Why is being a Muslim a bad thing?

[Rabidpie]

I really am curious, as to why people consider using the term Muslim as a smear. It doesn't make any sense to me, not to mention that most people who make those claims cannot even name three types of Muslim sects that exist.

Has anyone even read the Koran? Like all of it?

[Buttercup]

Has anyone even read the Koran? Like all of it?

Yes. Not much of a chuckle.

Many British people don't like Muslims as the people who blew up the bus in London, are Muslims. I suppose they haven't really thought that one through very well. With increased immigration to the UK, Muslims are very conspicuous by their dress, and less likely to integrate into British culture, so they are a target for the 'they don't understand British culture' yokel locals.

[Jaboney]

No 'commies' to take aim at, and there's always gotta be an enemy.

[Screaming Jesus]

Er, what ARE the "three types of Muslim sects that exist"? Sunni / Shi'a makes sense, and these can be subdivided into various juridical schools, philosophical traditions, lineages of authority, and Sufi orders.

Why would people be opposed to Islam? Well it's easy, if you belong to one of the groups whose interests traditionally opposes those of institutionalized Islam: Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Hindus, Sikhs, Druze, animists, or secular / irreligious liberals.

Islam, you'll notice, is implicated in various violent movements around the world (though some of these may be justified, and not all Muslims will agree with every jihad). More than that, various forms of Islam are significant political and social forces with serious implications for how people live their lives. Ever read Atwood's "Handmaid's Tale"? That was about super-weird fundamentalist Christians taking over America, but for Muslim societies, it's not so far off. Yes, there are liberal Muslims too, but the terms of the debate shift in strange directions.

[TheGingerMan]

I really am curious, as to why people consider using the term Muslim as a smear. It doesn't make any sense to me, not to mention that most people who make those claims cannot even name three types of Muslim sects that exist.

Example?

Has anyone even read the Koran? Like all of it?

Life fer shure, totally, eh?

[TainanCowboy]

Ask the Zoroasters in the crowd.


Probably the same close-minded twits who use 'Republican' or 'Christian' or 'Conservative' as a slur.

[Huang Guang Chen]

And liberal or "left" too.

HG

[Edgar Allen]

Personally I think these things go in cycles. People used to use Jew as a slur until that became slightly uncomfortable what will all that Hitler nonsense. I suspect that after Amercania finish killingt millions of innocent moslems a similar thing will happen and then the world will turn anti Sikh, or FOAM or something.

Oooh see how I sneaked that in?

[Chris]

In an "us vs. them" world, someone's got to be the "them".

[urodacus]

do you mean a "U.S." vs. "them" world?