Posts by Emily Ward3

Anthony Jackson2 said:The media wants us to look at these politicians—as if staring at them actually changes anything. It’s all just a performance for the cameras.

Nobody's out here asking for justifications regarding something like this—honestly, I don't know why it even needs to be mentioned, let alone debated. It’s just a pointless conversation.

I think we’re all mature enough now to actually talk about what caused this—without the theatrics. The root issues go way deeper than just religion, and that should be obvious to anyone who does more than glance at a headline once a week—or even those who've been paying actual attention to how this attack unfolded.

As for the whole religion debate—I only jumped in because I felt physically sick reading someone claim you have to distance yourself from Christian teachings just to justify killing. Apparently, they forgot that history spans a bit longer than twenty years.

"God is great!" one terrorist screamed, shouting a mantra meant to praise the Almighty, yet it has somehow morphed into a chilling catchphrase that signals an imminent killing. "This is for the Middle East!" another yelled in fluent English. "It’s the President's fault." In that moment, the mask slipped. It became crystal clear exactly who these people are and what their true mission is over there.

I still can't shake the feeling that all this intense focus on the Middle East is driven primarily by religious motives.

Anthony Jackson2 said:You're missing the point because your entire argument starts from a flawed premise. They didn't attack because of religion, they didn't attack because we're "infidels," and it's not some grand scheme to Islamize us (?). The attack wasn't about faith—it was driven by other factors that you, Emily Ward3, that wannabe comedian Ken, and the rest of you seem determined to ignore, which is exactly what this thread has been debating for three days now.
They use religious rhetoric because the people pulling their strings have brainwashed them into thinking there’s a reward waiting in paradise—but that isn't why the attack happened.

For three days now, you've been bashing Islam, yet you conveniently forget how many people have been slaughtered in the name of Christianity—and you also forget that "peaceful" Christians in this country have only managed to nearly wipe each other out twice in the last century.

Besides, when you start quoting the Old Testament—all those lovely verses about forgiveness and peace...🙄

No, Islam isn't inherently violent, just as Christianity or Buddhism aren't—even though millions have died in the name of all three. Why? Because there are enough corrupt people in this world to twist any belief system to serve their own petty interests. Attacking Islam is an insult to the millions of people who have lived peacefully in America for generations under that "violent" faith.

Personally, I don't think religion does anyone any good, but I can understand why some people need it. Still, seeing one religion like Christianity being placed on a pedestal above all others—it's honestly nauseating.

The attackers were firing at people while screaming 'Allahu akbar' at the top of their lungs!

But sure, I'm sure you know their motivations better than they do. After all, they're clearly such intellectual giants that they must have studied hundreds of history and economics textbooks before deciding this was the best course of action.

Alex Brown50 said:If they follow the same path "our" civilization took, the rest of the world is pretty much screwed in the meantime. We definitely started off on that track. Honestly, I'm not sure if being tech-savvy or having a "superior" culture acts as some kind of magic shield against a massive wave of barbarians. History usually tells us otherwise.

So you basically just described how they act when they're in a group—like it's just wired into them or whatever. Kind of like how you're over here acting all tough and punching at the right wing. Have you actually ever stood up on the front lines and told them off?

You're jumping into this debate without contributing a single useful thought. You're just hurling insults and trying to pigeonhole me as one of those uneducated, blind nationalists who would sell out their own country in a heartbeat. What's next? Are you going to accuse me of worshipping old dictators?

Mob mentality isn't exclusive to them, and I didn't claim it was; I simply shared my personal experience. So, if you don't have anything substantive to add, please refrain from playing the role of some desperate crusader for justice and equality. Or, at the very least, try reading with a bit more comprehension.

Morgan Williams said:Sure, they’re more or less the same garbage—Islam being a bit coarser at the root—except they haven't dealt with revolutions and just stayed stuck at that level. I was talking to a history major a couple of months back; he says the exact same thing.

What's the issue here? You actually think Christianity is this peaceful faith of love, or that Christians acted all saintly before the Reformation and various revolutions? Or do you really believe Muslims would still be this problematic even after total social upheaval and legal overhauls?

So, what? We’re supposed to just sit tight and wait another 800 to 1,000 years for them to evolve, and during that entire stretch, everything they do is just given a free pass? 👍

neonfalcon16 said:And once again, you are completely missing the point. You are looking at religion through a single lens, treating it as the sole cause of the problem.

If things were truly as your mind perceives them, those people you met would be the very last ones you'd ever want to cross paths with.

