offended her but why does tolerance of the disabled have predominance over ones beliefs. forcing a dog in the guys car would just much offend him as the blind woman being refused a ride. how would this be taken if it wasnt a blind person?
"fact christians commit more crimes in britain than muslims." Solaris
proof/source?

 

[repiV]

i really dont see a problem with the taxi driver not letting the blind women in his car. true he might have offended her but why does tolerance of the disabled have predominance over ones beliefs. forcing a dog in the guys car would just much offend him as the blind woman being refused a ride. how would this be taken if it wasnt a blind person?
"fact christians commit more crimes in britain than muslims." Solaris
proof/source?

The letter of the law says it does.

 

[bliink]

Stuff like this happens everyday. Even before we were supposed to hate muslims. The daily mail is a piece of tabloid shit.

 

[repiV]

Stuff like this happens everyday. Even before we were supposed to hate muslims. The daily mail is a piece of tabloid shit.

The Daily Mail is an insiduous thing...masquerading as a broadsheet as it does.
Still, so long as it's keeping people from voting for Labour, it's doing some sort of service to society. Albeit by coincidence.

 

[Stigmata]

So I'm anti-Muslim, you say? Gee whiz, you mean it took you all that time to figure it out?
Is that supposed to be an insult or revelation or something? Of course I'm anti-Muslim!

I assumed you were simply an idiot. I consider idiots to be two or three discrete levels of humanity above racists, anti-Semitists, and the like. Consider it a compliment.

The other side? The one that just decries anti-Muslim sentiments while offering no suggestions of any merit themselves, you mean? Just stomping their feet like babies at the offense caused to the poor Muslims, and denying that there is a problem? Yeah, that side is really worth seeing things from.

*sigh* False dichotomy... you seem to have inexplicably increased your capacity for ignorance.

What I meant was you should maybe look at this from the point of view of the Muslims you decry. Maybe they're coming into Denmark with preconcieved notions of inherent racism, or they've been raised by fundamentalist Muslim parents. There are a plethora of reasons beyond "Muslims are bad!", and maybe you should open your eyes before you go and say something stupid in a public place and get stabbed in the chest.

There are ways around this problem. One of them is raising kids to be critical of everything they see, INCLUDING themselves. Another one is to foster a social environment that's conductive to allowing children to be raised free from ingrained religious ideas and convictions. In my current state, I'm entirely incapable of figuring out exactly how to go about doing those two things, but it's damn well more work and thinking than you've put out in this thread.

Come up with an insight on the subject yourself and maybe I will listen. So far, you've provided none. Criticism of my methods is not an insight.

Criticism of your methods is an insight into why YOUR insights are worthless.

 

[repiV]

I assumed you were simply an idiot. I consider idiots to be two or three discrete levels of humanity above racists, anti-Semitists, and the like. Consider it a compliment.

Being anti-Islam is neither racist nor idiotic. It is a simple realisation of the truth that Islam is a violent cult founded by a despicable criminal which breeds oppression, suffering, ignorance and fundamentalism wherever it spreads. Even the great Winston Churchill realised this half a century ago.
It is also a realisation that Islamic culture has absolutely no place in our progressive Western societies, and we must not allow it to take hold.

*sigh* False dichotomy... you seem to have inexplicably increased your capacity for ignorance.

What I meant was you should maybe look at this from the point of view of the Muslims you decry. Maybe they're coming into Denmark with preconcieved notions of inherent racism, or they've been raised by fundamentalist Muslim parents. There are a plethora of reasons beyond "Muslims are bad!", and maybe you should open your eyes before you go and say something stupid in a public place and get stabbed in the chest.

Maybe they are, but why is that Denmark's problem?
So there are a plethora of reasons. No shit. Do you want a medal? Why is it our job to clear up after problems caused by backwards societies half-way across the world? Why should I care?
We don't need Muslims here, we don't want Muslims here. We would be much better off without them and all the problems they cause. As a collective, they contribute nothing to our society. They also outbreed us at a rate of 3 to 1, which ensures that they will be taking over Europe in the future unless something is done.

