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Originally posted by RACooper
I think the problem is that we are difining the terrorists by only one of the labels they apply to themselves... basically help perpertrate the image that they want...
That is the problem I have with a lot of the media (and other people's) labels that they apply to these people. I think that US and Canadian media need to take a step back and become more specific in their labelling of these groups. We need to specifically define these groups, to avoid the generalizations, and more importantly to lose sight of the what the enemy actually is.
For example many have labelled the terrorists in Chechnya as Islamists, or Arab Terrrorists, or Muslim Extremists... but the problem is that none of these labels are acturate, and may be misleading. Look it's not a cliche that it is vital to know one's enemy to defeat him; so it is important not to mislead ourselves or others... So labeling them based solely on religion, detracts from many of the other vital issues that actually motivate the terrorists: Nationalism, Ethnicity, Culture, History, Economics, Crime, Revenge, Politics, etc. Or to put it another way, how proper would it be to label the IRA as a Catholic terrorist organization? Yes they are Catholics... but is that they're only or primary motivator behind their terrorists actions?
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Wasn't the point of the IRA to take Ireland back from the Protestants? Weren't they bombing Protestant targets? Correct me if I'm wrong here, you're a fellow citizen of the Commonwealth with them, so what was it?
I believe you're glossing over my question without answering it. So if these people do these things in the name of their Muslim religion, doesn't that make them Muslims? Sure, not great Muslims or even sane Muslims in the eyes of some of their fellows, but still Muslims.
I still remember that video of people dancing in the streets in Palestinian controlled territory after hearing about the WTC attacks. Are they not Muslims?
I stated that the only fair way to decide whether someone was Muslim or not would be to ask them. If they consider themselves Muslim, then they are. Would you be so arrogant as to think you could devise a better test? So many viewpoints exist on the interpretation of their scriptures that it boggles the mind. Because their interpretations are often different, does that make someone more or less a Muslim based on their interpretation?
If a Catholic is "more right" in their approach to their religion than a Baptist, does that make the Catholics Christian and the Baptists not?
The IRA was/is a Catholic terrorist organization because they target others based on their religion. They operate based on a creed of nationalist/religious material not unlike these folks in the Middle East and Chechnia (sp).
When we take all terrorist activity into account and notice that 99% of it is perpetrated by people claiming a certain faith, that should certainly be enough to turn your head. You're saying that it isn't. Please explain.