I'd make a distinction between the Muslims that are adapting to western society and those that would be in the masses. Denouncing all of Islam would only serve to outcast those Muslims that aren't a problem, and make them more likely to become one or be spiteful. The amount that has/is adapted is a minority, but sweeping generalizations in times like this tend to create problems.

Quote from: Iberian Husky on November 13, 2015, 06:24:59 PM

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on November 13, 2015, 06:22:40 PM

Quote from: Winy on November 13, 2015, 06:12:44 PM

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on November 13, 2015, 06:09:09 PM

Quote from: Winy on November 13, 2015, 06:07:15 PM

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on November 13, 2015, 06:04:57 PM

Quote from: challengerX on November 13, 2015, 06:02:34 PM

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on November 13, 2015, 05:47:26 PM

Although I'm not so sure I'd be so quick to blame religion, which I'm seeing most people do. This seems more political/ideologically motivated.

Are you FUCKING kidding me?

You're blaming an entire religion of people for the acts of a radical group.

Yes, we are.

Just because a bunch of people believe in something, and use it for mostly good purposes, doesn't mean it isn't a dangerous ideology in many respects.

Nevertheless as a whole 1.57 billion people aren't evil. What the radicals are doing is exactly the reason why there are so many refugees fleeing.

I'm aware. I'm not saying, by any means, that all Muslims are evil. That's ridiculous, because it's obvious that the vast majority of them are normal, peaceful people. But that doesn't mean that I don't believe Islam sometimes expresses a higher tendency to escalate into extremism. This is nothing against the people who practice it, but I am going to say that I'm beginning to think this way about the Islamic religion. It's volatile.

History has shown us that the baton for extremism tends to jump around. Seriously, look at the Crusades. While Christan based countries were engulfed in war and constant attacks, Islamic countries were peaceful and flourishing, and we saw the rise of some of brilliant mathematicians, science, and art.

The reason why moderates can show to be somewhat sympathetic is because it's similar to nationalism, same way that moderate Christians during the Crusades would've been.

>Implying that the Crusades weren't a reaction to centuries of Muslim invasions.

Dude this was a time when countries were empires and we had kings and emperors instead of presidents and prime ministers. Countries were constantly trying to dominate one another, and that was all about power.

Urban II had several agendas on hand. One, to expand the Roman church's influence across the Mediterranean. Unmolested travel for Christian pilgrims in the holy land was another. Another big one was that a good deal of knights were getting into a lot of trouble in their homelands, committing horrible crimes, and they would be promised earthly and spiritual salvation/forgiveness for those sins if they participated. Oh, and Urban was kinda asked by the Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus to do it.

But clearly it was god's will that the good, squeaky-clean white christians wage holy war against the brown devil. If we're to believe these historically illiterate chanfags, that is.

Quote from: Iberian Husky on November 13, 2015, 06:24:59 PM

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on November 13, 2015, 06:22:40 PM

Quote from: Winy on November 13, 2015, 06:12:44 PM

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on November 13, 2015, 06:09:09 PM

Quote from: Winy on November 13, 2015, 06:07:15 PM

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on November 13, 2015, 06:04:57 PM

Quote from: challengerX on November 13, 2015, 06:02:34 PM

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on November 13, 2015, 05:47:26 PM

Although I'm not so sure I'd be so quick to blame religion, which I'm seeing most people do. This seems more political/ideologically motivated.

Are you FUCKING kidding me?

You're blaming an entire religion of people for the acts of a radical group.

Yes, we are.

Just because a bunch of people believe in something, and use it for mostly good purposes, doesn't mean it isn't a dangerous ideology in many respects.

Nevertheless as a whole 1.57 billion people aren't evil. What the radicals are doing is exactly the reason why there are so many refugees fleeing.

I'm aware. I'm not saying, by any means, that all Muslims are evil. That's ridiculous, because it's obvious that the vast majority of them are normal, peaceful people. But that doesn't mean that I don't believe Islam sometimes expresses a higher tendency to escalate into extremism. This is nothing against the people who practice it, but I am going to say that I'm beginning to think this way about the Islamic religion. It's volatile.

History has shown us that the baton for extremism tends to jump around. Seriously, look at the Crusades. While Christan based countries were engulfed in war and constant attacks, Islamic countries were peaceful and flourishing, and we saw the rise of some of brilliant mathematicians, science, and art.

The reason why moderates can show to be somewhat sympathetic is because it's similar to nationalism, same way that moderate Christians during the Crusades would've been.

>Implying that the Crusades weren't a reaction to centuries of Muslim invasions.

Dude this was a time when countries were empires and we had kings and emperors instead of presidents and prime ministers. Countries were constantly trying to dominate one another, and that was all about power.

Presidents and kings play the same general role, the difference being in how they come to power. There was more to the crusades than just power, and there was more than just religious clashes. He is right about the Crusades partly being a response to Muslim incursions and the policies in Jerusalem, which was controlled by Muslims at the time.

Reports coming in that around 100 people were killed at the concert hall alone.

My cousin just told me he saw 150 total.

Quote from: Thunder on November 13, 2015, 06:34:21 PM

Reports coming in that around 100 people were killed at the concert hall alone.

My cousin just told me he saw 150 total.

I haven't updated the title because it doesn't really matter tbh.

I'd make a distinction between the Muslims that are adapting to western society and those that would be in the masses. Denouncing all of Islam would only serve to outcast those Muslims that aren't a problem, and make them more likely to become one or be spiteful. The amount that has/is adapted is a minority, but sweeping generalizations in times like this tend to create problems.

Those pretty much only exist in America, oddly enough.

Religion sucks.

Quote from: gatsby on November 13, 2015, 06:28:52 PM

If the attacks in Paris, Egypt and Lebanon were all directed by ISIS Central, it represents a major shift in its global strategy considering up until now it's only been focusing on local areas in the Levant.

Curious if the news regarding Jihadi John prompted this.

That's definitely one of the possibilities, France also did recently announce its sending it's aircraft carrier to start attacks in Syria.

1500 soldiers have been dropped in

French, correct?

Quote from: Nuka 'Kal Vargun on November 13, 2015, 06:43:18 PM

1500 soldiers have been dropped in

Jesus Christ.

Has his presence on the battlefield been confirmed?

American Airlines has cancelled all flights to France

I'll just leave the updates to you. You're way ahead of me.

Hearing 158 being tossed around as the death toll, anyone confirm?