But I wasn't phrasing it in terms of threat, only of rough analogy. (And it's not as if sport-related violence hasn't been problematic in many countries, sometimes on a large scale)
If we're going to start worrying about the reasonableness of threats, and suggest that moderates encourage extremism, I shouldn't be worrying about religion. Maybe I should be worrying about men. If we're looking at the levels of sexual violence and domestic/ex-domestic violence in this country, I think I'm in far more danger of being stabbed in the street by an ex-partner than blown up by a suicide bomber. At 53, 600 sexual offences last year* (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb0708.pdf) and two women a week murdered by partners & ex-partners (http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10309), especially if they're transwomen (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7543430.stm), I don't think religious extremists are my biggest problem. (Bit of a bugger for men too, as they're still twice as likely to be victims of violence - so they have to mistrust each other, or maybe themselves?)
Maybe when religious fanatics live in our homes, control our money, our children, our bodies and activities, when they are taught by everything in our culture that it's their inalienable right to do so...I'll worry a bit more about religious extremists. As it were.
I realise that not all men are violent, they're all part of the same ball of snakes, even 'nice guys' can be entitled and aggressive - and while one might not be regularly talking to the misogynists, the sense that they're around leads (me, anyway) to fret more about men than I do about religion.
(I'm aware that was a bit of a cheap shot, but your argument did rather invite it, I'm afraid. I've got a big brush too, and a large bucket of tar, right here.)
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-08-05 06:53 pm (UTC)If we're going to start worrying about the reasonableness of threats, and suggest that moderates encourage extremism, I shouldn't be worrying about religion. Maybe I should be worrying about men. If we're looking at the levels of sexual violence and domestic/ex-domestic violence in this country, I think I'm in far more danger of being stabbed in the street by an ex-partner than blown up by a suicide bomber. At 53, 600 sexual offences last year* (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb0708.pdf) and two women a week murdered by partners & ex-partners (http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10309), especially if they're transwomen (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7543430.stm), I don't think religious extremists are my biggest problem. (Bit of a bugger for men too, as they're still twice as likely to be victims of violence - so they have to mistrust each other, or maybe themselves?)
Maybe when religious fanatics live in our homes, control our money, our children, our bodies and activities, when they are taught by everything in our culture that it's their inalienable right to do so...I'll worry a bit more about religious extremists. As it were.
I realise that not all men are violent, they're all part of the same ball of snakes, even 'nice guys' can be entitled and aggressive - and while one might not be regularly talking to the misogynists, the sense that they're around leads (me, anyway) to fret more about men than I do about religion.
(I'm aware that was a bit of a cheap shot, but your argument did rather invite it, I'm afraid. I've got a big brush too, and a large bucket of tar, right here.)
*p 25