Comments for Nick Baines's Blog

Comment on Mixing it by fizgil (@Fizgil)

fizgil (@Fizgil) — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:38:43 +0000

I was very impressed with the Leicester faith representatives on BBC lunchtime news today, very much reflected the spirit of this blog. The more people who speak up like this, loudly and widely, the better.

Comment on Mixing it by chandlerozconsultants

chandlerozconsultants — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:21:59 +0000

Is it also time for Christians, Muslims and people of other Faiths to agree to defend each other from the anti-faith statements which often feed into hatreds and help give rise to hate crimes? Have we been too liberal and tolerant of those who attack religious belief, or seek to marginalise its role and influence in society? Are the media genuinely interested in the views of religious leaders, whether in the Lords or the Mosques and Churches? Do political activists and anti-racist campaigners view church leaders as anything other than a bunch of old bigots?

Comment on Woolwich by David

David — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:59:27 +0000

The ideology these murderers subscribed to seems to flow from the Muslim Brotherhood and the Wahhabi movement. The extent of such views within the worldwide Muslim community is hard to estimate. As try to understand Islam, I am concerned that Mohammed might have approved such actions as he did the murder of the Jews of Medina considering his bloodthirsty action in the Battle of Badr

Comment on Woolwich by De Benny

De Benny — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:22:11 +0000

Just one question to understand: Are the IRA and UDA not labeled “terrorist” in the UK? I ask, because at least the IRA has that label here in Germany (hardly anybody would know about the UDA I guess, but that’s another problem).

Comment on Woolwich by Tom Briscombe

Tom Briscombe — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:05:12 +0000

….This subject…..well, almost still too raw to contemplate, let alone discuss!
However, why ‘Terrorist’….In simple terms, it is a straight interpretation of what ‘they’ claimed was the reason for the action…namely, ‘a surprise attack involving the deliberate use of violence against civilians in the hope of attaining political or religious aims..’….Not quite civilian, as he was targeted as a soldier, despite civilian dress! Not entirely sure of their aims, but ‘they’ claim that this member of the armed forces was taking the lives of fellow Muslims in Afganistan…..The Term ‘Terrorist’ does seem somewhat out of context in this dreadful business, and should not in any way legitimise the actions taken by these men…perhaps, chicken-livered, gutless, lily-livered, spineless, pusillanimous criminal cowards would be more appropriate…hopefully that slightly improves the narrative……….

Comment on Woolwich by Jack Th. Dulfer

Jack Th. Dulfer — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:47:33 +0000

agreed, and well said

Comment on Woolwich by True_Belle (@True_Belle)

True_Belle (@True_Belle) — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:14:10 +0000

Is there such a thing as blood lust..these killers were predatory monsters.

Has evil overtaken goodness?

Comment on Woolwich by layanglicana

layanglicana — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:44:39 +0000

I think the accepted government definition of a terrorist is someone who uses violence in pursuit of *political* ends. From the jumbled torrent spewed out by one of the perpetrators, their aims were indeed political. They were certainly not religious. They were certainly not Islamic.

Comment on Woolwich by Mick Hough

Mick Hough — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:28:26 +0000

Nick, thanks for this. See my own reflection on a timely meeting with a man you know from your time in Croydon: http://mickhough.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/interpreting-events-in-woolwich.html

Comment on Woolwich by sally

sally — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:39:57 +0000

Thanks for the comments, it’s always helpful to have another perspective and respond with caution but my own opinion is that this is being termed a terrorist attack because it wasn’t an attack on an individual as such but an attack on a soldier as a representative of the state – a state doing something they are not happy about, therefore making the attack political? Dictionary.com defines terrorism as: “the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes”