Yes I agree with Mr Rimmer, there are whole heaps of bad stuff out there that we should be arguing against.

In faith, I said the problem is Fundamentalism, be it Religious, political, cultural or social.

...But as to whether the Media is utterly responsible..  I would argue no.  Partly yes, but media is reactionary by principle.  It reacts to what is happening, to what people will buy into.  I get that fear and death and violence sell papers friend - Get the idea that people blowing themselves up is pretty scary.  I am reasonaly certain Murdoch didnt tell them to do it.

...The wonderful bearded bastards in Syria, Iran and Saudi who are pumping millions into Fundamentalist interpretations of the Koran are fighting a war - A war against Liberal change of their culture.  They send or promote Imans who are sympathetic to their cause - There are more liberal Imans in Iran than Birmingham - In Iran many Imans wish to remove the full body veil as they regard it as an obstacle to social progression, they are not unopposed in this but they exist. 

Their (the Fundamentalists) enemy wasnt the U.S -  It was globalisation of cultural exchange and political rights.  They wanted the Idiot response, they jumped for joy at Bush's attacks on Afghanistan.  It gave the movement an extremely big target to rally the disaffected against.

They went utterly fecking bug feck joyful when they went into Iraq.  Iraq!  Persia!  The holy relic of colonial re-design of the Arabic political landscape!  If George Bush had gone on Haji to Mecca and p'd on the basalt rock it couldnt have been a better incentive to jihad.

The fundamentalist movement needs us to be fearful angry and upset.  They are encouraging it.  Thats why I said dont rip veils.  Dont oppose Islam, Oppose the Fundamentalist interpretation of it.  Dont look at the Woman in a veil with fear.  Instead engage with her.  Be friends, and see how shes been taught to be scared of you and try to oppose that with friendship.  By doing that you fight the fear in the papers you read too.  Yay!  Happy Ewok dance all round!

....Simple easy.  In the same way you should oppose the White Christian Church Movement.  Or any other bullsmeg.

Being a liberal doesnt mean letting scumbags bully their communities in the name of cultural identity.

But if you really *want* to bug Me and are still trying because I didnt put the damm contact field in properly....

Thegamefinisher@yahoo.co.uk

This is all about (as usual) who's going to be on top dog. Until we recognise that they'll always be able to set us snapping at each other.

I don't think that newspapers are reactionary any more. (well certainly not all of them). A lot of papers have their own agenda, and will only publish stories that will aid that agenda (or add spin to a story for the same effect).

Take the example of MMR, pretty much every paper jumped on the "OH MY GOD IT CAUSES AUTISM" idea. Look how many stories you get that imply/support this. They're all strangely quiet about publishing any stories about research denying the link (or in the case of the Daily mail, they'll publish it, with a "look!! These people are bare faced lying to us, when will they tell us the TRUTH?")

http://www.badscience.net/?p=313

People will always base their opinions on the available facts and information. By controlling just what info people have you can get them to do pretty much anything.