Is Britain turning into an Islamic state? - Instablogs
Is Britain turning into an Islamic state?
Incognito , Boca Raton: Jan 25 2009
Made Popular Jan 27 2009
United Kingdom :

Is Britain turning into an Islamic state?

Caving In - The Islamization of Britain

The last I knew Britain was not an Islamic state. Its long history has been mostly rooted in Christianity, however that seems to be rapidly changing.

Over the years, Muslim immigrants started imposing their values on the Brits and the native population has slowly been forced to adapt, through fear of offending. Normally, immigrants are expected to integrate into the societies of their host country, that’s certainly what is expected of westerners in Islamic states like Saudi Arabia and Iran; foreigners are expected to adhere to the laws of those lands. Visitors in Saudi Arabia are warned about the following:


The Interior Ministry yesterday requested non-Muslim residents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to respect the Muslim holy month of Ramadan
by abstaining from eating, drinking and smoking in public during daytime hours. The Ministry warned that those who do not respect Ramadan could face deportation or termination of their work contracts. “Non-Muslim residents in Saudi Arabia must respect Muslims by refraining from eating, drinking or smoking in public places, outdoors and in workplaces during the dawn-to-dusk fast observed by Muslims throughout the holy month,” the Ministry statement said. The Ministry reminded non-Muslims in the Kingdom that they are obliged to respect Islamic rules and follow the Kingdom’s regulations in accordance with the terms of their contracts. The Ministry urged companies and individual employers to explain the Ministry statement to their non-Muslim personnel and caution them against violation of regulations.”

But many Muslims in Britain (and all over the world, for that matter) are refusing to assimilate, and are actually demanding that westerners conform to their way of life.

In a recent poll 44% of British Muslims would rather remain segregated. In a 2006 poll, almost 23% (370,000 of the 1.6 million U.K. Muslims) believed 7/7 was justified and 1/3 of all Muslims in England would prefer to live under shari’a law. It seems that wish has already been granted.

“ISLAMIC law has been officially adopted in Britain, with sharia courts given powers to rule on Muslim civil cases. The government has quietly sanctioned the powers for sharia judges to rule on cases ranging from divorce and financial disputes to those involving domestic violence. Rulings issued by a network of five sharia courts are enforceable with the full power of the judicial system, through the county courts or High Court. Previously, the rulings of sharia courts in Britain could not be enforced, and depended on voluntary compliance among Muslims.”

Some will argue that Jews and Catholics have their own form of shari’a with their family courts and marriage tribunals. And although I have trouble with any religious laws superseding civil law, the fundamental difference (and it’s a huge one) is that those tribunals are for believers only, whereas there are Muslims who believe that shari’a should be applicable to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The following is a statement from a group in the U.K. called Supporters of Shariah (SOS):

“Muslims and non-Muslims are being oppressed throughout the world. SOS is one of the organizations struggling to remove the oppression created by man- made laws. So that the whole of mankind can enjoy the freedom, purity and justice of living under Allah’s laws-The Shari’ah.”

Muslims are also forcing their religious compulsions on others. A Muslim cab driver in England refused to allow a blind woman in his mini-cab because she had a guide-dog, which they consider unclean. This is a distressing problem worldwide, and is outright discrimination.

Even though polygamy is illegal in the U.K., the British government is now allowing Muslim men

living in a “harem” with multiple wives {snip} to claim state benefits for all their different partners.

A Muslim man with four spouses - which is permitted under Islamic law - could receive £10,000 a year in income support alone.

He could also be entitled to more generous housing and council tax benefit, to reflect the fact his household needs a bigger property.

So the British taxpayer is, in essence, supporting a practice that is deemed illegal.

Muslim female medical students in some British Universities are refusing to roll up their sleeves to scrub down, because it goes against Islamic modesty laws, flouting a Department of Health mandate which states that

“all doctors must be “bare below the elbow. The measure is deemed necessary to stop the spread of infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile, which have killed hundreds.”


Some families and friends of patients in U.K. hospitals are also refusing to use anti-bacterial gels that the hospitals have implemented in their battle against the killer MRSA, because it contains alcohol. I don’t drink alcohol, but I have no problem using these gels. It’s not as if one is ingesting it.

And then there are some supermarket workers who are refusing to handle alcohol at checkout, or re-stocking shelves with cans and bottles. Should they then make concessions to vegetarians, as well?