There are ways around this problem. One of them is raising kids to be critical of everything they see, INCLUDING themselves. Another one is to foster a social environment that's conductive to allowing children to be raised free from ingrained religious ideas and convictions. In my current state, I'm entirely incapable of figuring out exactly how to go about doing those two things, but it's damn well more work and thinking than you've put out in this thread.

So you've come up with an impractical and unworkable idea that there is no way to implement. But it beats mine because it's politically correct. Give me a break.

Criticism of your methods is an insight into why YOUR insights are worthless.

It seems your only purpose here is to defend Muslims. You have brought nothing to the table of your own. It's our society, we make the rules.

 

[bliink]

We don't need Muslims here, we don't want Muslims here. We would be much better off without them and all the problems they cause. As a collective, they contribute nothing to our society. They also outbreed us at a rate of 3 to 1, which ensures that they will be taking over Europe in the future unless something is done.

Define "We".... it seems that with your "muslim breeding" theory, you're actually a minority. So what, therefore, makes your opinion or desires more valid than those of your hated muslim?

 

[repiV]

Define "We".... it seems that with your "muslim breeding" theory, you're actually a minority. So what, therefore, makes your opinion or desires more valid than those of your hated muslim?

That has not happened yet, therefore I am not "actually a minority". I'm not sure what your point is.

 

[Stigmata]

Being anti-Islam is neither racist nor idiotic. It is a simple realisation of the truth that Islam is a violent cult founded by a despicable criminal which breeds oppression, suffering, ignorance and fundamentalism wherever it spreads. Even the great Winston Churchill realised this half a century ago.
It is also a realisation that Islamic culture has absolutely no place in our progressive Western societies, and we must not allow it to take hold.

I find it funny that you fail to mention any of our "progressive Western" institutions that exhibit the same system of values and effects. Namely, Christianity.

You act as though Islam is some sort of disease that goes around infecting everyone it touches. Which is odd, because I knew a bunch of Islamic people at my high school, and I only blew myself up two, three times. It's not as much of a problem as you think it is.

So there are a plethora of reasons. No shit. Do you want a medal? Why is it our job to clear up after problems caused by backwards societies half-way across the world? Why should I care?

As a "progressive Western society", it is our job to let people into our countries without having to give up their religion or personal ideals. It's our job to tolerate people insofar as they do not try to harm us. It's our job to not go around touting our apparent moral superiority by exporting everyone who reads the Qu'ran in order to keep people safe from the Muslim "threat" of backwards, 11th-century ideas.

We don't need Muslims here, we don't want Muslims here. We would be much better off without them and all the problems they cause. As a collective, they contribute nothing to our society. They also outbreed us at a rate of 3 to 1, which ensures that they will be taking over Europe in the future unless something is done.

YOU don't need Muslims here. YOU don't want Muslims here. YOU would be much better off without them and all the problems they cause. The rest of the paragraph is only concerning to you because of your disgusting views, so I'm not addressing it.

So you've come up with an impractical and unworkable idea that there is no way to implement. But it beats mine because it's politically correct. Give me a break.

It beats yours, because yours is a third-rate fascist "I don't like Muslim people" wank-fest.

It seems your only purpose here is to defend Muslims. You have brought nothing to the table of your own. It's our society, we make the rules.

No, my purpose here is to try and show you that your ideas and opinions are all based on flawed logic and non-humanitarian views based on grossly biased information.

"It's our society, we make the rules." Too bad Muslim people are part of our society. If I were you, I'd start stocking up on bomb-squad gear and spend my days armor-plating my house.

 

[Nemesis6]

This woman, Wafa Sultan, presents a viewpoint that I support - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKhrPJMRYpo

And here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WLoasfOLpQ

Now those are the kind of Muslims I want to hear from and about, because they are the ones who will have to shape the future of the Islamic faith. They should be, at least. As she says: Islam can't be reformed. It has to be transformed.

 

[Stigmata]

This woman, Wafa Sultan, presents a viewpoint that I support - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKhrPJMRYpo

And here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WLoasfOLpQ

Now those are the kind of Muslims I want to hear from and about.

