1600, 16 million, or 16... does it really matter? "Islamophobia" is a crutch, an exploited catch-phrase. One can't criticize non-Muslims for how Muslims are perceived (albeit, often irrationally) if you spend all your time proselytizing to the unwashed masses about said misperceptions and ignore getting your own house in order.

I don't disagree with or dismiss what Craig Murray is saying. There is no doubt fear is being stoked and used by governments (successfully here in the US) to quell dissention and breed indifference to their actions. But, all the peace, love, understanding, and tolerance won't deter some nutjob seeking martyrdom from strapping up and blowing himself, and as many innocent people as possible, to whatever kingdom come he's been programmed to believe in. Cart before the horse, it seems to me.


EDIT: First paragraph wasn't directed at you, Farhad, although it may read that way.

"Islamofacism" is the real crutch, branding an entire region of people as our sworn enemies because they're sick of us bombing and shooting them. They're sick of us over-throwing their governments and installing dictators. They're sick of us getting rich off of their oil and natural resources.

The USA has killed - by far - more innocent people than Al Qaida has.

"...all the peace, love, understanding, and tolerance won't deter some nutjob seeking martyrdom from strapping up and blowing himself..."

I whole-heartedly disagree. We need a lot more peaceful measures and a lot fewer bombs, bullets, and indifferent occupation force.

That's all nice and fair Fletch. But what do you offer as a solution? Understanding and diplomacy? Or unilateral military actions that only breed further terrorism?

Because all I see is criticism from someone who doesn't know the situation on the ground. I happen to live within this sphere. No one wants to fight against the West, because it's futile. Only diplomacy and understanding can solve this... not large threats to go after Iran, then Syria and others...

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Thank you Gwaan.

The question of the legitimacy of islamophobia as a term to describe fear of a particular belief system (and NOT fear of Arabic people in general) is more subtle than proponents of either side of the debate would seem to have us believe and are certainly more subtle than this particular exceptionally obnoxious man believes. I ask you, is it wrong to fear a belief system which at best ignores and at worst condones deliberate suicide bombing against civilians? I can take the argument further, if we consider "christianophobia" to be a fear of christians who are so deeply deluded and deranged within their religion that they find no qualms whatever about murdering abortion doctors or gay people, is this not also a rational fear of an obviously warped and sadistic belief system? Similarly, would buddhistophobia be all so horrible a term if applied to the apparently Dali Lama condoned eye gouging, limb amputating, tongue slicing practices of the devout Tibet of 50 years ago? I sure would be scared of such a belief system. It is not the people that I and my fellow skeptics fear, it is their terrifying, irrational, deranged, humanity denying belief systems which we dislike and yes, sometimes fear. I submit to you that these terms of 'X-beliefophobia' are legitimate and have legitimate uses.

Getting caught up in semantics is pointless. Whatever the name "Islamophobia" does exist clearly in the world around us.

Fear used as a means of control is as much an act of terrorising the population as any action which takes human lives. The severity of such terror is clearly different but I would argue that the hype placed on terror to keep it in the minds of every person is great. Speak to many people about when 9-11 occurred and they will be surprised at how long ago it was.

Many people live in constant fear and this is clearly not a good thing. Instead of calming people and rationally assessing facts, we find ourselves frequently charging headlong at an enemy which has no fixed identity. When we live in fear, we are halfway to losing the battle against terror.

Understanding and education; facts and rational discussion (rather than unfounded proclamations voiced with an uncompromising attitude) cast light on the darkness which creates such fear and gives us a method for combating it. Failing to understand in an unbiased manner, the mentalities and opinions of our neighbours, of whatever race or religion and failing to address their worries and issues is what perpetuates an environment of distrust, miscommunication, hatred and ultimately of suffering. Painting an entire population with a broad brush and stereotyping them as having one mentality does nothing to solve the differences and issues between us. Radicals and terrorists can not hide when their own people would expose them. It may be that building trust and cooperation between all communities in our societies may create bonds that will prevent such danger from going undetected. It's worth thinking about...

Too frequently, irrational fear-mongery in one form or another is forced upon the general population for political agendas, I think it's good that someone is at least willing to discuss this.