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There must be a better way

Reader comment on item: Two Germans vs. Islamism
in response to reader comment: The Return of Inquisition (German Version)

Submitted by Aidan Maconachy (Canada), Jan 7, 2006 at 03:31

There are some obvious reasons why these measures might create more problems than they solve.

Subjecting people to loyalty tests, tagging them like animals are ... when you really think about it ... rather juvenile tactics. There are a lot of reasons why such tactics could turn out be counterproductive. People can lie on the tests with ease. Tagging does nothing except provide a location reference and will undoubtedly add to the feeling of the tag-wearer that he/she is being unjustly persecuted and degraded.

In both the case of testing and tagging, there is conscious segregating and targeting involved. These measures may create the impression in the minds of some Germans that Herr Rech and others mean business, but I fear such measures will generate more in the way of negative than positive outcomes in the minds of Muslims.

As we know from research of this problem, Islamic communities only have a percentage of members who could be described as radicals. Let us assume for sake of argument that this figure is 20%. When you subject such people to testing and tagging along these lines, it will generate sympathy for them on the part of more moderate Muslims. It will give them reasons to feel like martyrs. It may even result in an increase in the number of Muslim youths who are attracted to radical organizations.

A better approach I think, is to work more closely with mainstream Muslims - to generate a condition of trust and mutual-respect. A better approach is to ensure that young lads such as those in the sink estates outside Paris, aren't sitting around all day unemployed and disgruntled. In other words pro-active and positive measures to engender a sense of greater worth and inclusion. I know this can work, because many of these youths crave a sense of belonging that transcends ethnic and religious identity; a sense of belonging comes from being part of a workforce and by extension, part of a community ... part of a nation.

This approach will help to isolate those radicals who have no interest in assimilating. They will be easier to identify and monitor (should the need arise). Their gripes and hate speech will find less fertile ground in the mosques and religious centers, if the Muslims to whom they are speaking feel a sense of civic responsibility to the society in which they live.

During the N.Ireland troubles it was shown time and again that stigmatizing individuals or groups only backfired and played into the hands of the paramilitary factions. On the other hand, gaining the trust and confidence of sections of the population proved more advantageous when it came to intelligence gathering and issues relating to law and order.