We actually agree on certain points, but by twisting the entire context and fixating solely on religion, you've become one-dimensional. Religion itself isn't the root cause of everything. It seems to me you're mostly preoccupied with the symptoms rather than the disease.

Consequently, you care less about who is actually starting these wars or why people are dying simply because it isn't "our" America.

Maybe it would be easier for you if you just ignored everything that reminds your mind of that universal evil—the stuff you either don't see or simply don't care about. It might make things a little less uncomfortable for you.

Well, I suppose you could look at it that way. Americans tend to stir up trouble all over the globe, yet somehow, nobody else seems to act quite like these maniacs. It makes you wonder where they actually find their inspiration—is it really found in some supposed "religion of peace"?

neonfalcon16 said:And once again, you are completely missing the point. You are looking at religion through a single lens, treating it as the sole cause of the problem.

If things were truly as your mind perceives them, those people you met would be the very last ones you'd ever want to cross paths with.

We actually agree on certain points, but by twisting the entire context and fixating solely on religion, you've become one-dimensional. Religion itself isn't the root cause of everything. It seems to me you're mostly preoccupied with the symptoms rather than the disease.

Consequently, you care less about who is actually starting these wars or why people are dying simply because it isn't "our" America.

Maybe it would be easier for you if you just ignored everything that reminds your mind of that universal evil—the stuff you either don't see or simply don't care about. It might make things a little less uncomfortable for you.

It’s a common mistake to paint an entire group with one brush, but that’s just not how reality works. You can't judge billions of people by the actions of a tiny, radical few. It’s like saying all Americans are obsessed with football just because a certain number of us live for Sunday games—it’s a massive oversimplification that misses the bigger picture entirely. ☕

neonfalcon16 said:And once again, you are completely missing the point. You are looking at religion through a single lens, treating it as the sole cause of the problem.

If things were truly as your mind perceives them, those people you met would be the very last ones you'd ever want to cross paths with.

We actually agree on certain points, but by twisting the entire context and fixating solely on religion, you've become one-dimensional. Religion itself isn't the root cause of everything. It seems to me you're mostly preoccupied with the symptoms rather than the disease.

Consequently, you care less about who is actually starting these wars or why people are dying simply because it isn't "our" America.

Maybe it would be easier for you if you just ignored everything that reminds your mind of that universal evil—the stuff you either don't see or simply don't care about. It might make things a little less uncomfortable for you.

Let’s be real for a second. Are you truly, deeply concerned about the people dying on the streets in China every single day? Or maybe it's the situation in Lebanon—does that actually keep you up at night? Are you tossing and turning, drafting elaborate plans to provide aid however you can? If that were true, I’d expect to see you out there every day helping the homeless in your neighborhood, feeding the poor, supporting orphans, or volunteering with special needs kids. We could sit here and moralize until sunrise, but the blunt reality is that neither you nor I actually care about what happens halfway across the globe. In fact, if you really cared about the suffering right in front of your eyes, you would have already adopted three kids, taken in three rescue dogs, or opened your home to refugees and the local homeless population. It’s only natural to feel a momentary pang of sympathy when we hear news about hurricane victims in Mexico or the tragedies in Lebanon, but at the end of the day, those events are happening on the other side of the world. They aren't going to change my life, and they certainly aren't going to change yours.

The situation in Paris isn't devastating simply because it happened in a developed nation; the real tragedy lies in the motive behind the attack. We’re looking at religious extremism here. And please, don't try to justify it by pointing out that France is involved in foreign conflicts or—get this—has a history of colonization. That doesn't change the core issue. 🙏 You can't just pin everything on Americans; they didn't go around inventing historical figures like Muhammad either. It feels like modern discourse is just obsessed with hunting for scapegoats—focusing entirely on the tragic imagery of dead children in Palestine or grieving families in Syria. It’s as if people believe that because those specific tragedies happened there, only they have the standing to demand justice. It's a bit like blaming the weather for a broken window while ignoring the person who threw the rock.

I have to wonder, does a nation even exist that is 100% pure, where the citizens have never committed a single wrong? And is our plan now just to seek vengeance across the board? Look at how Americans handled things with the Mexicans—nobody is out there looking for a crusade in the name of faith. 😁

It isn't that I view Islam as an absolute evil, nor am I blind to other issues. It’s just that this topic is incredibly relevant right now, and it seems like it’ll stay that way for a long time, all because of how certain policies in America were drafted five years ago. 🙂

Alex Brown50 said:Yeah, that's just how it goes—the home herd is basically the perfect place to let out all that primal nonsense. It's kind of like how you're acting all ultra-conservative here, even though you were probably being polite and tolerant when you were hanging out with them.