A Marks and Spencer store assistant refused to touch a children’s book “First Bible Stories”, that a grandmother was trying to purchase for her grandchild, because it was unclean.

The Boy Scouts in Dundee, Scotland a traditionally Christian organization will now adopt an Islamic pledge.

A school in northern England stopped teaching about the holocaust and the crusades in order not to offend Muslims.

In 2003, a Brit school banned any books mentioning pigs. Then in 2007 another church school renamed the “3 Little Pigs” story. Then in 2008:

“A story based on the Three Little Pigs has been banned from an annual school awards in case it offends Muslims... and builders! The Three Little Cowboy Builders, a re-telling of the classic fairy tale, was rejected because “the use of pigs raises cultural issues”. Judges said it could also offend builders.”

British banks stopped giving out piggy banks because they feared it might offend Muslims.

A British soap opera, Coronation Street, deliberately hid a cross in a wedding scene in a church, so as to avoid offending non-Christians. But the only non-Christians that might be offended are Muslims, no-one else cares about those kinds of things.

And in spite of all these concessions the British people and government are making, in order to not offend their Muslim population, British Mullah Anjum Chaudri calls killing non-Muslims legitimate.


Where is this all going to end? If someone prefers to live under Islamic Law, it would behoove them to move to a country that supports it.

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1 Stars
Agree
Very informative
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
Thank you Duncan, I try to be.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Agree
Vijay
Kota, India
Incognito,imposing Islamic culture and values on other section of societies is against human right and every person must protest against such things.
1 Stars
Very true Vijay,we should stand against dictatorial behaviours like these.
(Global Perspectives)
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Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
Vijay, that’s what I am trying to do, but then people call you Islamaphobic, which is not the case at all.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
RobbieNZ
Auckland, New Zealand
Hi Vijay, I am struggling to understand how imposing your own beliefs are against ’Human Rights’ since your right to free speech prevails over any other?

Also, How exactly This is ’Imposed’ to people other than Muslims?
(Global Perspectives)
2 Stars
Agree
Lynne K
Sydney, Australia
Why do these people immigrate to live in a free Christian western society if they love their own culture and religion so much?
If they were peaceful people and living contented lives in their own home country they wouldn’t want leave it in the first place.
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
LynneK: I’m not sure Lynn, other than the fact that in some cases living conditions in western countries are better. So they want the better quality of life along with their sharia etc.
(Global Perspectives)
2 Stars
RobbieNZ
Auckland, New Zealand
Hi Lynne, its called ”colonisation backfire” to be exact. Works like that: Britain invade, slave, kill, bribe, steal and destroy other cultures for 200 years... Then they implement a sad misconception called ’Pax Britannica’ 150 years ago signifying to any of above nations, groups, individuals and states that they are entitled to same rights than any other British citizen. This included to allow Asian, African, Middle East and caribean countries to hold Commonwealth and British rights since so much were taken from them in the name of ”Queen and Country”... These people use those ”rights” to migrate into better places with better quality of life, such as the ”Motherland” Britain.

... So, The tribes of Diego Garcia island which their lands were taken by the British; end up in London. The African Slaves taken by force from their continent to Central America; end up in London, Indians (which include Pakistanis)who were exploited by the British Empire for 300 years also end up in London... The same way that Australians and New Zealanders do every years through the big ”OE.” The difference is that Aussies and Kiwis are white, so that’s fine, isn’t? so they are not made accountable for the British overpopulation... One of the reasons we like to pick on any other for...

2. These places were peaceful... until Western countries with economical interests arrived to destroy it all. India were peaceful until the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and British decided to steal their spices and stones... Middle east were peaceful until a certain and smart group of fundamentalists (and I am not meaning Muslims) here, decided they were better than anyone else... so we had the Crusades... After that, the British again decided they want to claim a channel (in another continent called Suez) to make their travel easier to Asia... so they went all the way there to annoy this ”peaceful” people... Then... the region were peaceful for many decades(if compared to Europe or New World) until someone called Henry Ford created the automobile with use a dark and liquid substance found in abundance around that region... and we have the ”Gulf wars” that is more likely compare to the Nazi German invasion of Poland... but told in English, of course... what make things sounds just as fine...

