Categories: uncategorized
Date: 06 August 2005 09:13:42
As the fear & reactions to fear grow, the editorial in the current Muslim News makes interesting and intelligent reading.
Their point about the role of the media: "If concern is being focused on what is taught by a handful of preachers, that need rooting out, what of the other pernicious influences that has made so many people lose their way, whether they be in popularist television programmes, the lower depths of some of the media or the neglect in the workings of the democratic systems. Is not the media in denial for its repeated promotion of one or two fiery unrepresentative individuals? Have they no responsibility in giving oxygen to terrorists, to quote former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. This is not to mean the often callous headlines written without any scruples or for vested interests. In the current climate, does not the role of the media need to be reviewed in the way they also stigmatise and criminalise the Muslim community?" is v. interesting.
And in light of the last 24 hours announcements , the following point they make, in the article, also needs to be particularly heard. "there is no military solution to terrorism. More and more oppressive laws have also proved to be counterproductive and often result in only restricting freedoms. Instead new and innovative ways must be found to tackle the threat of terrorism without criminalising any one community. Most of all, the democratic process has to be shown to work."