Mosque attacks spark outrage, fuel concern over Islamophobia

Trump's and the far right's contribution to all of this is legitimizing anti-Muslim sentiments in public conversation. He lied and said he saw tens of thousands of Muslims cheering on 9/11, a pure work of fiction that exists clearly in his imagination. He called for a complete ban on all Muslims entering the country, as if letting even one in would just be too dangerous. He retweets anti-Muslim videos.

This is what Fox News is serving up from Jeanine Pirro:

“Think about it: Omar wears a hijab. Is her adherence to this Islamic doctrine indicative of her adherence to Shariah law, which in itself is antithetical to the United States Constitution?”

She was also the one who had on the "terrorism expert" who promoted the bogus story about Muslim no-go zones in The UK. Spreading fear through lies.

And did you guys see this?

Republican group in Texas votes not to kick out Muslim member

https://abcnews.go.com/US/republican-group-texas-voting-possibly-kicking-muslim-member/story?id=60284537

"A regularly scheduled meeting for a county Republican party in Texas got national attention Thursday night as it held a vote over whether to remove a member of the leadership team because he’s Muslim. The measure failed by a vote of 139 to 49, according to Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA."

Whew. Only 49 people voted to remove him. From the organizer:

"We don’t think he’s suitable as a practicing Muslim to be vice chair because he’d be the representative for ALL Republicans in Tarrant County, and not ALL Republicans in Tarrant County think Islam is safe or acceptable in the U.S., in Tarrant County, and in the TCGOP,"There are big questions surrounding exactly where Dr. Shafi’s loyalties lie."

It's just getting crazy as these things come out into the open since it's all been so normalized by Trump and the right.

It's worrisome. This didn't get the coverage it deserved because it happened at the same time as the Smollett hoax idiocy, but let's not forget about this guy just arrested in the US, Christopher Paul Hasson:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/coast-guard-officer-wanted-kill-democrats-msnbc-hosts-say-prosecutors-n973786

Christopher Paul Hasson was arrested Feb. 15 on drug and gun charges, but prosecutors said in a detention memo this week that he intended "to murder innocent civilians on a scale rarely seen in this country."

He has espoused extremist views for years, the court papers say, and he read the manifesto of Anders Breivik, the white supremacist Norwegian terrorist who shot and killed 77 people in 2011.

(end)

What worries me is that as it happens more it sparks a fire in other nutjobs who will try something themselves, like some perverse form of bonding. Then they're officially a terrorist organization.

oldman_13 - I don't think it's as much anti Islamic hatred that motivated this sick guy, but a simple desire to be famous.

Yes, this monster wanted to be famous.

Strangerland - Did you not see his manifesto?

You mean the manifesto that the monster released online? Along with the online streaming of his attacks. Yeah, this guy wanted to be famous, or another internet influencer.

Chip Star ( first comment here ):

Bigotry isn't limited to Australia.

What! Why would you make such a comment disparaging Australians?

when an asteroid hits the Earth and humanity is virtually extinguished, you will have some spin about liberals and CNN.

You know, I feel the exact same way when I watch media and their DTS.

Are you actually able to maintain any solid human relationship without political ideology entering the picture?

Sadly, our lives are all intertwined with it.

Oh! I forgot, because Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, which turned out to be a lie.

Now we know In hindsight it was wrong, but we did get rid of a dictator no one misses

The bombing of a Muslim wedding or hospital with children is alright by you because somehow it protects your country. You need to condemn not condone. The Iraqi Afghani wars cost America $2.1 trillion.

Look, the bombing wasn’t a malicious act, there were plenty of people that condemned it and as for the Afghani wars, you see Trump trying to bring the troops home and yet, many in Washington are criticizing the President for a troop withdrawal, so then you support his move, I certainly do.