I hope it is all minced up for you... (:
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Disagree
Kabukabu
london, United Kingdom
I am not a muslim or a sympathiser of extremists but as a British citizen I would like to state that a number of issues raised in this article are factually inaccurate. Unlike America, Britain is a very small island and the last time I checked, everyone seems to be living in harmony. We do have disturbances here and there, some communities keep to themselves and should not be demonised for that. As far as I know, America is the most segregated Country in the western world even the way it’s architecture is structured attests to that. More research needs to be done before one can draw conclusions about a society.
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
Kabukabu, If you’re going to claim that some of my information is factually inaccurate, please be so kind as to specify what and why. The point of my commentary is that Britain is going to be in deep trouble if it continues down its current path kowtowing to Muslim demands. You might live in relative harmony now, but you are also living in fear when you conduct your life wondering what might or might not offend a certain element of the population. I have no problem with multiculturalism, that’s what makes this country great. And as for the U.S. being the most segregated country in the world. What are you talking about? We just elected a black president. its architecture? Please, enlighten me. This country was segregated at one time, but it’s not that way anymore, thank God!
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
I fully support you here Kabukabu,some people don’t get to the bottom of the issue before they come public.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
RobbieNZ
Auckland, New Zealand
I am also a British and Commonwealth citizen.. as a matter of fact, I do serve the Queen in some aspects... Britain lives in harmony better than many other country because it has no choices and has to rely on the skilled immigrants...

Knowing a little of Incognito, I understand that her article has a lot to add to this debate...

... I also understand that Britain has one of the largest number of racist movements and individual actions to a developed nation... The British police for example was considered the most racist police in Europe... The Neo nazi movement in Britain is huge... To be sincere, a half dozen ignorant Islamic Fundamentalists will not speak up for a whole religion because the beauty of Britain is its tolerance and historical diplomacy... The nation will heal from these imbeciles as it did many time before from many revolutions and wrong-minded individuals... Britain still the only absolute and real ”Empire” on earth... playing many big guys to believe the opposite... Think about it... Who really is the puppet here... (:
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Kubakuba forgot one thing,though the motive of his comment was prompted by his interest in ”clarifying” the topic of discussion from a Britons point of view,he failed to stand on a neutral ground during his clarification and was defeated at his own match,he was leveling unprooven accusations against the USA,he happened to appear as a person who has a selfish overview that is not informed.
(Global Perspectives)
2 Stars
Disagree
Kabukabu
london, United Kingdom
Your statement at the beginning of your article that England is rapidly changing because the naive British public is let them take over the country is untrue. For the past ten years, Britain has become a more tolerant multicultural society than any other country in Europe. Most of the foreigners who come here are law abiding citizens who make sure they do not clash with the authorities to avoid being sent back to their countries of origin. I notice that most of the cases you mention refer to mostly people working in low paid jobs who peharps have a chip on their shoulder and refuse to comply with what’s required of them in the work place. Your article is more of a tabloid nature and is very biased. You have not presented a well balanced argument and I must say that it sounds rather Xenophobic. If you watched President Obama’s campaign, you will notice that it was done in a more unifying way that brought everyone together. That’s what gave him the WOW factor. As for segregation being dead in the united states, I am afraid to say it’s still live and kicking. The election of Obama has not eliminated segregation but America is moving in the right direction. It will take years before we can see a complete eradication of segregation in the states. There are still some places in America where only white people reside in and the minute a black family moves in the neighbourhood, the white people start moving out. It is a long road but we will get.
2 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
Kabukabu, I am not talking about any immigrants other than the Muslim population. There is nothing wrong with multiculturalism, it makes every country richer (including the U.S.) however, when tolerance is a product of fear of offending, then that is a huge problem. And it will only get worse, the more you cave in to their requests, especially when it is of a religious nature. There was a factory here that wanted to do away with a federal holiday and replace it with EID, because a little over 50 % of the workers are muslim. They changed their minds after a huge outcry from the american public. And when religious mandates start to place others at risk, then that is a problem. Female doctors, who I’m sure you will admit are not low paid, refuse to scrub because they don’t want to show their stupid arms, as if arms would excite their male colleagues, is insane! Xenophobic, please....where did I say I mention I have troubles with immigrants? people love to bandy that about along with Islamaphobic.. I have lived all over the world, I adore different cultures, and have many friends of all races, from all over the world. I admit I have a huge problem with any rerligion (note I mention religion not culture) trying to force me to comply with their way of life. As for segregration, check this out by an African-American blogger...http://www.imkeepingup.com/2008/07/intergration-versus-segregation.html and get back to me. I was very surprised and saddened, because as a citizen of the world I have always looked upon others as my brothers and sisters. But..after the way the blacks were treated in this country, I can see why they might feel that way. I just feel it’s time to move on.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
RobbieNZ
Auckland, New Zealand
Be careful with the word ”Tolerate” It don’t means ”Becoming” or ”Accepting” ... Soon or later the social crash between ethical groups will happen...

