Muslim Outrage Against Terrorism
      Yesterday I implied that a certain religion was not outraged enough by atrocities committed in their name. I have often heard Muslims claim that they are outraged by violence committed against civilians in their name, as the Koran forbids these terrorist attacks. Their claim is that it is our Western news media that is biased against them. Their accusation does have merit.
      Yesterday, in San Francisco, the Northern California Muslim community held a vigil for the victims of the Paris attack. They are outraged by terrorism in their name. So my next question is to the northern California New media; SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Oakland Tribute, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, et. al.:If you can put the terrorist attack in the main headline of your papers, why can't you put the Muslim Outrage in the headlines, or at least give them equal space? Are not these peaceful Muslims justified in their frustration at being ignored? Also, why give the terrorists the honor of letting them control how the debate is framed? Why call them Muslims in the first place, why not call them murderers and criminals, which is what they really are, and murderers and criminals is what defines them more than the "Muslim" label.
      As long as the media give them the recognition that they are asking for, they will continue murdering civilians. On the other hand if the Peaceful Muslim community gets the recognition they deserve from the media,the terrorist criminals can be discredited.
      But I still stand by what I wrote yesterday. The peaceful Muslims really do have to do more than they have been doing. The media thing is a two-way street. If they want headlines and more space for their message, they will have to show their outrage more openly and forcefully. They must force their attention on the media.        If there were vigils for the victims of terrorism in every major city in America (and there well may be) the news media would have to give it more space. It is the job of editors to assign such stories to reporters.
       But Muslims must also question their own attitudes about Western Culture in general and free speech in particular. If the Muslim religion forbids this kind of dialogue, then the Muslim religion will be totally disgraced and discredited by history. In a civilized world extortion and threats of violence do not earn honor and respect. Terrorists are only gangsters, and any religion that uses or condones such tactics is really a criminal organization. And as I said yesterday, this applies to Jews and Christians equally.
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