Has the West failed to challenge the narrative of Islamist extremism?
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Thursday, 10 Oct. 2010
|18:06 - 19:00 GMT
In a week when terror alerts have dominated the headlines Tony Blair has called for a "revolution in thinking鈥 in the fight against terrorism.
The former British Prime Minister has warned that a failure to challenge the "narrative" that Muslims were oppressed by the west was fuelling extremism around the world. Mr Blair made it clear what he thinks this narrative is;
It is that Islam is basically oppressed by the west; disrespected and treated unfairly; that the military action we took post-9/11 was against countries because they are Muslim; and that in the Middle East we ignore the injustice done to the Palestinians in our desire to support Israel, because the Palestinians are Muslims, and the Israelis Jews. It is a narrative that now has vast numbers of assembled websites, blogs and organisations.
Mr Blair went on to say this narrative weakens moderate Muslims.
The irony is that the many Muslims who believe passionately in co-existence and tolerance are not empowered but frequently disempowered by our refusal to confront the narrative. We think if we sympathise with the narrative 鈥 that essentially this extremism has arisen as a result, partly, of our actions 鈥 we meet it half way, we help the modernisers to be more persuasive. We don't. We indulge it and we weaken them.
Is Tony Blair right? Is it impossible to defeat extremism "without defeating the narrative that nurtures it"?
Your comments
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18:35
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Liban in Ohio emails
It is true the majority that in the Muslim world are peaceful, but we musn't pretend We in the West Do not have our own agendas and desires that may not be in line with those in the Muslim World.
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18:31
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Emmanuel writes on facebook
The purpose of the Islamic narrative is to blackmail the West into surrendering. The solution is not to get into a propaganda race as Blair suggested.T he West needs to start acting right and the hollow gospel will begin to lose believers.
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18:31
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Nadene comments on facebook
He's right. It's too easy to jump to lazy inaccurate attacks on the west and its policies. Muslims are oppressed in some countries, especially Palestine. But I'm tired of hearing the same old rubbish about muslims being oppressed in Europe. They are not.
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18:31
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Sana got in touch on facebook
Let me make a slight correction, the west hasn't failed anywhere, its our muslim community who has failed and is continuously failing to understand the correct islam....result..moderates like me have to suffer.
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18:29
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Hussain writes on facebook
Mr. Blair is right the west has failed to win the contentions from extremists, i suggest the roots should be found and fought against.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:27
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Theresa in Washington, DC USA
I spent 2 years teaching at the University in Kenya. The professors, primarily though not exclusively male, would assess the incoming students for their affairs for the year. It was so much a part of the culture, I was occasionally ridiculed for not participating. Students would offer, not only money, but sex for good grades. It was a very unsettling.
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18:27
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Said in Mombasa in kenya emailed..
Most of these incidents occur bcoz most of the victims lack confidence...and also some of the victims are greedy..for money they are ready to take any step for it.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:26
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Solonka in Nairobi Kenya emailed
The kenyan government is somehow neglecting those who live in the rural areas
Comment sent via Twitter
18:04
114933096
cpRT @成人论坛_WHYS Do you have to shock people to get them to react? No. But it is a lazy way to get 'a' reaction
Has the West failed to challenge the narrative of Islamist extremism?
| Thursday, 10 Oct. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
In a week when terror alerts have dominated the headlines Tony Blair has called for a "revolution in thinking鈥 in the fight against terrorism.
The former British Prime Minister has warned that a failure to challenge the "narrative" that Muslims were oppressed by the west was fuelling extremism around the world. Mr Blair made it clear what he thinks this narrative is;
It is that Islam is basically oppressed by the west; disrespected and treated unfairly; that the military action we took post-9/11 was against countries because they are Muslim; and that in the Middle East we ignore the injustice done to the Palestinians in our desire to support Israel, because the Palestinians are Muslims, and the Israelis Jews. It is a narrative that now has vast numbers of assembled websites, blogs and organisations.
Mr Blair went on to say this narrative weakens moderate Muslims.
The irony is that the many Muslims who believe passionately in co-existence and tolerance are not empowered but frequently disempowered by our refusal to confront the narrative. We think if we sympathise with the narrative 鈥 that essentially this extremism has arisen as a result, partly, of our actions 鈥 we meet it half way, we help the modernisers to be more persuasive. We don't. We indulge it and we weaken them.
Is Tony Blair right? Is it impossible to defeat extremism "without defeating the narrative that nurtures it"?
Your comments
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Liban in Ohio emails It is true the majority that in the Muslim world are peaceful, but we musn't pretend We in the West Do not have our own agendas and desires that may not be in line with those in the Muslim World.
Comment sent via Facebook
Emmanuel writes on facebook The purpose of the Islamic narrative is to blackmail the West into surrendering. The solution is not to get into a propaganda race as Blair suggested.T he West needs to start acting right and the hollow gospel will begin to lose believers.
Comment sent via Facebook
Nadene comments on facebook He's right. It's too easy to jump to lazy inaccurate attacks on the west and its policies. Muslims are oppressed in some countries, especially Palestine. But I'm tired of hearing the same old rubbish about muslims being oppressed in Europe. They are not.
Comment sent via Facebook
Sana got in touch on facebook Let me make a slight correction, the west hasn't failed anywhere, its our muslim community who has failed and is continuously failing to understand the correct islam....result..moderates like me have to suffer.
Comment sent via Facebook
Hussain writes on facebook Mr. Blair is right the west has failed to win the contentions from extremists, i suggest the roots should be found and fought against.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Theresa in Washington, DC USA I spent 2 years teaching at the University in Kenya. The professors, primarily though not exclusively male, would assess the incoming students for their affairs for the year. It was so much a part of the culture, I was occasionally ridiculed for not participating. Students would offer, not only money, but sex for good grades. It was a very unsettling.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Said in Mombasa in kenya emailed.. Most of these incidents occur bcoz most of the victims lack confidence...and also some of the victims are greedy..for money they are ready to take any step for it.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Solonka in Nairobi Kenya emailed The kenyan government is somehow neglecting those who live in the rural areas
Comment sent via Twitter
cpRT @成人论坛_WHYS Do you have to shock people to get them to react? No. But it is a lazy way to get 'a' reaction