I agree with her as well.

The problem with Islamic culture is the exact same problem that Christian culture has in North America. The real problem here is the separation of church and state worldwide, regardless of the state or religion in question.

 

[repiV]

I find it funny that you fail to mention any of our "progressive Western" institutions that exhibit the same system of values and effects. Namely, Christianity.

Christianity does not exhibit the same system of values and effects. I'm sure it did - a thousand years ago. However, we live in the year 2006. There is a reason that historically Christian societies have flourished, and Islamic societies have failed. What, you thought it was sheer coincidence?
Most of Europe is post-Christian now. Britain is most definitely a secular country. The Christianity comparison holds no weight whatsoever.

You act as though Islam is some sort of disease that goes around infecting everyone it touches. Which is odd, because I knew a bunch of Islamic people at my high school, and I only blew myself up two, three times. It's not as much of a problem as you think it is.

It is a disease. It's a disease of the mind. Islam seeks to conquer the world, and there are many out there working towards that aim, in case you hadn't noticed.

As a "progressive Western society", it is our job to let people into our countries without having to give up their religion or personal ideals.

Absolutely wrong. The job of the nation-state is to ensure the prosperity and well-being of the country, its citizens and permanent residents. You think immigration is a charitable venture?
In sane countries, you have to contribute something to the nation that the indigineous people cannot in order to get a visa. You don't just have to be "as good" as them, you have to be better. The vast majority of Muslims do not fit that criteria - they do not have the requisite skills to contribute much of value to our high-tech, service-driven economy.
Furthermore, their religion is a disease and their personal ideals are in opposition to our own. Not a recipe for harmony.
By the way, nation-states always act in their own best interests. You are naive to think otherwise.

It's our job to tolerate people insofar as they do not try to harm us.

But they are harming us. They are harming us very deeply.

It's our job to not go around touting our apparent moral superiority by exporting everyone who reads the Qu'ran in order to keep people safe from the Muslim "threat" of backwards, 11th-century ideas.

The primary (and, until recently, the only job) of the nation-state is to ensure security and prosperity. Having an open-door immigration policy is a threat to both security and prosperity. It is clear that at present, the nation-state is failing in its task.

YOU don't need Muslims here. YOU don't want Muslims here. YOU would be much better off without them and all the problems they cause. The rest of the paragraph is only concerning to you because of your disgusting views, so I'm not addressing it.

I find your views naive and delusional, bordering on treasonous.

It beats yours, because yours is a third-rate fascist "I don't like Muslim people" wank-fest.

Mine is a solution to the problem. You have nothing.

No, my purpose here is to try and show you that your ideas and opinions are all based on flawed logic and non-humanitarian views based on grossly biased information.

You're failing miserably. It's certainly non-humanitarian to let hordes of Muslims into the country without special scrutiny, as the many terrorist attacks of recent times will show.

"It's our society, we make the rules." Too bad Muslim people are part of our society. If I were you, I'd start stocking up on bomb-squad gear and spend my days armor-plating my house.

They are part of our society by our over-reaching generosity, nothing more. It is a privilege, not a right. Understand?
If they do not share our culture and values, then they can never truly be a part of our society. They can only reside amongst us. And that is a very dangerous recipe for disaster, and what is happening right now.
The very concept of immigration itself is contrary to the natural way of things. Societies develop, they indoctrinate - if you will - people into their value system and the society continues to evolve naturally. Immigrants pose a threat to this cycle, as they bring in values and ideas that do not fit the host culture's mores and norms.
Now, I'm not advocating that immigration be halted. Simply that immigration is an artifical challenge of the modern world that needs advanced solutions. Unchecked immigration such as we currently have is a recipe for social instability and disaster. Unchecked immigration from cultures diametrically opposed to our own (Islam) is a guarantee of chaos.
If Muslims can show that they share our Western values, our reverence for freedom of speech, democracy, our individualistic and slightly hedonistic culture, our practices, our way of life, and that they will seek out and enjoy the company of British people, then by all means they should be allowed in.
I'm willing to bet that a minority of Muslims fit that mold, seeing as much of our culture is in contradiction to Islamic values. Unfortunately, we don't even check. Therein lies the problem.

