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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Muslim leaders need to incite less, understand more -- Failure to comprehend West means they lose all support

Posted on Monday, September 17, 2012 at 08:43 AM

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Still from movie "Innocence of Muslims"

The blood-dimmed tide was loosed again in the Middle East over the latest crazy reaction to a “film” that a five-year old would have shot better.

Have you actually watched the film that all the murder and mayhem has been about?

It is called “Innocence of Muslims” and I watched it on YouTube last night and thought it was some kind of hellish joke.

It is so badly put together and utterly impossible to follow that it is quite possibly the worst film ever made.

It makes “The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” look like “Ben Hur,” and “Ali Baba” look like high literature.
How millions of Muslims can take such grave offense that people have died because of this piece of garbage is hard to believe.

More to the point, the Muslim leadership needs to stop fueling the flames every time some idiot casts aspersions on their religion.

Catholics did not riot when the “Piss Christ” exhibition took place in New York featuring a crucifix in a jar of urine.

Nor did Jews riot when violently anti-Semitic texts were approved for schools in many Muslim countries.
I understand it is a complex issue but let’s call a spade a spade. The “movie” I watched on YouTube has as much to do with Americans and the American government as I have with Genghis Khan.

Attacking America is a reflex action of course, anti- Americanism is always the safe fallback, the better to keep the attention away from many of their own despotic leaders.

But Muslim leaders really need to come into the 21st Century and stop the demonization that is leading to such violence.

It is destroying any hope of a common understanding.

They need to look at the mote in their own eye as we all do. A parody Twitter account of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, posted: “Wow! Good thing I just bombed mosques, killed women and children and I didn’t make an anti-Muslim video! People would be after me!”

That says it all.

As W.B. Yeats wrote,

“The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.”

Read more: Family of Irish American former Navy SEAL killed in Libyan protests mourn their “hero” - VIDEOS

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39 comments

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canadianirish | Sep 17, 2012, 08:47 PM EDT

@donegalcali - Muslim extremist are ya? Get over yourself.

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seanomelb | Sep 17, 2012, 06:50 PM EDT

Your piece has a ring of truth Niall, You could have balance d it by stating American foriegn policy has failed to understand Muslim concerns. And why The US condones by their silence the rape and pillage of Palestine,the elephant is comfortable sitting in the American room.

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Bocktherobber | Sep 17, 2012, 06:08 PM EDT

Brian22 -- Islamic mathematicians were still developing algebra in the 17th century while Americans were still shooting Indians. But you did ask for a single example of what they contributed, so there it is. As a bonus, how about astronomy? Could you give an example of something your ancestors contributed to humanity?

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donegalcali | Sep 17, 2012, 04:58 PM EDT

@canadianirish: Congratulations. Your comment was the dumbest, lowest IQ, ill-informed comment have ever read on any media platform. I feel stupid for reading it. Doesnt make an an ounce of sense. Are you actually aware that your an idiot?

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aloistmartin | Sep 17, 2012, 04:53 PM EDT

No doubt, George III said same of Boston Tea Party. Or even most European "High Society" at hearing the News of the French Revolution Or do you Irish Today, see your own Revolution, as some sort of Dark, Barbaric Period in History ? O Pass the Double Devon Cream !

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canadianirish | Sep 17, 2012, 02:44 PM EDT

These extremist nutbars never cease to amaze me. They go ballistic over a stupid little childish film while remaining silent when a video shot in a parking lot in the US pitting the IRA against the Taliban is posted to YouTube. Oh, but wait a minute, I guess they figure that's an Irish video. I suppose they don't want to ruffle any terrorist feathers over there. After what I've been reading lately, they'd be wise not to.

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Sparklet | Sep 17, 2012, 02:19 PM EDT

Manhattan, I so agree. It's very sad for the people in those countries who are oppressed, but western presence (some say interference) isn't helping world stability.

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manhattan | Sep 17, 2012, 01:57 PM EDT

If you think the riots and murders of Americans is because of the movie I have a bridge I would like to sell you. They hate us pure and simple. Stop sending money and soldiers to a lost cause. We never learn from going into country's like Vietnam and think we can bring democracy. Leave them to dictators because they are not now and will never learn to be civilized. Not one more American life to be sitting ducks. Disgusted.

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Searlit | Sep 17, 2012, 01:50 PM EDT

They still treat women like property.

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occassio | Sep 17, 2012, 01:06 PM EDT

brian22. The Arabs have long memories which include nearly 300 years of Crusaders invading their country in the name of Christ, then proceeding to burn, rape, pillage and plunder everything.

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brian22 | Sep 17, 2012, 12:55 PM EDT

Blocktherobber - thanks, but that is more like 2000 years. They have been sitting on their evil asses since then cooking with camel dung!

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Sparklet | Sep 17, 2012, 12:29 PM EDT

So much for helping the Libyans get rid of a dictator. There's really no point in trying to help Islamic countries because their hatred of the west is too deep. They accept our help when their armies are slaughtering their own, but there's no foundation there for trust or understanding. You can't reason with them. It's scary.

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citizen69 | Sep 17, 2012, 12:16 PM EDT

Hmmm,"need to incite less, understand more". Sounds like a piece of advice Niall could give to himself and his, erm... "journalists" when it comes to reporting on anything British or Unionist!

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Bocktherobber | Sep 17, 2012, 11:55 AM EDT

Brian22 -- Mathematics?

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handsome68 | Sep 17, 2012, 11:42 AM EDT

Lots of good comments below, including that of PhlutiePhan, " Islam has an agenda. Duh! Check your history books especially the section on the Middle Ages." Irishwoman Margaret (nee FitzSimons) Hassan learned the hardest way that, in many cases, Muslims bite (and kill) the hand that feeds them.

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