Lost on the thought of many jumping on the "white supremacists and rising anti-Islamic racism" bandwagon, is that two of the deadliest mass shootings in United States history had absolutely nothing to do with anti-Muslim/anti-Islamic hate crimes. The Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016, with 49 killed, was committed by a man blaming U.S. involvement in Iraq and Syria and was supposedly affiliated with ISIS. The Las Vegas shooting of 2017, with 59 killed, was committed by a white male that never publicly revealed a motive for the shooting (no suicide notes, no manifestos). The outdoor country music venue he chose to target, was in fact his second choice, and had nothing to do at all with anti-Islamic/anti-Muslim hatred.

Those countries represent higher risk of infiltration of terrorists into the U.S.

More than the countries like Saudi Arabia where the 9/11 terrorists came from or the country where they trained, and the prince ordered the killing of a journalist?

That makes no sense!

Trump made the travel ban from selected Muslim countries. Collective punishment.

Can't let this slide, zichi. Those countries represent higher risk of infiltration of terrorists into the U.S.

And the ban, which is temporary, doesn't affect - get ready - the most populous Muslim-majority country in the world - Indonesia.

@Bass

> This is the nonsense the liberals spew again and again, we’re Trump a racist he would never allow his daughter to marry a Jewish man, have a Jewish lawyer, accept his Jewish kids, 

Jews are not a race. Most modern Jews are White especially Israeli who are mostly converts from Europe( Askenazi Jews). Your logic doesn't work!

allow a failed Black celeb to rund around and live in the White House, have one of the most prolific surgeon working in his administration in HUD. 

Having minorities work for you and do whatever you want does not mean a person is not a bigot or a racist. Once again faulty logic!

Bass's logic: I can own a restaurant hire minorities including the position of manager and call them derogatory words all I want, have a stereotypical negative view simply based on race, or support others racist or bigoted views because some of those same minorities work for me. Got it! (Ie. I can't be racist because I have a Black friend. )

You do know that Dump who called a national emergency on the border wall also hires illegal workers for his resorts in Florida and other places. So, based on your logic, he must not care about illegal immigration, right?

LOL!

How many Muslims have been bombed and killed by America, Britain and other NATO members in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan. The figures are in the hundreds of thousands.

Yes and they did it for what reason? Boredom!

Trump made the travel ban from selected Muslim countries. Collective punishment.

And with good reason. He didn’t put a ban on Turkey or Indonesia, so the Islamophobia diatribe has just been debunked.

I do not like the Islamic religions or any of the other highly controlling religions. But I accept the right to worship.

I agree.

I do not like the Islamic religions or any of the other highly controlling religions. But I accept the right to worship

Exactly, but I do think we need to talk honestly about some of the very questionable ideas held by followers of religions, and not be afraid to criticise them for fear of being labeled a bigot or a ‘phobe’.

Have you ever wondered why Trump "didn't articulate his words carefully" in this case, and why he articulates very carefully when a high-profile murder is committed by Central American undocumented aliens in the U.S., or by radical Islamic terrorists?

I’m not Trump’s psychiatrist, I can not, will not try to split hairs on what is in his head. The liberals are trying so hard to change the narrative and score political points and it is annoying. This monster did what he did and he based it on what he saw in France, he ultimately decided to shoot these innocent people, it was No one else’s fault, but this creeps.

There are two ways to "play the race card". Calling out the racially motivated crimes of a person of any race is legitimate. Calling out the crimes committed by a person of a different race is not legitimate.

Or the Democrat party using the race card for anything and everything that they feel is counterproductive to their radical political ideology. Throw in the race card, blame conservative Whites (because liberal Whites can’t be racist) drive it hard and drive it fast and push it to throw them off balance and to take it away from the real problem. If you can’t be sincerely honest that we have had for almost 3 decades problems with Islamic Jihadists and with Europe’s immigrantion crisis and as a result the growing threat and rise of White Nationalism and talk about it without getting emotional or trying to shift the blame to fulfill the typical liberal dodge narrative.

Faulty logic! Racism is not the same as religious extremism. You and others are trying make a direct comparison because the culprits of the majority of racism globally seem to fit a specific demographic, and you and others have no logical way to defend it.

Associate a religion with a race is part of the problem of bigotry(it is illogical).

