Quote:
Originally Posted by 95th Rifleman
It's similar for us Brits, we suffered for decades from attacks by the IRA (and the reprisals by the loyalist paramilitaries like the UVF) both sides where Christian.
We need to be wary of falling into the trap of assuming all Muslims are the same, this is EXACTLY what the terrorists want. They want the west to turn on their moderate islamic popuations, they want the moderates to feel threatened and persecuted so that they will join the extremist mindset.
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Exactly! This is all they are trying to achieve - cause more division, fragment the opposition and garner new recruits from more moderate members of their faith/political persuasion by making the opposition treat them badly.
Here in NI it has long been said that the greatest recruiter for the Republican movement was Bloody Sunday. Likewise, after the Remembrance Sunday bombing in Enniskillen, the Loyalist groups gained an influx of recruits. This was all as a reaction to the actions of 'the other side'.
Likewise it does no good to stereotype a religion, race or political movement, although this it is much easier to say this than stick to it. I've personally experienced the stereotyping of both sides of the troubles over here. When I was living here in Belfast I would automatically be perceived as Loyalist/Protestant because of the part of the city I lived in, where I went to school etc. By the same token, when I went to England to uni I ended up getting scooped under section 12 of the prevention of terrorism act on suspicion of Republican sympathies - long story, but essentially I got lifted for walking while Irish. Suffice to say I wasn't a terrorist of either side (my then girlfriend's Dad was a senior RUC officer) but it did get me to thinking a bit more about things - certainly had the police mistreated me in any way I could have become more sympathetic towards the Republican side. It’s hard to do, but please try and treat everyone as an individual and try not to buy into propaganda about them or their beliefs.