 

[bliink]

That has not happened yet, therefore I am not "actually a minority". I'm not sure what your point is.

Well, what makes you more "correct" than what you are alledging the common muslim is like?

 

[Raeven0]

Christianity does not exhibit the same system of values and effects. I'm sure it did - a thousand years ago. However, we live in the year 2006. There is a reason that historically Christian societies have flourished, and Islamic societies have failed. What, you thought it was sheer coincidence?

 

[repiV]

Well, what makes you more "correct" than what you are alledging the common muslim is like?

I could write you a lengthy response regarding how Western culture has been so successful it has led the world for over two thousand years, and how Islamic societies are economically deprived, oppressive places with a low quality of life and little regard for human rights. This would give Western culture an objective superiority.
There is a reason the flow of immigration is from East to West and not the other way around.
However, the only reason I need is that I am a British citizen born and bred. In my country, I am correct. In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabians are correct. This is my country, so I make the rules.

 

[repiV]

Yeah, those nutcases exist. But there aren't very many of them and they only really have any influence or numbers in the southern states of the USA.
Over here, being an atheist is the norm.

 

[delusional]

atheism is the norm in england?
those people in the picture are crazy, theyre a whole bunch inbread nutcases that go to some church in the south. also many churches condemned the actions the wbc church, something you dont often get with islam.

 

[theotherguy]

Well, he should be given his cultural rights and the woman given her rights of the disabled. The woman should have been given another cab...that's buisness for you. If the guy doesn't want a customer, its just less money for him, and the woman can take another cab.

Still, it is pretty stupid. But that is his culture. We have to learn that cultural influences are extremely paramount in people's lives. Culture influences every aspect of our lives, and different cultures are affected differentley. To him, touching a dog might be as morally reprehensible, or even more so, than denying care to a disabled person. You simply cannot blame the man for something that is so ingrained in his culture that it has become a part of him.

I had no idea Englanders were so xenophobic. But the more I read about this stuff in the news, the more I see the underlying racism and xenophobia behind it all. I suppose my area is just so racially homogeneous that I just can't see the tension that many UK people on this board have with muslims. It really doesn't bother me that muslims have what we westerners consider "weird" or "backwards" practices, because the fact of the matter is, to them, we're backwards.

It is all dependant of your point of view, and I really don't think its fair at all that we should discriminate against any other culture simply because we find their practices strange or contrary to our own cultural practices.

Still, under the law every person must be judged by the laws of the country they are currentley residing in. Even though your culture may prohibit something, it is still generally important that your culture doesn't interfere with the laws of the land. Indeed, if what he did was illegal, he should be punished under the law...but you must take his culture into account.

Several years ago some American students were traveling to west africa and decided to vandalize an apartment building with spraypaint while partying one night. Here in America, the students would have been given a small fine, at most. But in that particular culture, defiling of private property was considered a crime punishable by death. The students were beaten to death by an angry mob.

Should the african culture be punished for their said backwards practices? No. Did the American students deserve the beating they got? No. The whole issue could have been avoided if both parties had known and respected the culture of the other group. If the students had known the laws in this particular west african country, they wouldn't have vandalized those apartment buildings. Similarly, if the inhabitants of that country had understood American culture, they wouldn't have given the students such a hard time.

We must do the same for this man's crimes. Yes, punish him for his failure to follow the laws, but by all means take into account that cultural influence can often be one of the strongest influences on someone's behavior.

 

[repiV]

atheism is the norm in england?

Well...officially 33.3% of the country is irreligious. But you have to consider that of those who state themselves to be "Christian", very few of those will actually follow the religion, and out of those who do, most will be part-time or liberal Christians.
I don't know ANYONE who goes to church. Regular church-goers are often ostracised. And I've never met a Christian extremist, ever. I've met a few devout Christians in my time, but they were almost all African. They do have a tendency to be highly religious.
Which is great. It's about time we got rid of religion. The only problem that the void left by the disembowlment of Christianity to a state where it has very little meaning leaves an open market for Islam, which is strong and powerful. Easy and definitive answers in the search for truth...