I truly enjoy it when someone talks nonsense just for the sake of hearing themselves speak. Most of the time, it ends up being this incredibly foolish and misguided attempt at a point.

Why on earth should I be polite and tolerant toward someone who treats me with the exact same hostility and who is obsessed with forcing sick rules upon everyone else?

neonfalcon16 said:I have no intention of changing my position.

Just a moment ago, you claimed you were polite to ninety percent of them.

And now, suddenly, they aren't good enough for you. 🙏

Did I actually say that? No. What I actually said was:

Emily Ward3 said:Use Google.

Well, what if a student in that seventh-grade class attacks the teacher because they're an infidel?

I don't care who pulled off the attack in Lebanon; I already told you I couldn't care less about what's happening over there.

Of course I am. My dear Matthew Anderson4, in my relatively short time on this earth, I have met and worked with more Muslims than 90% of the people on this subforum, and our relationships have been perfectly fine. Why? Because none of them tried to execute me for being an unbeliever, and nobody ever walked into my house to stop me from eating pork.

Well, Islam is a problem. A major one. The world is going to hell in a handbasket, thanks to people like them, and also thanks to people like you who look at reality with your own eyes and common sense, yet still insist on making excuses and playing the humanitarian.

I don't have any desire to debate this with you anymore; I think we've both made our points clear. Honestly, when someone accuses me of the things you just laid out—bringing up camps or desperate people fleeing across dangerous seas—it just drains my energy. It's like trying to explain color to someone who refuses to open their eyes. No matter what evidence I present, you'll stick to your guns, and I'll stick to mine. We'll probably just run into each other in a few weeks to discuss the next terrorist attack, which, by the way, won't be caused by refugees.

In plain English, that means those people were decent folks—mostly Muslims on paper, much like how I identify as Catholic—and nobody was forcing their lifestyle on me. Nobody felt the sudden urge to pull a grenade in my living room just because they felt inspired. Nobody gave me grief for offering them a $10 cookie instead of some high-end pastry, and nobody trashed the couch I was sitting on. Does that clear things up?

I should probably add a quick disclaimer: that doesn't mean every Muslim I know is a saint. There have certainly been others who were the complete opposite, and I made sure to distance myself from them early on. It's also worth noting that they tend to act much bolder in a pack than they do alone; when they're in a group, it becomes a competition to see who can be the most devout.

ruggedjackal46 said:So, none of you geniuses have actually answered my question yet: Why on earth would someone backed by the deep pockets of a major terrorist organization—someone who can somehow snag ten different passports and breeze through customs into the States without breaking a sweat—spend their time trying to fix the refugee crisis that most American politicians can't even agree on handling?

Look, just think about it logically. If you have two million people arriving, at least 1% of them are bound to have bad intentions. It’s basic math. So where are all these folks who end up being dissatisfied with an America that provides mediocre free food and housing without a PlayStation waiting for them? And don't forget how much influence they'll exert over those coming in later once they settle into their new home. It all adds up to one very specific, very problematic number.

I'm not claiming every immigrant is a terrorist. I'm simply trying to explain, for months now, that there is undoubtedly a segment among them consisting of active threats or those who are destined to become them.

Matthew Anderson4 said:Who’s an Islamist? Still haven't a clue. You accused me of defending Islamists, so maybe enlighten me—who are they?

And I haven't moved away from the issue one inch. Part of the issue is shifting the blame onto millions of innocent people. There's actually a word for that: Islamophobia. Think of it like this: a few kids in a 7th-grade class act out, so you ban the whole damn class from going on the field trip. Besides the troublemakers, their parents, and their teachers, is little Susie in the third row by the window really to blame too?

Who are these "they" killing each other? Aren't millions of "them" crossing the ocean in boats just to escape that exact violence? And that attack in Lebanon was carried out by ISIS, in case you were wondering. Same ISIS that hit Paris. Are they killing each other in Paris too? Why don't you use that kind of language for Paris when it's the exact same situation? Just because Paris isn't Muslim or Arabic?

And what do you mean "all" this fanaticism? There are 1.5 billion Muslims on Earth. You think they're all killing each other? You're just an Islamophobe.

Sam Thomas3 said radical Islam is basically the only version left, and he wasn't being soft about it—he was calling it a massive, absolute disaster. Did I jump the gun assuming he hates the religion? Wasn't trying to attack him, just giving a heads-up because the world is circling the drain again. Pretty sure even he sees it.

