Racism and Islamophobia both generalize on the basis of bigotry.
Xenophobic and right wing hate crimes have steadily risen all across Europe over the past few years. In the U.K, tabloids and elevated social anxiety are partly to blame for the perpetuation of the situation. Among many other factors.
But is there really an excuse for ignorance?
I received a Facebook friend request from someone I went to school with. I unfriended him this morning. The torrent of bigoted, Islamophobic and generally fascistic status updates became too tiresome.
Minutes later this conversation began. I wasn’t looking to debate at first because I presumed his arguments would all be the same and sound like they were being read from a script. The problem with belief lies in the ability to bypass reason.
In hindsight, I could’ve asked stronger questions and given clearer answers but I don’t think the conversation would’ve been any different.
So, upon unfriending this fascist, I received this personal message and it went on from there.
Fascist:
Deleted already?! Lol
Me:
Sorry mate but I don’t agree with the majority of things you post on here.
Fascist:
I haven’t written anything offensive in ages tho? unless u find 50 shades of grey and eastenders offensive lol
(These things would probably offend me if I were an offendable kinda guy)
Me:
Your strong anti-Islamic views are very different from mine and generally entice me to want to argue with you. I don’t have the time or energy for hatred.
Fascist:
That’s fair enough, I can’t help that I hate what happened to Lee rigby, 1400 white and mixed girls in Rotherham, soldiers returning from war and 52 innocent people in London as well as thousands upon thousands of innocent people in North Africa and the Middle East mate. Each to their own
If we all ignore what is going on then we will have a repeat of what happened in nazi germany
Me:
I don’t want to argue with you (I do really) but tirades like that are exactly why I unfriended you.
Fascist:
But it’s true mate mark my words there will be a massive street war in the uk within 20 years, a revolution, a rise up against Muslims and government oppression forcing political correctness down our throats and police state style laws against anything “islamophobic” by us (not just whites, anyone non muslim) against Muslims, they have brought it upon themselves with their paedophilic cult and sick ways. I know which side I’ll be on and I won’t shed a tear when a muslim area is burnt to the ground
It’s inevitable. They have had so many chances to fit in with the rest of us, retribution is long overdue and I pray for the day I see them all deported or hanged
Me:
Wow.
You just preached a lot of hate to me there.
Fascist:
Hatred against those who wish to eradicate and murder us all, what do u expect me to preach, love and peace? Lol if I came in ur house and said right u c**t f**k off and give me all ur money oh and I’m going to kill everyone u love whilst I’m here in sure Ud batter me and kick me out asap, it’s just that on a larger scale
Me:
So you’re preaching hatred about Muslims and don’t want there to be any more Muslims in the world. Muslim hate preachers don’t want there to be any non-Muslims in the world. What’s the difference between you and them?
Regarding your post from yesterday, the lengthy rant, grouping together Isis and the rest of the global Muslim community, I think Isis are a group of psychopaths. Do you hate all Irish Catholics? The IRA was terrorist group who wanted troops out of their country, same as Isis. Fred Phelps, Charles Coughlin and Jim Jones were Christian psychopaths. They’re obviously not as dangerous as Isis but still can’t be compared to the rest of the Christian faith. Also what are your views on Sufism and the inner, esoteric dimensions of Islam? Those dudes meditate for days at a time! They’re pretty peaceful guys, by all accounts.
Fascist:
The so called good muslims aren’t stading up against extremists at all tho and 60% here want sharia law that’s the majority, over 100,000 marched last week against freedom of speech
Me:
Do you understand what esoteric means?
Fascist:
What does it mean?
Me:
Esotericism is a set of ideas preserved or understood by a small group of those specially initiated, or of rare or unusual interest. So when associated with certain religious teachings the word ‘esoteric’ generally means ‘inner meaning’ or ‘hidden’. My point is; Sufism is the esoteric practice of Islam. Any esoteric practitioner of any religion looks at a religious text (the Koran in Sufism’s case) from an allegorical rather than literal perspective therefore not sharing the same beliefs as groups like the Taliban or Isis.
Fascist:
Lol ok I’ll await ur response when the next terrorist attack happens and u make more excuses for these backward psychopaths
Me:
Do you refuse to attempt to look at things from different perspectives?
Fascist:
Do you?
Me:
I try not to. Putting myself in the place of an elderly person who’s seen the place they’ve lived for their whole lives become a community of Muslims, I can understand how that might be scary. But Newhaven, where you live? Iv never seen one Muslim! I look at any perspective backed up by logic and facts and would feel like I was insulting my own intelligence if I didn’t look at something from as many angles as possible.
Fascist:
I tried to believe not all are bad but nowhere r the good 1s standing up against extremism and it’s ALWAYS muslims nowadays doing this shit always
Me:
Do you hate all Hindu’s for not standing up to extreme Islam?
Fascist:
No it’s not their problem and to be fair they do, in India they fuck muslims up
Me:
Why is it not the problem of British Hindu’s?
Fascist:
Why would it be? They’re not the 1s blowing up stuff why r u so insistent on defending muslims ur not muslim
Me:
I’m defending tolerance and equality. Two vital components of what it means to be a rational and civilised human. How do you know I’m not Muslim?
Fascist:
I’ve known u since u was 4 mate ur not muslim, ur father as far as I’m aware isn’t muslim and if I remember correctly ur mother is Jewish
If uve converted then I pity u
Me:
I’m not a Muslim but that’s not the point. Is it not as much of a problem for British Hindus as it is you, me or any non-extreme Muslim?
Also, you didn’t answer my question by the way – “Do you refuse to attempt to look at things from different perspectives?” You replied saying – “Do you?” To which Iv answered openly.
Fascist:
It’s a problem for muslims as well as non muslims, their problem in that it’s them doing it and our problem in that we’re the victims anyway I’m having a lovely pub meal, bacon cheeseburger and pint something muslims want to get rid of, now if you’ll excuse me
Me:
Enjoy
It wasn’t the world’s most intelligent Facebook debate but I think it highlighted this bigot’s inability to formulate a logical argument. What do you think?
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