 

[repiV]

Well, he should be given his cultural rights and the woman given her rights of the disabled. The woman should have been given another cab...that's buisness for you. If the guy doesn't want a customer, its just less money for him, and the woman can take another cab.

Still, it is pretty stupid. But that is his culture. We have to learn that cultural influences are extremely paramount in people's lives. Culture influences every aspect of our lives, and different cultures are affected differentley. To him, touching a dog might be as morally reprehensible, or even more so, than denying care to a disabled person. You simply cannot blame the man for something that is so ingrained in his culture that it has become a part of him.

I had no idea Englanders were so xenophobic. But the more I read about this stuff in the news, the more I see the underlying racism and xenophobia behind it all. I suppose my area is just so racially homogeneous that I just can't see the tension that many UK people on this board have with muslims. It really doesn't bother me that muslims have what we westerners consider "weird" or "backwards" practices, because the fact of the matter is, to them, we're backwards.

It is all dependant of your point of view, and I really don't think its fair at all that we should discriminate against any other culture simply because we find their practices strange or contrary to our own cultural practices.

Still, under the law every person must be judged by the laws of the country they are currentley residing in. Even though your culture may prohibit something, it is still generally important that your culture doesn't interfere with the laws of the land. Indeed, if what he did was illegal, he should be punished under the law...but you must take his culture into account.

Several years ago some American students were traveling to west africa and decided to vandalize an apartment building with spraypaint while partying one night. Here in America, the students would have been given a small fine, at most. But in that particular culture, defiling of private property was considered a crime punishable by death. The students were beaten to death by an angry mob.

Should the african culture be punished for their said backwards practices? No. Did the American students deserve the beating they got? No. The whole issue could have been avoided if both parties had known and respected the culture of the other group. If the students had known the laws in this particular west african country, they wouldn't have vandalized those apartment buildings. Similarly, if the inhabitants of that country had understood American culture, they wouldn't have given the students such a hard time.

We must do the same for this man's crimes. Yes, punish him for his failure to follow the laws, but by all means take into account that cultural influence can often be one of the strongest influences on someone's behavior.

"But it's my culture" is not a defence. If you're in Britain, you follow the norms of British culture or risk the consequences. Otherwise, you have every right to leave the country. Even in liberal Dubai, women have to cover their hair, tourist or no. And he did break the law.
I'm sure Muslims do consider us backwards, but they have absolutely nothing to support their claims. Our societies are the successful, prosperous and world-leading ones. We are at the forefront of science, technology, philosophy and sociology. Islamic nations are a disgrace in all four areas.
The ideas that work are the valid ideas. And ours have worked very well indeed.
I really don't give two shits about his culture or how it dictates his actions. He came to my country, the onus is on him to understand and adopt our customs, NOT the other way around. If he can't do that, he can leave.

 

[pomegranate]

Just to pick one from your many unsourced assertions and rhetoric, do you have a source for

officially 33.3% of the country is irreligious.

And I've never met a Christian extremist, ever

Well, have you ever met a Muslim extremist either?

 

[theotherguy]

I could write you a lengthy response regarding how Western culture has been so successful it has led the world for over two thousand years, and how Islamic societies are economically deprived, oppressive places with a low quality of life and little regard for human rights. This would give Western culture an objective superiority.
There is a reason the flow of immigration is from East to West and not the other way around.
However, the only reason I need is that I am a British citizen born and bred. In my country, I am correct. In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabians are correct. This is my country, so I make the rules.

You fail in your reasoning. Europe succeeded primarily due to early colonial exploration, and the subsequent benifits reaped from the brutal conquering of the americas that were used to start the industrial revoltuion. The third world is deprived because the west has deprived them. Centuries of exploitation by the imperialistic west left the Middle East, Africa, India and South America in the dust due 100 percent to economic and technological advantage, not cultural advantage.