Use Google.

Matthew Anderson4 said:Who’s an Islamist? Still haven't a clue. You accused me of defending Islamists, so maybe enlighten me—who are they?

And I haven't moved away from the issue one inch. Part of the issue is shifting the blame onto millions of innocent people. There's actually a word for that: Islamophobia. Think of it like this: a few kids in a 7th-grade class act out, so you ban the whole damn class from going on the field trip. Besides the troublemakers, their parents, and their teachers, is little Susie in the third row by the window really to blame too?

Who are these "they" killing each other? Aren't millions of "them" crossing the ocean in boats just to escape that exact violence? And that attack in Lebanon was carried out by ISIS, in case you were wondering. Same ISIS that hit Paris. Are they killing each other in Paris too? Why don't you use that kind of language for Paris when it's the exact same situation? Just because Paris isn't Muslim or Arabic?

And what do you mean "all" this fanaticism? There are 1.5 billion Muslims on Earth. You think they're all killing each other? You're just an Islamophobe.

Sam Thomas3 said radical Islam is basically the only version left, and he wasn't being soft about it—he was calling it a massive, absolute disaster. Did I jump the gun assuming he hates the religion? Wasn't trying to attack him, just giving a heads-up because the world is circling the drain again. Pretty sure even he sees it.

Well, what if a student in that seventh-grade class attacks the teacher because they're an infidel?

Matthew Anderson4 said:Who’s an Islamist? Still haven't a clue. You accused me of defending Islamists, so maybe enlighten me—who are they?

And I haven't moved away from the issue one inch. Part of the issue is shifting the blame onto millions of innocent people. There's actually a word for that: Islamophobia. Think of it like this: a few kids in a 7th-grade class act out, so you ban the whole damn class from going on the field trip. Besides the troublemakers, their parents, and their teachers, is little Susie in the third row by the window really to blame too?

Who are these "they" killing each other? Aren't millions of "them" crossing the ocean in boats just to escape that exact violence? And that attack in Lebanon was carried out by ISIS, in case you were wondering. Same ISIS that hit Paris. Are they killing each other in Paris too? Why don't you use that kind of language for Paris when it's the exact same situation? Just because Paris isn't Muslim or Arabic?

And what do you mean "all" this fanaticism? There are 1.5 billion Muslims on Earth. You think they're all killing each other? You're just an Islamophobe.

Sam Thomas3 said radical Islam is basically the only version left, and he wasn't being soft about it—he was calling it a massive, absolute disaster. Did I jump the gun assuming he hates the religion? Wasn't trying to attack him, just giving a heads-up because the world is circling the drain again. Pretty sure even he sees it.

I don't care who pulled off the attack in Lebanon; I already told you I couldn't care less about what's happening over there.

Matthew Anderson4 said:Who’s an Islamist? Still haven't a clue. You accused me of defending Islamists, so maybe enlighten me—who are they?

And I haven't moved away from the issue one inch. Part of the issue is shifting the blame onto millions of innocent people. There's actually a word for that: Islamophobia. Think of it like this: a few kids in a 7th-grade class act out, so you ban the whole damn class from going on the field trip. Besides the troublemakers, their parents, and their teachers, is little Susie in the third row by the window really to blame too?

Who are these "they" killing each other? Aren't millions of "them" crossing the ocean in boats just to escape that exact violence? And that attack in Lebanon was carried out by ISIS, in case you were wondering. Same ISIS that hit Paris. Are they killing each other in Paris too? Why don't you use that kind of language for Paris when it's the exact same situation? Just because Paris isn't Muslim or Arabic?

And what do you mean "all" this fanaticism? There are 1.5 billion Muslims on Earth. You think they're all killing each other? You're just an Islamophobe.

Sam Thomas3 said radical Islam is basically the only version left, and he wasn't being soft about it—he was calling it a massive, absolute disaster. Did I jump the gun assuming he hates the religion? Wasn't trying to attack him, just giving a heads-up because the world is circling the drain again. Pretty sure even he sees it.

Of course I am. My dear Matthew Anderson4, in my relatively short time on this earth, I have met and worked with more Muslims than 90% of the people on this subforum, and our relationships have been perfectly fine. Why? Because none of them tried to execute me for being an unbeliever, and nobody ever walked into my house to stop me from eating pork.

Matthew Anderson4 said:Who’s an Islamist? Still haven't a clue. You accused me of defending Islamists, so maybe enlighten me—who are they?

