Islam is rioting. Or, “How I discovered I had Islamaphobia”

Recently, Denmark flew into Islam’s radar by posting cartoons depicting Muhammed with ‘mishapen’ turbans.  It didn’t matter whether the turban was shaped in a funny way to make the cartoon humourous or to stereotype Muslims as terrorists.  Simply depicting their god in any fashion was the spark that lit their already gas-soaked fury.  Simply icing on the cake that there was a (heaven forbid) joke attached to it.

You probably know the rest of the predictable story.  Muslims get upset, form mobs, burn flags, put death bounties on the cartoonists, call for embargoes on Denmark, burn other stuff, throw things, basically put on a tantrum.  They close down embassies and call for muslims around the world to take action.  So then threats are made against all Norwegians, but the problem is that muslims can’t tell the difference between a Nordic, Swede or Finn.  Result is a threat against all nations.  But I can’t blame them there because I can’t tell the difference between a Saudi, Iraqi, Egyptian or Iranian on first glance.

Of course, I am being over-the-top here a bit.  Islam is a religion with no more dogma than most Christian faiths.  A typical muslim is most likely akin to a typical Catholic or Baptist.  Maybe not a Baptist.  The media is certainly playing a big role in stepping up the drama due to the spotlight that the Middle East is monopolizing these days.  In addition to this fiasco, an Egyptian cruiser went down in the Red Sea the other day killing most of 1400 passengers.  Riots and cries for vengeance were zapped all over the media wires showing yet again more muslims violently expressing their rage.

These are not the first people to be like this.  They are simply the people of the day that are taking the lion’s share of blind violence in the name of religion.  Christianity has had ample experience burning flags, I mean, burning people for trivial excuses.  They literally have made a Crusade out of being radical.   So, let’s not pigeon-hole Islam just yet.  Islamaphobia is only in the mind.  

We have muslims around the world, but it is clear that the majority of the unsettled live in the Middle East.  So, it’s not simply the religion that is the cause of this radicalism.  I believe it is the fact that the people in these countries are stifled and oppressed by a political structure that doesn’t separate church from state.  Religion is used as a tool by the leaders to control the people and manipulate them to their will.  And their will is typically whatever it takes to keep themselves in power.  

Thankfully, church and state are separated in North American Democracy.  However, we are starting to see it creep into American politics and is leading to charged debates over genetics and abortion.  I’m beginning to get concerned that they are further greasing the slope of their demise.  Bushaphobia – now that is something to be afraid about.