Attacks in Paris

[Chris in London]

Following this thread and it's decent but there's next to fuck all comparisons to be made with the IRA.

The IRA committed some heinous atrocities however they were politically motivated and, importantly, came with warnings. Understandably that will bring very little light to those who have lost loved ones at the hands of the ira. After the omagh bombing, much of the sympathy they had for their cause was lost because that incident in particular was so different to the previous bombings carried out by PIRA.

Now, in a roundabout way, it can be argued that the IRA had some sort of morals where ISIS clearly don't. ISIS and their sympathisers will target the softest of soft targets and it's been without warning and with the aim of the maximum amount of casualties possible. The younger the better, if they're female then all the better as well.

Makes me sick to my stomach. Bastards.

The IRA was motivated by a desire to establish a particular form of government in a particular part of the world. ISIS is no different.

Undoubtedbly the IRA had their own moral code, but then again so do ISIS.

They are both FUBAR.

 

[Ducado]

Bumped.

Very good piece.

It is, I always think that people should look at things from every viewpoint

 

[coleridge]

It is an absence of belief, the total opposite of what you just said xD

You believe that all religion is made up, I assume? You need to work on your mental gymnastics, my friend.

 

[coleridge]

What a horrible thing to say.

Go back and read some of the posters' views, mostly of the 'statistically terrorists' variety.

 

[PragueBlue]

You believe that all religion is made up, I assume? You need to work on your mental gymnastics, my friend.

I'd have thought atheism is a belief that a creator doesn't exist and that agnosticism (if such a word exists) was the absence of belief as they don't express a view as to the existence of a creator or not.

 

[stony]

Christopher Hitchens

Our belief is not a belief. Our principles are not a faith. We do not rely soley upon science and reason, because these are necessary rather than sufficient factors, but we distrust anything that contradicts science or outrages reason. We may differ on many things, but what we respect is free inquiry, openmindedness, and the pursuit of ideas for their own sake.

Christopher Hitchens

 

[coleridge]

I'd have thought atheism is a belief that a creator doesn't exist and that agnosticism (if such a word exists) was the absence of belief as they don't express a view as to the existence of a creator or not.

One definition of an agnostic is that it is someone who believes that it is impossible to know whether divinity exists.

 

[PragueBlue]

One definition of an agnostic is that it is someone who believes that it is impossible to know whether divinity exists.

And therefore it is an absence of belief I would think, rather than someone who believes something does or doesn't exist which to me would be some form of belief.

Anyway sorry for going off topic.

 

[coleridge]

Christopher Hitchens

I've known many excellent scientists who hold firm religious beliefs. Human beings are complex creatures, my friend.

 

[Le Havre Oswald]

Must...not...make...joke about isis at least being able to pull the trigger.

Go back and read some of the posters' views, mostly of the 'statistically terrorists' variety.

Are the statistics true or false? Some posters might criticise Islam and rightly so but they certainly don't dislike Muslims or "Browns"

 

[coleridge]

And therefore it is an absence of belief I would think, rather than someone who believes something does or doesn't exist which to me would be some form of belief.

Anyway sorry for going off topic.

No worries. You may be right. When I get time, I'll re-read Russell's History of Western Philosophy and get back to you.

It certainly beats the posts that list '20 reasons why Muslims are evil' and the like.

 

[Le Havre Oswald]

I'd have thought atheism is a belief that a creator doesn't exist and that agnosticism (if such a word exists) was the absence of belief as they don't express a view as to the existence of a creator or not.

 

[VinKom]

Always a touchy subject going down the religious route, but it literally amazes me that religion still plays the role it does in society in 2015. If you take away religion, you take away a whole lot of unnecessary present and past world conflicts. It's the world's shame on so many different levels.

 

[coleridge]

Are the statistics true or false? Some posters might criticise Islam and rightly so but they certainly don't dislike Muslims or "Browns"

I admire your optimism. I don't share it. However, I do agree that everyone has a right to criticise when justified. You will have seen that some who have laid into Islam on this thread don't want to discuss Israel, for example, and others seem to be personally insulted that I described the IRA as Catholics!

 

[George Hannah]

Came across this 5 minute vid about Syria and the rise of ISIL on RAWK, Americans are good at short summaries and this is no exception. Apologies if posted or linked before

 

[west didsblue]

I admire your optimism. I don't share it. However, I do agree that everyone has a right to criticise when justified. You will have seen that some who have laid into Islam on this thread don't want to discuss Israel, for example, and others seem to be personally insulted that I described the IRA as Catholics!

Might be because this thread isn't about Israel.

 

[coleridge]

Might be because this thread isn't about Israel.

A thread about the Middle East doesn't involve Israel? I think that you need to read some of the posts more carefully.

 

[Gelsons Dad]

For debate about IS and Islam please clik on the link below (again from the excellent Juan Cole site) I learnt quite a lot from it

http://www.juancole.com/2015/11/islamic-take-isil.html

Which is what I said in an earlier post which Coleridge dismissed and then made a snide intimation that I was racist.

 

[cleavers]

after a long shift blowing shit up

To be fair, they seem to do mostly quite short shifts ;o)

 

[cleavers]

The IRA committed some heinous atrocities however they were politically motivated and, importantly, came with warnings.

They didn't always warn people, and they certainly didn't in Germany/Holland when on their killing spree in the late 80's, including my neighbour, blown up outside a restaurant I had used regularly.