To my way of thinking these testing and tagging strategies are short sighted, and likely to create a deeper sense of grievance and alienation on the part of people in the larger Muslim community. This is not the way forward, especially given the fact that there are many in these immigrant communities who are actively seeking to distance themselves from the radicals in their midst.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (137) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
4why are muslims coming to the West ? If their koran values are not ours ? [339 words]Phil GreendJul 17, 2009 22:03158965
WHY? [24 words]J KellySep 13, 2009 06:51158965
2Muslims in the west [153 words]smudgeNov 5, 2009 05:56158965
Window Dressing which lends eventual victory to the idealogues. [1337 words]Reuben HorneJan 17, 2006 04:2731774
reply [758 words]ZacJul 26, 2010 07:4331774
Protection Without a Condom [120 words]Saul MorganJan 14, 2006 09:0031601
A grand idea [107 words]Jack LassJan 12, 2006 18:0831533
A great comment [150 words]Alain Jean-MairetJan 13, 2006 03:3731533
No idea is also a grand idea [162 words]IanusJan 13, 2006 07:5631533
Gestapo comparison by Jack Lass [196 words]G.BisvasJan 16, 2006 13:2731533
1Gestapo comparison by Jack Lass [58 words]IanusJan 16, 2006 17:2431533
Ianus and his small lapse [113 words]G. BisvasJan 17, 2006 05:5331533
Ianus and his small lapse [75 words]IanusJan 17, 2006 17:4131533
"Animal Farm" and "1984" Islam-style [68 words]IanusJan 18, 2006 09:1531533
We must use any and all means to stop islam [123 words]Stephen PhillipsOct 12, 2006 20:3731533
Tolerance of Islam in the West [20 words]ShafeekJan 11, 2006 13:4231468
To G. Bisvas, Shafeek and Mary [53 words]Aidan MaconachyJan 10, 2006 10:0631386
Ijtihad in Islam to Aidan Maconachy [226 words]ShafeekJan 10, 2006 14:5031386
1A question for Shafeek [460 words]Aidan MaconachyJan 10, 2006 16:5231386
Reforming Islam or on changing a crocodile into a camel [510 words]IanusJan 10, 2006 16:5831386
To Aidan [229 words]ShafeekJan 11, 2006 13:0731386
3Not tolerance but submission. [435 words]D SinghJan 14, 2006 13:4231386
To D Singh [146 words]Dinesh PatelFeb 15, 2006 15:0131386
to D Singh: where to immigrate [87 words]Anubhav SinghApr 3, 2006 06:5531386
1two germans vs. islamism and other facts [667 words]Matthew MaloneyJan 9, 2006 09:5831333
The worst danger in the world is a bad law you cannot change [80 words]Alain Jean-MairetJan 9, 2006 09:2131331
The Dangers of Paranoia [293 words]Aidan MaconachyJan 8, 2006 02:5231260
Reply to Aidan [78 words]MaryJan 8, 2006 16:0331260
Response for Mary [772 words]Aidan MaconachyJan 9, 2006 00:0331260
one more reply to Aidan [204 words]G.BisvasJan 9, 2006 05:5131260
1Is Chris Cork, a social worker, paranoid? [263 words]G. BisvasJan 9, 2006 09:2431260
To Aidan Maconachy [263 words]ShafeekJan 10, 2006 00:3531260
Paranoia and Insanity [59 words]James HJan 7, 2006 05:1731220
Yes, I confess to paranoia and insanity. [996 words]John BastileJan 7, 2006 23:0731220
To paranoia and insanity [73 words]G.BisvasJan 8, 2006 06:5931220
Yes I am Paranoid , but for a valid reason [758 words]SiddiquiJan 9, 2006 13:5831220
The Return of Inquisition (German Version) [69 words]pikeJan 6, 2006 10:3931178
The Return of Inquisition or German Janissaries [358 words]IanusJan 6, 2006 16:1631178
There must be a better way [513 words]Aidan MaconachyJan 7, 2006 03:3131178
Graue Panther [154 words]RoncesvallesJan 7, 2006 06:2331178
Graue Panther [110 words]IanusJan 10, 2006 12:3831178
What about using a lie detector? [43 words]MichaelJan 6, 2006 10:3831177
Two Germans vs. Islamism [72 words]rachelle assoulineJan 5, 2006 13:4231115
Selling the Western civilization [300 words]IanusJan 5, 2006 17:5831115
constructive ideas [32 words]PBUHJan 5, 2006 11:0131102
أخيرا ... وضعت وزارة الداخلية الألمانية يدها [344 words]mohamed.mJan 5, 2006 06:0831082
Islamism & Islamists [153 words]JOHN MANITTAJan 5, 2006 03:2831077
Islam and Islamism, response to Manitta [188 words]A.A.Jan 6, 2006 18:0031077
"BRANDING" THE ISLAMIST [568 words]JIM RINGLANDJan 5, 2006 01:4531076
Islamists will lie to pass the test. [94 words]MaryJan 7, 2006 13:1331076
islamists ruining our freedoms. [322 words]Dale EhrgottJan 5, 2006 00:5131072
Not so quick to jumble others with hate preachers [82 words]William KinneyJan 4, 2006 23:4231071
Will World War IV begin in Germany as well? [508 words]John BastileJan 4, 2006 22:1831069
reply to john bastile [35 words]a Filipino liberalJan 7, 2006 01:3631069
Right to retaliate [156 words]John BastileJan 7, 2006 22:1731069
