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Cue the idea lightbulb!
Jun. 29th, 2006 01:24 pmAfter reading responses to the International Herald Tribune's survey on Muslims and the west, I was downright disgusted by some of the comments I'd read. Some people made very intelligent points about not lumping all Muslims together, or about the fear of groups the West can't assimilate, or how many of the problems in the Middle East and the recent troubles in France are not really about religion but about frustration over economic and social factors. And then there were dipshits saying things like "If Muslims stopped killing people in the name of their religion, 95% of the violence in the world would end. Until then, their greivances, real or imagined, will be ignored." Well, he's correct in saying that killing people is not a way to gain sympathy, but I don't think fundamentalist Muslims are responsible for almost all (or even most of) the violence in the world.
Usually when I read stuff like this I get angry and feel helpless because there's nothing I can do. But maybe there is a way I can help solve this particular problem. I'm thinking about creating an "Ask A..." Livejournal community where people of different faiths and ethnicities could go to ask questions and learn more about each other. I sort of got the idea from some threads that were posted on one of my favorite forum communities. It started with an "Ask a Christian" thread, and then someone made an "Ask a Muslim" thread, and I made an "Ask a Jew" thread. While there have been some heated debates on all these threads, there were surprisingly few incidences of flaming or personal attacks. The threads were (and some still are) very popular, and an educational experience for everyone involved.
Maybe doing something like that on Livejournal, which caters to a much larger group than that particular forum, would help reach more people. It's sort of a gamble, of course, because it could quickly degenerate into flame wars (although I intend to moderate the hell, or at least the purgatory, out of it). But you can't foster understanding, let alone peace, without accepting the inherent risk in taking the first step.
To make this community successful, though, I will need a group of people who are willing to nuture it by answering questions. I have a fair number of Jews and Christians (of different denominations) on my friends list, and at least one Muslim and one Buddhist that I can think of off the top of my head (you know who you are). But I'd like to get as many patient, open-minded people as I can, especially if they have critically studied their own religion and history.
So, are any of you willing to act in the interest of universal peace and understanding by helping me start up an "Ask A..." community and getting your friends interested too?
Usually when I read stuff like this I get angry and feel helpless because there's nothing I can do. But maybe there is a way I can help solve this particular problem. I'm thinking about creating an "Ask A..." Livejournal community where people of different faiths and ethnicities could go to ask questions and learn more about each other. I sort of got the idea from some threads that were posted on one of my favorite forum communities. It started with an "Ask a Christian" thread, and then someone made an "Ask a Muslim" thread, and I made an "Ask a Jew" thread. While there have been some heated debates on all these threads, there were surprisingly few incidences of flaming or personal attacks. The threads were (and some still are) very popular, and an educational experience for everyone involved.
Maybe doing something like that on Livejournal, which caters to a much larger group than that particular forum, would help reach more people. It's sort of a gamble, of course, because it could quickly degenerate into flame wars (although I intend to moderate the hell, or at least the purgatory, out of it). But you can't foster understanding, let alone peace, without accepting the inherent risk in taking the first step.
To make this community successful, though, I will need a group of people who are willing to nuture it by answering questions. I have a fair number of Jews and Christians (of different denominations) on my friends list, and at least one Muslim and one Buddhist that I can think of off the top of my head (you know who you are). But I'd like to get as many patient, open-minded people as I can, especially if they have critically studied their own religion and history.
So, are any of you willing to act in the interest of universal peace and understanding by helping me start up an "Ask A..." community and getting your friends interested too?
