Is RRS becoming less rational with anti-western "atheist" pro-Islamists?
Offline Now don't get me wrong. I am all for freedom of speech and anyone on these forums can say whatever the hell he/she wants to say. Yet on these forums I'm seeing a shift away from the diversity seen when RRS first came online. Previously, this was a forum uniting atheists (and theists) of all stripes including libertarians, socialists, liberals, etc.. But now the forums seem to be dominated by those whose threads seem to contradict the very core mission of RRS ie. the rational part.
I've seen a number threads on this forum which imply tacit approval of Iran's ruling mullahs and Ahmedinejad. One thread lauds Louis Farrahkan even though he supports Omar Al-Bashir. And also threads depicting the evil of Israel killing the noble Islamist Palestinians. I don't see any real balance to issues particularly of the Middle East.
This site seems to be falling into the standard stereotype that atheists are leftwingers who hate the West and carry a historical colonial guilt over "downtrodden" nations whose Islamic fundamentalists would love to see atheists hang.
Other than say Kevin Brown, there seems to be a very muted response from anyone pro-West. I may be dead wrong but my opinion is made after surfing through the various threads on this site. Maybe it is because I mainly focus on General Conversation, Introductions and Humor. But nonetheless, I don't see the spirit of Hirsi Ali, Dawkins, Dennett, Harris or Hitchens anymore. Furthermore, I don't see much input from either Brian or Kelly either who tend to lean towards libertarian.
But still, I love this site and hope it prospers.
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Muslims are not exempt from all I've been putting forth on here about the class nature to all this. And of course Muslims kill Muslims the most, Muslims are around Muslims the most and the social antagonisms in society are rooted in class relations.
I actually gave up caffiene totally over a year ago, and I'm not down under I just have sleep issues.
You have a new god to worship.
I know it well.
Firstly, this State largely contributes to human suffering worldwide with it's barbaric military tactics and blatant disregard for human life. (And yes so do the many groups of Palestinian terrorist but they aren't a sovereign nation back by US funds are they?) Not to mention they sanction the genocide of the Palestinian people (with the USA gladly smiling behind them) forcing them into camps where conditions almost mimic those of the Holocaust (minus the ovens). Israel also loves to wave the middle finger in the face of the UN while remaining in violation of over 30 United Nations resolutions (And we expect Iran and North Korea to comply). What really blows my mind me is that on an Atheist forum somebody is defending a nation that bases it's claim to the land on religious text.
I've even seen atheist groups flying USA flags! Oh, wait you were talking about another nation founded upon genocide sanctioned by holy text.
I think you really need to look at my response to treat2 a few posts back. I personally do not side with Israel in regards to issues surrounding the Middle East. And I most certainly do not side with the United States or any other western power that callously sides with Israel and ignores the plight of the other side. And if you read my previous post, I discussed university departments wherein the department head is muslim with jewish professors working under him as friends and colleagues. And I approach the Middle East with that in mind and with the following question. Why can't a secular muslim be the prime minister of Israel and why can't a secular jew be the prime minister of Gaza (and hopefully one day a Palestinian state)? To the vast majority of Israeli jews and Palestinian muslims, this question does not even register in their minds. They are perpetually wrapped up in an ethnic geopolitical quarrel that is amplified and worsened by religious fundamentalism, ethnocentrism and an ideology of territorial expansionism (particularly among the Israelis). Neither side sees the follies of their respective dogmatisms. And all to often what I see on threads is that those who are ideologically slanted to the Left side with the Palestinians and those with the right the Israelis. Whose side do I take? I am on the side of muslim dissidents from countries like Iran, Pakistan and other islamist nations who have a more logical and nuanced view of the Middle East. And it is only the Israelis and Palestinians with like mindsets who will achieve a unified, peaceful and secular Middle East.