LOL! I support this message! Thank you!

condemning Islamic extremists,

Faulty logic! Racism is not the same as religious extremism. You and others are trying make a direct comparison because the culprits of the majority of racism globally seem to fit a specific demographic, and you and others have no logical way to defend it.

Associate a religion with a race is part of the problem of bigotry(it is illogical).

Calling out the crimes committed by a person of a different race is not legitimate.

I mean, using their crimes to characterize that person's race.

Trump definitely didn’t articulate his words carefully, but liberals seized upon that opportunity to go after him. This has nothing to do with Trump and everything to do with liberals painting White people or particularly White conservatives as the problem. This is extremely playing and inciting the race card, insinuating violence. 

Have you ever wondered why Trump "didn't articulate his words carefully" in this case, and why he articulates very carefully when a high-profile murder is committed by Central American undocumented aliens in the U.S., or by radical Islamic terrorists?

There are two ways to "play the race card". Calling out the racially motivated crimes of a person of any race is legitimate. Calling out the crimes committed by a person of a different race is not legitimate.

It is wrong to blame Islam and it’s followed because of acts of violence perpetrated by some radicals. Just like it’s wrong to call the Catholic Church pedophile because of some priests. And it’s even more wrong to twist this tragedy to fill in a person’s political bias, as seen above. Peace, people

Nonsense. It only proves that his greed and desire for more money trump his racism. He is hands down on of the biggest bigots in power, and a misogynist to boot! 

Absolutely not. I know the pundits on CNN are telling you this, but either you are a racist or not and if you are a racist, you don’t make exceptions, you don’t allow anyone Jewish near you, you never accept your Jewish kids and you wouldn’t be seen or caught dead with a Black woman in your midst, you would never have a Jewish lawyer, you wouldn’t work hard to lower Black unemployment or support Angel moms. That weak narrative is just played out and lost its luster.

Why am I not surprised that Trump supporters refuse to admit that terrorism is on the rise with white supremacy and that guns aren't a problem?

I think so, but blaming the President or blaming a conservative is just hilarious. You guys did the same under Bush and even under Obama, it was racism was building in the Tea party, even though the Tea party had a lot of minorities in it, but nonetheless, it didn’t stop all the media moguls on CNN to push the racist agenda conspiracy that’s perpetrated by conservatives. Give me a break! Time for a new plan.

It's Always a "crazed individual" when it's a white person, but "terrorism" when it's anything besides.

In Germany and Sweden you’re not even allowed to mention the persons race or religion, especially if they are Muslim, so what’s your point?

That is why this is allowed to occur more and more frequently, and Trump is DEFINITELY one of the reasons this happened, as is the support he gets DESPITE it happening.

Yeah, uh-huh..lol

bass4funk: "we’re Trump a racist he would never allow his daughter to marry a Jewish man, have a Jewish lawyer, accept his Jewish kids, allow a failed Black celeb to rund around and live in the White House, have one of the most prolific surgeon working in his administration in HUD."

Nonsense. It only proves that his greed and desire for more money trump his racism. He is hands down on of the biggest bigots in power, and a misogynist to boot!

Why am I not surprised that Trump supporters refuse to admit that terrorism is on the rise with white supremacy and that guns aren't a problem? It's Always a "crazed individual" when it's a white person, but "terrorism" when it's anything besides. That is why this is allowed to occur more and more frequently, and Trump is DEFINITELY one of the reasons this happened, as is the support he gets DESPITE it happening.

Hate speech and bigoted language has consequences. Tragic consequences. Don't believe those who pretend otherwise or downplay the words of irresponsible public figures.

You can read such racism echoed in JT posts. Trump has legitimized racism and violence against muslims and other non-white, non-christian people.

