Moderate Muslims: The New Loch Ness Monster

Latest sighting:  Luton.  Scene of disgraceful, hatefilled protests at an Army homecoming parade, earlier this year.

The same moderate muslims who allowed rioting lunatics to shout "butchers" and "cowards" at returning soldiers, without a peep of protest, were also on hand to silently witness similarly middle-eastern thugs hurling eggs at and threatening a member of parliament, on a walk-about to engage in reasoned debate with the community...

Yesterday, Baroness Warsi said there were only about 'seven, eight or maybe ten' protesters who did not represent the true feelings of the thousands of moderate Muslims in the town. 

But are they a tiny minority, or was the outbreak of violence a symptom of a wider problem: the failed integration into society of a group of Muslim extremists (many British-born)?

Is it apathy, or tacit approval that makes these thousands of moderate muslims sit silently while a woman is harrassed and assaulted in their streets?

Although only 20 per cent of Luton's 200,000 population is Muslim, the figure in Bury Park is much higher. The area has its own madrassa (faith school), Islamic primary school and shops selling halal meat and Asian clothes.

While the overwhelming majority of Muslims lead decent, peaceful lives, there have been incidents which reveal tensions. When a Mecca Bingo Hall opened, its windows were smashed after some Muslims claimed the neon 'Mecca' sign insulted their religion because it associated the name of their holy city with gambling. Advertising hoardings featuring women deemed to be showing too much flesh have also been defaced.

Over the past 18 months or so, around 30 non-Muslim homes have been attacked. One white couple in their 80s had bricks hurled through their front window. A West Indian woman in her 70s was watching TV when a metal beer keg crashed through her bay window.

Whichever it is, Muslims cannot claim these "extremists" don't represent them, when they cede the stage to them at every opportunity.  It just shows the rest of us whose side they're really on.

Comments

[Monnie]

We in the States have the same frustration with the Muslims.

The silence of this misnamed "moderate Muslim" community is attributable to a combination of apathy, fear, and tacit approval.

There's no way to know which of the many Muslims in our countries could "Go Jihadist" as Major Hasan did (although we should have stopped HIM, given the many flashing red lights in his case).

It's very disquieting that the liberals in the USA, Canada, the UK, and other nations, are afraid to admit this danger, or are just too intellectually dishonest to do so.

[Peter]

The phrase "tiny minority" is always meant assuage and cover things over as if only numbers matter. The cold hard truth is that it is not just the numbers. What is just as important is where in the influence/power spectrum these "tiny minority" are positioned.

I think the following should illustrate this point. The population of Canada is about 33 million. There are a little over 300 members of parliament. This "tiny minority" comprises about 0.001% of the population, yet holds significant influence over canadian policy.

Regardless of whether it is apathy or tacit approval, these thugs are trying to position themselves as leaders (thuggish though they may be) and effect policy. That makes them dangerous.

[Peter]

... and effect policy.

That should read ...
and effect a policy of intimidation.