And I haven't moved away from the issue one inch. Part of the issue is shifting the blame onto millions of innocent people. There's actually a word for that: Islamophobia. Think of it like this: a few kids in a 7th-grade class act out, so you ban the whole damn class from going on the field trip. Besides the troublemakers, their parents, and their teachers, is little Susie in the third row by the window really to blame too?

Who are these "they" killing each other? Aren't millions of "them" crossing the ocean in boats just to escape that exact violence? And that attack in Lebanon was carried out by ISIS, in case you were wondering. Same ISIS that hit Paris. Are they killing each other in Paris too? Why don't you use that kind of language for Paris when it's the exact same situation? Just because Paris isn't Muslim or Arabic?

And what do you mean "all" this fanaticism? There are 1.5 billion Muslims on Earth. You think they're all killing each other? You're just an Islamophobe.

Sam Thomas3 said radical Islam is basically the only version left, and he wasn't being soft about it—he was calling it a massive, absolute disaster. Did I jump the gun assuming he hates the religion? Wasn't trying to attack him, just giving a heads-up because the world is circling the drain again. Pretty sure even he sees it.

Well, Islam is a problem. A major one. The world is going to hell in a handbasket, thanks to people like them, and also thanks to people like you who look at reality with your own eyes and common sense, yet still insist on making excuses and playing the humanitarian.

I don't have any desire to debate this with you anymore; I think we've both made our points clear. Honestly, when someone accuses me of the things you just laid out—bringing up camps or desperate people fleeing across dangerous seas—it just drains my energy. It's like trying to explain color to someone who refuses to open their eyes. No matter what evidence I present, you'll stick to your guns, and I'll stick to mine. We'll probably just run into each other in a few weeks to discuss the next terrorist attack, which, by the way, won't be caused by refugees.

No, there's just no way that's true. I mean, how could it be? Those refugees were nothing but mothers and weeping children. This whole thing feels staged; they would never actually do something like that.

Little guy wasn't wasting any time getting settled into society. A huge round of applause and a heartfelt thanks to everyone who sent him those blankets 👍

Matthew Anderson4 said:In the spirit of the freedom I enjoy as a citizen of a developed nation, I defend Islam as a choice of faith and Muslims as people. I'm not sure exactly who you mean by "Islamist," but since you used that term instead of "Muslim," I'll assume you're talking about bad people of the Muslim faith. I'm not defending them.

And Paris isn't yours either, so you're irrelevant to this debate...

And no, I wasn't planning on opening your eyes with stories about secret agencies behind this (honestly, first time I've heard that theory and it doesn't sound all that convincing). My goal was to point out that this isn't a war between the West and Islam, but between the West and evil. Evil that yesterday in Lebanon cost at least 43 lives. Evil that you call "Islam," which our developed, significant world has barely scratched compared to what it's done to Islamic countries and the Muslims living there.
The number of non-Muslims killed by Muslim terrorists is tiny compared to the number of Muslims killed. From that perspective, you could actually thank the terrorists for their work, since nobody does more than them to eradicate Muslims and Islam.
I know you don't care about context or the causes behind these events, but people need to understand them instead of just hating Islam and Muslims. Because if another war breaks out, some of us will need to speak up when Muslims start being herded into concentration camps. You get it? You realize how Americans & co. brainwashed half the world, just like Hitler did to his people?

And if I'm lying on a lawn on a nice summer day and some maniac starts shooting at me just because he can... what's the difference?
Except that the Western world didn't support and fund him for decades, didn't kill a million of his people while he was still in diapers, and he lacks the infrastructure and organization that allows the West to spend all its time hanging out with equally sick and/or evil people.

You’re just being difficult for the sake of it. You know exactly what I’m getting at here, and instead of nitpicking these irrelevant details, you should really focus on the actual issue at hand. It doesn't bother me that you're playing protector for certain people against folks like me—call us whatever you want—but what really grates is that you didn't spend a single syllable condemning yesterday's events. Instead, you immediately dug your heels in, ready to waste hours arguing about how Americans or anyone else is actually to blame. Go ahead and let the folks over in France know. And if it's even possible, give Mr. Thompson4's wife a call.

Matthew Anderson4 said:In the spirit of the freedom I enjoy as a citizen of a developed nation, I defend Islam as a choice of faith and Muslims as people. I'm not sure exactly who you mean by "Islamist," but since you used that term instead of "Muslim," I'll assume you're talking about bad people of the Muslim faith. I'm not defending them.

And Paris isn't yours either, so you're irrelevant to this debate...

