Comments on: Adelaide, Australia: City Council gives $65,000 for mosque repairs

By: Nana

Nana — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:17:53 +0000

Cont. The bottom line is that the cycle of violence + hate has 2 be broken somewhere along the line. Humankind will eventually destroy our earth all by themselves! GREED!!! The recession – GREED!!! The LOVE of money IS the root of all evil!!! The illiterate, the poorest of the poor, innocent children, suffer the most.

By: Nana

Nana — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:54:52 +0000

Cont. their lives in peace. (Their language fascinates me.) Their only weapons are age old spears 4 hunting. Kaw, the only people that come 2 mind right now that i really admire are Obama, Nelson Mandela, Ghandi, Mother Teresa + the Dalai Lama. Buddhists seem 2 be a peace loving religion.

By: Nana

Nana — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:21:48 +0000

Oops sorry abt that! I have a Nokia N95 8GB not a pc! Comment space very limited on this site. The very few that have chosen 2 keep their traditions are treated badly by other ethnic groups in SA. They’ve been chased out of Botswana. They are not a threat 2 anyone! They just want some land 2 live

By: Nana

Nana — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:05:03 +0000

Hi once again Kaw! There are so many different cultures + religions in this world of ours of which i can’t fathom out why they do what they do either. The San people are believed 2 have been the 1st people here in our part of Africa. Most of them have been ‘westernised’ + many abuse alchohol + drugs. The vdry few that

By: kaw

kaw — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:46:19 +0000

I do not believe that lack of understanding about these folks is the problem. I will never understand the way that an Amazon Indian thinks (my world is so different) but I respect these folks. I know a little about the small folk who live in the Kalahari – I only understand a little of their way – but they do really have my respect. These are only two examples from a a very large set. But these people are not threatening anyone (except for some forest destroying vandals who should not be in the Amazon). Lack of understanding is, to my mind, not the reason why muslims are considered with loathing in many parts of the world. A significant minority of muslim are directly threatening non-muslims. The reactions of the muslim community to some harmless eartoons resulting in the deaths of over 300 people, the screaming silence from the muslim community when 3 non-muslim nurses were murdered by their co-religionists in Yemen is deafening, the unique ability of muslims to claim things they never accomplished as their own: there are so many examples that to me the probability is high that moderate muslims are playing out both sides against each other. You are quite right that respect is an honor when given, but it has to be earned – it is not a right – and I would argue that the vast majority of muslims have done very little to earn respect but expect it none the less. Why should a Muslim be respected when he/she cannot respect one who has chosen a different answer. Islam is not really a religion – it is a political system – and under this description the inane violence that characterizes islam become understandable – I will not accept this system. You are very right – not all muslims are extremists and there are some exceptional people within the muslim community who are really trying to bring the different communities together. But they are a small minority – I support them however I have to be pragmatic – until proven otherwise I treat all muslims with suspicion. I just heard that another journalist who reported on abuses in Chechyna has been found dead after having been kidnapped: as we know muslims are not the only badly behaved children on the block I close by being optimistic – one day people really will treat others with the care and respect that they themselves wish for. Well, maybe not tomorrow ..

By: Nana

Nana — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:18:12 +0000

sorry – bestow upon anyone. I am no saint + have lost my cool on many occasion making an absolute hypocrite of myself. We live + learn! I have brought shame upon the Name of Jesus.

By: Nana

Nana — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:03:36 +0000

Life is complicated Kaw! We don’t need 2 agree with all the different religious beliefs that exist on our planet. However, not all Muslims are extremists + one can find a lot in common with them outside of their religion. If only we could all at least try 2 respect those we don’t understand. Respect is the highest honour one can bestow upon anxone. upo

By: kaw

kaw — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:21:42 +0000

Hi Nana – yes it is a tough question. But the more it is brought into the open the better the chance of a a workable solution.

By: Nana

Nana — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:38:11 +0000

Hi Kaw, extremists of any kind are, be they Muslims, Christians, racists, homophobics, xenophobics etc people filled with fear + hatred + will be with us always. The cycle of the ‘war of words’ only fuels the anger! We have the right 2 defend ourselves when attacked. But it is not the ultimate solution.

By: kaw

kaw — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:54:56 +0000

Hi Nana – you are right – two wrongs do not make a right – but how do we protect ourselves and our future generations from these people without becoming like them? I simply see no possibility that the islamic extremists can ever be trusted – and the problem is mostly their religion – so I cannot see that a good solution exists – only a necessary one. Perhaps this is part of the evolution of our society – islam represents a counter-productive drain – it has to go as it cannot be reformed.