In fact, for almost all of human history, the Middle East and the Far East have been the shining pinnacles of human acheivement. Rome was small-fry compared with Han China. European kingdoms were pitiful when compared to the great Arabian caliphates and the mighty Indian and Chinese kingdoms. Only Genghis Khan kept the Arab states from completley overrunning and conquering Europe.

It was only during the last few hundred years that Europe began gaining an economic advantage, and they did so on the backs of worldwide monopolies, illicit drug trade and the exploration, exploitation and subdigation of the Americas.

It is this economic, rather than cultural gap which has left the Middle East in shambles politically and economically today. The situation could have easily been reversed countless times in history, and Europe should consider itself extremely lucky to have dominated the world at all, let alone having existed past the era of complete eastern domination.

 

[delusional]

why does everyone keep saying to get rid of religion? its never going to happen.
humanity could have never avoided it either.

 

[repiV]

Just to pick one from your many unsourced assertions and rhetoric, do you have a source for

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=293

Census. Although the statistic I quoted was from a BBC poll some time ago.

Well, have you ever met a Muslim extremist either?

They don't exactly make themselves conspicuous now, do they?

 

[repiV]

You fail in your reasoning. Europe succeeded primarily due to early colonial exploration, and the subsequent benifits reaped from the brutal conquering of the americas that were used to start the industrial revoltuion. The third world is deprived because the west has deprived them. Centuries of exploitation by the imperialistic west left the Middle East, Africa, India and South America in the dust due 100 percent to economic and technological advantage, not cultural advantage.

In fact, for almost all of human history, the Middle East and the Far East have been the shining pinnacles of human acheivement. Rome was small-fry compared with Han China. European kingdoms were pitiful when compared to the great Arabian caliphates and the mighty Indian and Chinese kingdoms. Only Genghis Khan kept the Arab states from completley overrunning and conquering Europe.

It was only during the last few hundred years that Europe began gaining an economic advantage, and they did so on the backs of worldwide monopolies, illicit drug trade and the exploration, exploitation and subdigation of the Americas.

It is this economic, rather than cultural gap which has left the Middle East in shambles politically and economically today. The situation could have easily been reversed countless times in history, and Europe should consider itself extremely lucky to have dominated the world at all, let alone having existed past the era of complete eastern domination.

Of course the West is partially responsible for keeping the third world poor, but to lay the blame entirely on us is foolish.
African and Middle Eastern societies are inefficient, undeveloped, corrupt and, by Western standards, primitive. That is their fault and not ours.
The Far East is a mixed bag, but the rich and prosperous countries there - Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore - are such due to Western influence.
China has indeed been a major power throughout history, but her downfall was not the fault of the West. They are reclaiming their position by adopting Western philosophies.

 

[Raeven0]

Well, have you ever met a Muslim extremist either?

While we're flying high on anecdotal evidence, I will concede that I have met several Christian extremists but not a single Muslim extremist.

 

[delusional]

china actually circumnavigated the world in 1421, discovering america and antarctica.
repiv seems to be very phobic of any other culture that isnt his owns, which kind of scares me

 

[repiV]

china actually circumnavigated the world in 1421, discovering america and antarctica.
repiv seems to be very phobic of any other culture that isnt his owns, which kind of scares me

No, not at all. In fact, I think the Chinese are great. I'm moving to Hong Kong in due course.
It's Islam I have a problem with.

 

[pomegranate]

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=293

Source contradicts your assertion. You're a real joker.

 

[repiV]

Source contradicts your assertion. You're a real joker.

Yes it does. However, my "assertion" came from another source I read a year or so ago. A BBC news article. Find it if you wish. Do you fact-check all assertions you make with recent official sources? Thought not.
It doesn't change the fact that Britain is a secular nation. Christian influence is virtually nil, not counting the Judeo-Christian values that are the base foundation for our culture.

In fact, here is the article.

In most of the countries covered, well over 80% said they believed in God or a higher power. In Nigeria the figure was 100% and in the US 91%, with the UK scoring lowest at 67%.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/wtwtgod/3518375.stm

Now please go to hell.

 

[pomegranate]

You're telling me to go to hell for asking that you source your assertions?




Real persuasive.