And no, I wasn't planning on opening your eyes with stories about secret agencies behind this (honestly, first time I've heard that theory and it doesn't sound all that convincing). My goal was to point out that this isn't a war between the West and Islam, but between the West and evil. Evil that yesterday in Lebanon cost at least 43 lives. Evil that you call "Islam," which our developed, significant world has barely scratched compared to what it's done to Islamic countries and the Muslims living there.
The number of non-Muslims killed by Muslim terrorists is tiny compared to the number of Muslims killed. From that perspective, you could actually thank the terrorists for their work, since nobody does more than them to eradicate Muslims and Islam.
I know you don't care about context or the causes behind these events, but people need to understand them instead of just hating Islam and Muslims. Because if another war breaks out, some of us will need to speak up when Muslims start being herded into concentration camps. You get it? You realize how Americans & co. brainwashed half the world, just like Hitler did to his people?

And if I'm lying on a lawn on a nice summer day and some maniac starts shooting at me just because he can... what's the difference?
Except that the Western world didn't support and fund him for decades, didn't kill a million of his people while he was still in diapers, and he lacks the infrastructure and organization that allows the West to spend all its time hanging out with equally sick and/or evil people.

So, who is actually to blame here? Is it me, is it America, or is it those folks looking to replicate this exact same scenario over in Europe? It’s like watching a house divided against itself; they are essentially tearing each other apart because one group insists on following the Quran to the letter while the others reject it entirely. And honestly, tell me—who actually comes out on top in a conflict like that? Is it the moderates or the radicals? It’s a bit like watching six different factions of a single organization go to war with one another; why should I lose any sleep over it? All this religious fanaticism we see on the news stems from that one single book, which every person seems to interpret through their own unique lens. No one else is at fault for that.

Matthew Anderson4 said:In the spirit of the freedom I enjoy as a citizen of a developed nation, I defend Islam as a choice of faith and Muslims as people. I'm not sure exactly who you mean by "Islamist," but since you used that term instead of "Muslim," I'll assume you're talking about bad people of the Muslim faith. I'm not defending them.

And Paris isn't yours either, so you're irrelevant to this debate...

And no, I wasn't planning on opening your eyes with stories about secret agencies behind this (honestly, first time I've heard that theory and it doesn't sound all that convincing). My goal was to point out that this isn't a war between the West and Islam, but between the West and evil. Evil that yesterday in Lebanon cost at least 43 lives. Evil that you call "Islam," which our developed, significant world has barely scratched compared to what it's done to Islamic countries and the Muslims living there.
The number of non-Muslims killed by Muslim terrorists is tiny compared to the number of Muslims killed. From that perspective, you could actually thank the terrorists for their work, since nobody does more than them to eradicate Muslims and Islam.
I know you don't care about context or the causes behind these events, but people need to understand them instead of just hating Islam and Muslims. Because if another war breaks out, some of us will need to speak up when Muslims start being herded into concentration camps. You get it? You realize how Americans & co. brainwashed half the world, just like Hitler did to his people?

And if I'm lying on a lawn on a nice summer day and some maniac starts shooting at me just because he can... what's the difference?
Except that the Western world didn't support and fund him for decades, didn't kill a million of his people while he was still in diapers, and he lacks the infrastructure and organization that allows the West to spend all its time hanging out with equally sick and/or evil people.

Here comes the classic playbook. You say one thing regarding Islam after a massacre of over 140 people, and suddenly you’re labeled a bigot who wants to build concentration camps. Immediately, someone brings up Hitler; immediately, you're branded as a hater just because you don't align with the crowd. Let's skip the melodrama and the personal attacks—they really don't hold any water.

I'm genuinely curious when these camps will actually start appearing. I suppose the far-right extremists across the US are already working on it, and you, the saintly Matthew Anderson4, will surely raise your voice to stop such an injustice.

Matthew Anderson4 said:In the spirit of the freedom I enjoy as a citizen of a developed nation, I defend Islam as a choice of faith and Muslims as people. I'm not sure exactly who you mean by "Islamist," but since you used that term instead of "Muslim," I'll assume you're talking about bad people of the Muslim faith. I'm not defending them.

And Paris isn't yours either, so you're irrelevant to this debate...