He did not, he did not say anything of approval or insinuated, supported attacks of any measure towards anyone of a non-Christian faith. This is the nonsense the liberals spew again and again, we’re Trump a racist he would never allow his daughter to marry a Jewish man, have a Jewish lawyer, accept his Jewish kids, allow a failed Black celeb to rund around and live in the White House, have one of the most prolific surgeon working in his administration in HUD. I will say the liberals and Democrats for years have been using the race card and always try to excuse racism within their ranks, their heroes and current rising politicians. Do they call them out by name? They do not. If it is a Republican or a conservative, they will criticize all day and non-stop.

He says Nazi's that run over people are the same as the people who get run over by them. No wonder last year in the USA every single act of terrorism was carried out by white male rightwing killer.

Trump definitely didn’t articulate his words carefully, but liberals seized upon that opportunity to go after him. This has nothing to do with Trump and everything to do with liberals painting White people or particularly White conservatives as the problem. This is extremely playing and inciting the race card, insinuating violence. You are seeing at the same time more Whites being attacked, punched out in public on school campuses. For liberals it’s all just identity politics, gender politics and if you are White or a White conservative, you are nothing and you don’t have the right to input your opinion on anything. So it’s basically, attack and hold Whites responsible for their history past transgressions and hold them and their relatives for the past injustices that their forefathers inflicted on all minorities. This is what is fueling a lot of White anger and has been growing over the past 6 years.

Just like this killer in NZ. White supremacists are the most dangerous terrorists now. It is all fueled by racism and hatred sanctioned by Trump and the huge rightwing mainstream media.

I can’t speak for NZ, don’t know their politics, but I When you look at countries like Germany, France, Sweden, Belgium, Australia and the UK and see all of the events and chaos that has taken place and this has been going on before Trump was even on the scene. If you take the US out of the equation, Europe has been battling racism for years and trying to shift the problems on Trump or even Bush is not addressing the real central issue of the deep societal internal and domestic problems of those countries. This was a sick man, whatever was in his mind, was something he felt, he saw when he was in France, he and he alone is responsible and it would be an empty suit to try and blame others for his heinous crimes.

Certainly a sick man and a disgusting act beyond imagination. I believe most Christians and most Muslims deplore violence. Unfortunately the end of the bell curve (perhaps 1% or less) get all of the attention as occasionally a heinous act like this happens.

The lady posting the signs saying "Turn to Love" is right. Do not politicize this action just honor the dead, empathize with the terrible pain the victims' families must be experiencing, and do what can be done to ensure this does not happen again or escalate into something worse or possibly retaliatory actions.

A terrible, terrible mass murder. Very sad.

Did you not see his manifesto?

I will not look at it or watch the video stream. The more people watch his video, the more he wins.

The killer was radicalized by rightwing media. Look at Fox News and the latest from Tucker Carlson

He tried out the “primitive” insult again, saying that Iraq is populated by “semi-literate primitive monkeys.” The Fox News host also said that he had no respect for Iraqi culture, “where people just don’t use toilet paper or forks.” 

From the killer himself . . .

Conservative commentator Candace Owens was the biggest influence on the white supremacist who slaughtered 49 worshipers in two New Zealand mosques, he claims in his rambling manifesto.

Brenton Tarrant name-dropped the Stamford, Conn.-born political activist in his 74-page screed posted online before he opened fire inside the Masjid Al Noor mosque in Christchurch.

“Yes, the person that has influenced me above all was Candace Owens,” Tarrant wrote in an answer to the question, “Is there a particular person that radicalized you the most?”

“Each time she spoke I was stunned by her insights and her own views helped push me further and further into the belief of violence over meekness,” 

You can read such racism echoed in JT posts. Trump has legitimized racism and violence against muslims and other non-white, non-christian people. He says Nazi's that run over people are the same as the people who get run over by them. No wonder last year in the USA every single act of terrorism was carried out by white male rightwing killer. Just like this killer in NZ. White supremacists are the most dangerous terrorists now. It is all fueled by racism and hatred sanctioned by Trump and the huge rightwing mainstream media.

Did you not see his manifesto?

I don't think it's as much anti Islamic hatred that motivated this sick guy, but a simple desire to be famous.

Bigotry isn't limited to Australia.