Would be naive of you to believe in John Lennon’s dreams too soon...
(Global Perspectives)
2 Stars
Agree
Lynne K
Sydney, Australia
Boca I believe its the people/citizens of a country that do make it what it is, their attitudes, culture, religion, and their leaders even dictators because if they don’t like it then they will have to change it or leave.
I live in Australia and we also have a multi culture, and as an older australian I have seen the changes for both the positive and the negatives.
Our popular motto here is ”love it or leave it!”
We enjoy our life style and are happy to share it.
We have welcomed these people from foreign lands into our homeland so we can all contribute and work together for a better life and future.
Most have adapted and are happy but it becomes only natural for the native resident people to build a great resentment towards foreigners who wont try to speak our language, don’t respect our way of life, don’t intergrate and critisize us by insisting on imposing their very different religious/customs on us and are unappreciative of the country that they seek to derive a better living standard from.

Rather than blowing up the citizens that support them in their new home, they would be better focusing their suicidal efforts against the dictators and war lords and opressive Mullahs in their country of origin, they would then be able to invest in fostering a more advanced civilization, rather than trying to reduce our civilization to their level because - what they don’t realise is that’s what made them emmigrate in the first place, their ingrained cultural behavior keeps their country poor and backwards.

I also think the American people voted for Obama on his character not his skin colour, because he has inherited such a woeful mess to clean up.
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
LynneK: I have always admired the Aussies for their ’love it or leave it’ attitude. I fyou don’t want to participate in the culture etc. of the country you emigrate to, then stay home. This is why I could never live in an Islamic state because I would refuse to wear a hijab etc. I won’t even visit. There are too many other wonderful countries that don’t place restrictions like that on people. And you are right most are able to adapt, and do and they share their wonderful cultures with us. And as I have mentioned before, it has nothing to do with culture, it has to do with imposition of religious doctrine. Most other religions don’t do that, although it seems fundamentalism is on the increase in other religions as well. Fanaticism in any form is not healthy. As for Obama, there were many people who did vote for him because of the color of his skin, which is understandable. I did not vote for him because I found much of his character troubling.. He has/had the most liberal voting record in the senate, has some very troubling past connections. I am still hoping that he does well, and proves me wrong, because I put country before party politics.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Just ”love it or leave it!”
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
sleep well but tomorrow try to think of today and make a better decision for the following day.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Boba Bobik
Kiev, Ukraine
Australia is a mere land of rascists-and UK will turn in what-so-ever to save royalties.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
I knew well before that you never voted for him,and maybe you never did that because he bears a name that you hate to hear,”HUSSEIN” even though he is christian, i have realized you have a deep hatred for Muslims.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
Oh Please Duncan... Obama’s name Hussein had nothing to do with it. My problems with Obama were his ultra liberal voting record. The fact that he hung out with William Ayers. Spent 20 years in a Church that preaches hate.. Has socialist leanings... and the list goes on. Had he been a Republican, I would have voted for him in a minute. As for hating Muslims... how many times do I have to get it in your thick head, my friend,.. I don’t have problems with Muslims, per se, I have a problem with a certain segment of Muslims that want to dominate the world and impose their religion on me. Period. And I will keep posting articles that prove that a certain segment do.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Thanks for reminding me i had a thick had. It was good of you.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
You ae welcome, Duncan, any time.. :-) Look, I can’t help what you think of me I know what’s in my heart, I know who I am. and most importantly, GOD knows what’s in my heart. that’s all that matters. I will continue to post about things I feel are unjust... be they religious, political or social.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
everybody has a right to his/her own opinion. But as i said,my head is not sound enough for any discussion right now. Have you forgotten that am a ”THICK HEAD?”
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
we obviously don’t agree on many things, but I like you anyway, Duncan! I’m off to bed.
(Global Perspectives)
2 Stars
Agree
Lynne K
Sydney, Australia
Duncan - I don’t mean to gang upon you but its not the ordinary Muslim people that is the problem here.
Fortunately you, me and Boca have the freedom to voice our opinions.