And no, I wasn't planning on opening your eyes with stories about secret agencies behind this (honestly, first time I've heard that theory and it doesn't sound all that convincing). My goal was to point out that this isn't a war between the West and Islam, but between the West and evil. Evil that yesterday in Lebanon cost at least 43 lives. Evil that you call "Islam," which our developed, significant world has barely scratched compared to what it's done to Islamic countries and the Muslims living there.
The number of non-Muslims killed by Muslim terrorists is tiny compared to the number of Muslims killed. From that perspective, you could actually thank the terrorists for their work, since nobody does more than them to eradicate Muslims and Islam.
I know you don't care about context or the causes behind these events, but people need to understand them instead of just hating Islam and Muslims. Because if another war breaks out, some of us will need to speak up when Muslims start being herded into concentration camps. You get it? You realize how Americans & co. brainwashed half the world, just like Hitler did to his people?

And if I'm lying on a lawn on a nice summer day and some maniac starts shooting at me just because he can... what's the difference?
Except that the Western world didn't support and fund him for decades, didn't kill a million of his people while he was still in diapers, and he lacks the infrastructure and organization that allows the West to spend all its time hanging out with equally sick and/or evil people.

Well, that is certainly twisted, yes. Definitely. But that lunatic acted alone; this wasn't a coordinated strike hitting five locations simultaneously. Secondly, this happened once compared to 10,000 religious attacks. We deal with attacks carried out in the name of Allah every single day, and we have since the very beginning. It seems as though someone is offended by a caricature, others dare to be gay, some dare to believe in Jesus, others offend Muhammad by visiting a theater, and some simply dare to breathe.

Noah Roberts46 said:Thirty years ago? 🤣
They basically admitted they were arming ISIS, the very group that caused the chaos in France. And we’re talking about stuff that happened just a year ago. For God's sake, use some basic logic to see who actually messed this up.

It isn't hypocritical. Their media focuses on their own mess, not ours. 🙂

In their world, it matters. Personally, I couldn't care less about the slaughter in Lebanon—I'm not interested in spending my time studying decades of political shifts and hundreds of tribal divisions. Honestly, they tangled themselves up in it. It's their world and their problem. Just like how events in Paris don't affect them, even though they clearly affect me. Especially nowadays, when you can grab a round-trip flight from Chicago to Paris for a couple hundred bucks.

Sure, all of Europe is tied to France. Don't worry, nothing is going to happen to you in this backwater town; you have just as much connection to France as you do to Syria. 🙂

This isn't our problem, and it never will be. We're far too small and insignificant compared to these "global players."

Do you truly not understand me, or are you just choosing not to? I am not taking the side of Americans, nor am I defending them. I recognize that they stirred the pot and that this whole situation serves their interests—otherwise, everything would have vanished in three hours—but I don't think we need to spin every terrorist attack into a narrative of "they are oppressed, so America is to blame." That isn't grounded in reality. Their radical beliefs existed long before Americans saw a way to exploit them.

Noah Roberts46 said:Thirty years ago? 🤣
They basically admitted they were arming ISIS, the very group that caused the chaos in France. And we’re talking about stuff that happened just a year ago. For God's sake, use some basic logic to see who actually messed this up.

It isn't hypocritical. Their media focuses on their own mess, not ours. 🙂

In their world, it matters. Personally, I couldn't care less about the slaughter in Lebanon—I'm not interested in spending my time studying decades of political shifts and hundreds of tribal divisions. Honestly, they tangled themselves up in it. It's their world and their problem. Just like how events in Paris don't affect them, even though they clearly affect me. Especially nowadays, when you can grab a round-trip flight from Chicago to Paris for a couple hundred bucks.

Sure, all of Europe is tied to France. Don't worry, nothing is going to happen to you in this backwater town; you have just as much connection to France as you do to Syria. 🙂

This isn't our problem, and it never will be. We're far too small and insignificant compared to these "global players."

Sure, the whole of Europe is tied to France.

Your issue might not be mine, but I’ve got my own concerns. You can't really know which backwoods corners of the world I visit or why I’m specifically worried—and believe me, there’s a reason for it. Save those "they won't come for us" fairy tales for the politicians in D.C.

neonfalcon16 said:No. It is far too easy to just lump everything together under one single umbrella. That is a mistake.

So, what you're saying is Islam is this wonderful religion that treats men and women as equals, calls for peace without slaughtering non-believers, embraces homosexuality, and hates pedophilia? Sounds absolutely lovely; let me know where I can sign up.

Noah Roberts46 said:Why? If they hadn't meddled in that region so much, these conflicts wouldn't even be happening. It’s simple logic: those extremist groups wouldn't have formed in the first place. People aren't stupid; eventually, they realize what actually happened, and we're seeing the fallout today. More people are dying there every day because of the mess Western powers made...