It’s the fundamental fanatics who oppress and impose their beliefs on other human beings, mainly it’s the women who suffer..
It’s what they DO - some Muslim countries still stone to death their own women in front of their children and they want to impose these sickening cruel beliefs on other people - THAT is what is ”hated”.
In the name of God?
1 Stars
That’s true Lynne,nothing should have an excuse.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
LynneK: Unfortunately, that ”voice” is slowly being squelched day after day in every country around the world. And yes, though honor killings are more a cultural thing, apparently, than rooted in religion. And I think, Lynne, that men seem less threatened and bothered by Islamism than women, pobably because they have less to worry about.
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Agree
Vijay
Kota, India
Incognito,we are raising voice whenever something happens which is against the norms of any civilized society,whether Hindus or Muslims doing such antisocial act,we condemn irrespective of their religion.
In most of such acts Muslims are more involve and such incidents are happening regularly in their society and their holly men are justifying such acts.
2 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
Vijay, Absolutely! And as I mentioned in your post, fundamentalism is a major problem, in ANY religion. And I will be as quick to condemn it. Every day you can see a video or read about some infringement upon others. It’s just wrong.
(Global Perspectives)
2 Stars
RobbieNZ
Auckland, New Zealand
Hi IC, Yes I remember... (:

Well on claiming Neo-Nazi attitude I meant the intention of perform without any consideration for other people’s ideas... The intention of making changes by force f necessary... I am not talking of the crimes committed...
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Answer the Question big brother
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
ROBBIENZ: And yes, everyone deserves equal rights in whatever country they happen to live in. How can you say the Middle East was peaceful? The Crusades were in response to the Islamic conquest of Palestine. Conquests. What about the Ottoman Empire? Let’s be fair here, Robbie. And what’s with this Nazi German comparison?
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
Hey Robbie, I owe you a response to that other comment, from a while back, which I do plan on doing. :-) And racists and neo-nazis are as offensive as fundamentalist Muslims or any other religion. It’s fanaticism at its worst. And being tolerant is wonderful, as long as others are tolerant, and I don’t find Islam (to a great extent) to be very tolerant. And, sadly, diplomacy will never work with people bent on annihilating a certain segment of society. You will never change Ahmadinejad’s desire to wipe Israel off the map, no matter how much pleading, begging or playing nice with him. It’s in the religion, regardless of what they might say.
(Global Perspectives)
2 Stars
Agree
RobbieNZ
Auckland, New Zealand
To say that Britain is not racist is ridiculous. There are dozen of examples out there.

If we are talking about the Islamification of the British society, it’s unlikely. The British will follow their own interest and Islam has nothing to add for the Western mind (but don’t make it any worse or better than Judaism or Christianity).

The Muslim is Britain are not new Muslims... They are not converted... are just people who migrated for a better life (which any individual is entitled to) and they are struggling to adjust their morals to an existing one.
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
Robbie, I don’t recall saying Britain wasn’t racist. And racism exists everywhere.. but since Islam is not a race but a religion, being critical of it is not racist or xenophobics as some like to claim. Unlikely, they already have sharia there... it might not happen in the next 10 years but eventually it will happen. Ask any Muslim and if they are honest, they will tell you that they believe Islam is the one true religion and that they would like Islam to dominate. Even our own Marco Villa said as much, and I doubt he is an extremist. As for Muslims in Britain not being new.... Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, google converts/reverts and Muslim and you will see for yourself the amount of conversions and reversions. From priests to rabbis.
(Global Perspectives)
2 Stars
RobbieNZ
Auckland, New Zealand
Incognito I don’t disagree with your opinion above. I am pointing out that the British society are on breaking point to social tension. It not just include Islamists but Indians (which they viciously call ”Pakis”), Negroes and East Europeans. It is a case of Xenophobia for start and Britain is not alone... Any European country has dramastically changed for last 30 years. People are fearful of this changes and some, incapable to understand the new cultures within their own borders.

...News of the ones you posted are exactly the consequence of these fears. The same context can be taken into consideration by the British to show insatisfaction by the rising numbers of Hindu or Asian immigrants. It is all about fear which generates speculations and turmoil... The breeding grounds of Racism. Yes I know... Racism = race but only as wording sense. racism = hate and misunderstanding to any generalised group regardless. Racism is discrimination and this is what these people suffers every day through Britain. Not all, some... but still not good enough.