Sandra Johnson58 gave you a nice answer, but I really don't intend to turn this into a debate about Americans and who did what to whom thirty years ago. If everyone held onto grudges like that based on past military actions...

Noah Roberts46 said:Honestly, all this crying over that attack in Paris strikes me as ridiculous. Things are going a thousand times worse on the ground right now because of the French and people like them, but that just doesn't make the news. Don't get me wrong—like any sane person, my heart goes out to the innocent lives lost. But there are far more horrific things happening elsewhere that nobody bothers to wail about. It’s pure, unadulterated hypocrisy.

It isn't hypocrisy. Their news outlets are obviously going to cover their own backyard rather than ours. 🙂

It matters to them. Personally, I don't lose sleep over the chaos in Lebanon; I haven't the slightest interest in studying decades of complex politics or hundreds of tribal divisions, nor do I care because they essentially tangled themselves up in it. That’s their world and their headache. Just as the events in Paris don't affect them, they certainly affect me. Especially nowadays, when you can grab a round-trip flight from New York to Paris for a couple hundred bucks.

Matthew Anderson4 said:Nobody's even asked them yet...

Not really. You didn't actually explain the difference between those two crimes. Show me the receipts.

Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya... Americans were over there—with our blessing—to deal with radical Islam? Russians too? All of it just because of radical Islam?

Why is it that every single one of you defending these Islamists always drags America into the conversation? Look, I couldn't care less about the Gulf War. Just like I don't care about Pakistan or Libya. Those wars aren't mine, and honestly, I don't see why we have to force America into the spotlight every time this topic comes up.

If you’re planning to try and "open my eyes" by claiming this is all just some organized plot by a secret agency somewhere, let me save you the trouble right now. At the end of the day, it all circles back to Islam—a religion that simply doesn't belong in a civilized society, acting as a magnet for backward fanatics. That is what interests me, not who America was fighting when I was three years old.

My apologies, I thought you understood that a crime committed during a direct military conflict isn't the same as sitting in a diner after a long work week only to have some maniac start shooting at you because his imaginary friend told him to.

Matthew Anderson4 said:Their own.

So, what's actually causing it?

Look, I just laid it out for you: there is a massive distinction between committing a crime for personal gain and committing one in the name of some deity.

It’s like comparing a common thief to a fanatic; I also pointed out the root cause—radical Islam, which is essentially the only true version of it.

Matthew Anderson4 said:Yeah, probably just the folks who've been settled in France for three decades.
Or rather, about ten people who've been there for 30 years.
Ten.

In X years, a handful of kids in Berlin with Syrian roots will pull some nonsense.

And in the meantime, from now until then, way too many people across the continent are gonna get killed by purebred Europeans.

People everywhere kill each other over this or that, but it's always for the same reason—and it's not religion, culture, or race.

In whose name? 🙂

The constant moralizing really gets under my skin, and frankly, it’s obvious what’s happening here. It is one thing when random acts of violence occur daily—that’s just the nature of life—but it is quite another when you have an organized movement that you essentially invited onto your own doorstep, fully aware of their agenda. This isn't some social experiment designed to make the average citizen turn against immigrants, nor did this happen by accident. This pattern will play out across all of America, much like what we've seen in areas where radical extremists hold significant sway. In a few years, we might even find ourselves seeing this drama unfold at Madison Square Garden; you can never tell. We have always strived to be a beautiful, liberal West.

Larry Fox5 said:The real issue is how fast they're trying to process everyone—plus, Angela sent out some seriously wrong signals with her statements. She probably realized she messed up and decided to pull a political U-turn. Having 10,000 refugees arriving every single day caused absolute chaos in Bavaria... it's no wonder things are a mess, from basic registration to actual placement.

Basically, telling everyone there was no limit on refugee status just acted like a magnet for those massive lines heading toward Europe.

By the way, to all the people mocking these poor souls—I honestly hope to God you get a taste of that experience at least once in your lives. 🙄

I get that you've been living in Germany for a long time, so maybe you've lost sight of the fact that there was a war here in America relatively recently. Because of that, we know exactly how to tell the difference between actual refugees and... well, whatever this is.

So, kids were actually charging at the police? 😲

Are we going to get a live stream from the train? It's almost 😢

Looking at this stream, I don't see any women or children. It’s just young men with smiling faces, looking as carefree as refugees. ☕

It feels just like watching Topshop.

Come on, give us the details!!!!!! Don't keep us hanging!!!!!!!!

The anticipation is killing me!!!!!

🎉

🙏

Where can we find Irina?