I also understand your fears about the development of Islam... and it is the natural path of any organised Religion with exception of Judaism who is selective. Islam will not make things better or worse to society but to individuals minds... at the end, it is not about religion IC, is about ignorance. The Islamists we see on TV and papers are not all but a few of imbeciles who where brainwashed over their lives to understand they are entitled to rise against a morally corrupted system (on their views)...

- Now, my question is the following: Britain, Like the USA, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand; is a nation created and strengthened by the powers of Immigrants... These people claiming the righteousness of Islam are in fact, British born descendents of immigrants but British themselves... Question: For how long do you believe these people should wait until they have the power to stand up and use their rights to agree or disagree (or what you are all calling ”imposing”) until they are seem as just British citizens manifesting? Like Women did in the 70’s for equality and Christian groups do to this day all over the world without any reprehension? Should wait until they mix enough over generations to become ”acceptably” Western/white like? To become politicians and accepted in Cereal commercials?

Question: Imagine is all the extreme islamists we see on TV were white and not coloured people... Would we tolerate them any better? I can answer that” Yes we would... We did with Mormons, Quakers, Scientologists, Jehovah Witnesses... we even tolerated Hippies as the most dissfunctional and useless group of individuals a society can have... and we did for the right people have, regardless of colour, gender or social status to protest and try to implement their views of a perfect world.

At the end, our views and tolerances are trained to be racist like any other Joe or Jane... Is up to enlightenment, understanding, communication and study to free ourselves, without wonder of others, from these chains of discriminatory fears... and finally to become Humans beyond primitive ideas... because this type of fear and discrimination hasn’t changed for thousands of years... Funny enough, the fears that we have today are the same fears that Jewish society in Rome used to have against the Christians before it became mature... something to think about...
(Global Perspectives)
2 Stars
Agree
Lynne K
Sydney, Australia
Robbie, I would like to comment on your ”colonisation backfire”. Colonising took place because of over population, and at that time in history the colonisers felt they could teach the local people an easier and more technological way of life as well as fixing their population problem and as a result now they do have a better way of life.
Most of the traditional people would not want to step back in time and return to scrounging for food or live under oppressive patriarchal societies.
Who would want to live without modern surgery, modern transport, education and the luxuries ie clean running water, refridgeration.
The same thing happened during the Roman empire and it became a great flourishing multicultural empire that bought many more benefits to its inhabitants.
Lets keep this in perspective.
The slave trade - besides the British and Europeans it also included the black African war lords capturing their enemies as was their custom to trade with the British who were profiting just as much, so they were all in on it not just the British & European.

In fact the culture of slave trade STILL exists in North Africa as a tradable commodity.
All people want the same thing - a better standard of living, and a peaceful easier way of life.
1 Stars
Surely there is something to think about here.
(Global Perspectives)
2 Stars
Disagree
RobbieNZ
Auckland, New Zealand
Hi Lynne, As much I understand your opinion is fair and sincere, I don’t agree for a second that colonisation was about overpopulation because it wasn’t.

Now, I need to make clear I am not talking about colonisation but Imperialism as the source of all turmoil in today’s Britain. I could clearly use France and Algeria or Netherlands and Guiana under the same category... It all back-fired when the local population of Colonies decided to move to a better place... Also, many Europeans end up marrying the natives and creating mesticos... Apparently, the British women of the 16, 17 and 18 century were considered the ugliest women on Earth... what helped people to enlister to navy. There are an old Spanish say that claims: ”The British has conquered the world by running way from their women, weather and food.” ...That gives us an indication. (:

The Imperialistic Britain and Rome cannot be compared even they were after the same thing: Wealth! Not overpopulation but Gold! The colonisation of Brazil (which occurred first in the New World), then central America and finally in Canada, USA were all after Gold, not overpopulation... (:
1 Stars
Disagree
Kabukabu
london, United Kingdom
To say that colonialism was good because it brought civilisation to cultures that were seen as savage like gives the impression that the person making the statement has an air of superiority. I thinks that is a very warped way of looking at things. Lynne, it’s all well and good saying those societies were backward but did you know that alot of societies that were colonised had the most sophisticated legal systems which were admired even by the white people who encountered them. Lynne your comments on colonialism show a gap in knowledge which needs filling. Many societies were well established with viable economies. what makes you think life is all about having refrigirators and microwaves. You think these cultures do not have intellegent people who have contributed immensely to their societies. Those constant put downs of former colonies are the very things that give extremists the right to feel superior.
3 Stars
Agree
The lengthy but well-researched post borders on Islamophobia which grips the West during post 9/11 days. But it is also a fact that the British jihad is on an ascending mode. To borrow the comments by the Jason Cowley, editor of the Granta (issue 103): ” Since the London bombings of July 7,2005, in which 52 people were murdered in suicide attacks by Islamic terrorists, Britain has become a more troubled, less confident and harmonious country. A generation of politically engaged writers and novelists has abandoned the liberalism of their earlier years to become, among other things, robust supporters of the US’s war on terror. The British government has too introduced a series of draconian counterterrorism measures. Meanwhile, some moderate Muslim leaders refuse to accept that the various bomb plots in which young British Muslim men have been arrested for scheming to blow up airlines, shopping centres and nightclubs are in fact real.”

In the same issue, Richard Watson writes a lengthy essay on the rise of the British jihad: Headlined ’The One True God, Allah’, he accuses complacency of the British Intelligence agencies for significant acceleration in extremist Islamist activities. He added that Western democracies have been disastrously slow to recognise where the true battle lines were drawn. Back in 1990s, the radicals preaching in London and other British cities, and the networks they were creating, were judged largely as a threat not to Britain but to countries overseas.

London was fast becoming ’Londonistan’.It became a safe haven for Islamic radicals, just as it had been for revolutionaries and anarchists in the nineteenth century.

He writes further: ” It seems there was an unwritten agreement that Islamist radicals could operate freely in Britain so long as their activities were concentrated abroad. British authorities were effectively relying on an Islamic concept called the Covenant of Security under which, according to Islamic law, Muslims should never attack their host unless they themselves are under attack. The assumption that this covenant would protect British interests at home allowed the extremist clerics to operate without restriction from the British state.”
But it was a shortlived one. Such a myopic policy led to mirage. In 2005, terrorists, having training in camps in Pakistan, decided to break the Covenant and the Britain became the target.
2 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
Anil, thank you for adding this very interesting information! But I have a question (just as a matter of interest), if I was criticizing Christianity, or Judaism or Hinduism or Buddhism, would you consider me ”phobic”?
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
RobbieNZ
Auckland, New Zealand
Well, I don’t need to get very far to disarm your argument Anil. Based on your comments, I am prepare to compare your example to the rise of Hindu ”Honour killings” in UK alone. Let’s don’t talk around the globe but UK alone. Last year, 23 cases of Hindu honour killing with included a poor 9 years old bride.

So much for age and opinions, right?
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Agree
Incognito, no sane, sensible or rational person would describe or consider a critic of a or several religions a person suffering from phobia. In fact, Hinduism has a place for atheist (some one who does not believe in the theory or belief that God exist) too. Hinduism is rather a way of life not a religion of books.
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
Anil, Okay... so is it fair, then, to claim someone who is critical of Islam- Islamaphobic? And yet it happens all the time... and you, yourself, said my post bordered on Islamaphobia.. Just a question. :-)
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
RobbieNZ
Auckland, New Zealand
true. Because Hinduism is not a religion but a tribalistic gathering of a set of religious beliefs and practices”, ”religious tradition” etc. Mostly are not related to religious dogmas but explanatory ideas and culture.

- see: ”Establishing the boundaries” in Gavin Flood (2003), pp. 1-17. René Guénon in his Introduction to the Study of the Hindu Doctrines (1921 ed.), Sophia Perennis.

(:
(Global Perspectives)
1 Stars
Disagree
RobbieNZ
Auckland, New Zealand
To me, there is an increase of Islamic fundamentalists in UK but I don’t agree that Britain is becoming an Islamic state as such.

Is quite easy to think and talk about religion with their bellies full and that is what these people are doing (in particularly, the teenagers and young adults).

I see this rise no different from any Punk-Rock-Goth movement that will be scrapped from the British society with a decade on same way the Black Power and racist movements did in US. Society will heal itself from this ’nutters’ and the result will be only the good Muslim worker, free to practice their religion as any citizen of any religion should.

Think of the fears of ”Communism” in the white America of the 50’s and you wont be far off my reasons to believe on the above.
1 Stars
Incognito
Boca Raton, United States
Robbie, I hope you’re right! But I guess we shall see, if we are both still alive in 20 years, eh? :-)
(Global Perspectives)
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