Do Germans know about Taqiyah? [53 words]JaladhiJan 4, 2006 21:4131068
Two Germans vs. Islamism [47 words]PhillipJan 4, 2006 21:2131067
the will to fight [110 words]carlosJan 4, 2006 19:5931064
Excellent Idea [58 words]Robert PollockJan 4, 2006 18:5531061
Islam is a political party of world domination [64 words]Al.R.O'AckbarJan 4, 2006 16:4831053
It Has Already Been Decided [502 words]Yehoshua ZellerJan 4, 2006 20:3531053
Islam and Germany [381 words]IanusJan 5, 2006 05:0431053
Ianus is right! [5 words]Jim HopkinsJan 5, 2006 17:4431053
Somebody With Real Courage, FINALLY! [93 words]Harold NeelleyJan 4, 2006 15:5531048
Countering wrong views [135 words]Frank VoslerJan 4, 2006 15:3131046
Islamist will simply lie to pass this "test" [233 words]brunoJan 4, 2006 15:1231044
Something has to be done. [92 words]Gary EvansJan 4, 2006 14:3231042
Trusting Muslims [34 words]Norm KaminskyJan 4, 2006 13:3131037
Fundamentalist Christains [124 words]michaelSep 3, 2006 12:0831037
An Idea That Will Be A Difficult Sell To Americans [182 words]Seamus MacNemiJan 4, 2006 13:1731036
Right on, the Germans have it right. [51 words]sisuJan 4, 2006 13:1231034
Reviving the ancient definition of citizenship [62 words]David W. LincolnJan 4, 2006 12:4531032
In response to your last line [43 words]William SycamoreJan 4, 2006 12:2831030
Electronic tags for extremists? Kick them out... [131 words]NazzJan 4, 2006 11:2831027
History Repeating Itself [123 words]BobFeb 3, 2006 17:5131027
No need for tags [183 words]festineJan 4, 2006 11:2331026
Muslims shouldn't be singled out by religion [207 words]sullyJan 4, 2006 09:3631022
Slowly but surely [100 words]NelsonFeb 2, 2006 08:4131022
Test young muslim kids in schools as well [281 words]Dr. Nahed HamidJan 4, 2006 02:1831014
Paranoid Ideas? [80 words]ChazJan 4, 2006 01:4531012
Germany and Muslims (Islamists and all the potential extremists) [312 words]steven lJan 3, 2006 22:5631006
People will label the tagging idea as "Hitleresque" [70 words]NooYawkahJan 3, 2006 22:5231005
Good Idea, Not likely to happen [186 words]Susan PetreaJan 3, 2006 22:4531004
UNREPORTED,in all the leading French papers [194 words]Myron ErnstJan 3, 2006 21:5731001
UNREPORTED,in all the leading French papers [198 words]IanusJan 15, 2006 18:1431001
Yet another train held hostage in France--Monday, January 16th, 2006 [85 words]myron ernstJan 16, 2006 14:5031001
Yet another train held hostage in France--Monday, January 16th, 2006 [202 words]IanusJan 16, 2006 16:4731001
Inconsequential [18 words]Lee D. CaryJan 3, 2006 21:4131000
Useless Waste of Time -- other than to give Islamists yet another plea [260 words]J.S.Jan 4, 2006 15:1531000
OK to Lie? [187 words]Reality CheckJan 3, 2006 20:4230996
On Wikipedia-List of Islamic terms [147 words]PigfootJan 4, 2006 13:4430996
2How an Arab Muslim propagandist (Nableezy) has contributed to anti-Israel bias on Wikipedia. [92 words]El CairoAug 10, 2020 19:2630996
How an Arab Muslim propagandist has contributed to hate on Wikipedia (for years) [225 words]El CairoAug 11, 2020 22:5930996
The futility of questionaires [125 words]E. J. BlumbergJan 3, 2006 19:5330994
THANKS [113 words]HNJan 31, 2007 12:2230994
Feel-good measures, nothing more. [197 words]PatJan 3, 2006 19:2130993
English Translation of 30 Q Loyalty Test [12 words]Steven TarbayJan 3, 2006 18:2530992
English Translation of 30 Q Loyalty Test [2918 words]IanusJan 4, 2006 12:1430992
The final question? [34 words]robert finkJan 3, 2006 18:1330991
Two Germans against Islamism [31 words]Donald W. BalesJan 3, 2006 18:0930989
Europe – Thy Name is Cowardice [156 words]Behrouz AzarniaJan 3, 2006 16:5930987
1Sebastian Villar Rodriguez [58 words]meir abelsonFeb 13, 2006 07:0930987
5Reply to:Meir Abelson - Sebastian Villar Rodriguez [266 words]Behrouz AzarniaFeb 16, 2006 12:0630987
Typographical mistake [6 words]Zohar Ben-DavidFeb 18, 2006 04:4730987
Original reference to Sebastián Rodríguez [17 words]ZWMar 13, 2006 16:5730987
1Article by Sebastian Villar Rodriguez [254 words]MaralynJun 26, 2007 00:0330987
perhaps... [26 words]Andrzej LozowskiSep 13, 2009 12:3930987
What REALLY matters? [153 words]FaithJan 8, 2010 16:0330987
Nonsense [104 words]Luiz R. Couto-PereiraNov 18, 2011 18:4130987
Only going to worsen [136 words]StasNov 9, 2012 01:4630987
A Great Dilemma [149 words]Ken CassellJan 3, 2006 15:4730984
2'Schein und Sein' or Is Germany really willing to combat Islamism? [1426 words]IanusJan 3, 2006 15:0930980
What has happened to the media [144 words]Shehla ShukoorJan 20, 2006 15:5130980
What has happened to the media [30 words]IanusJan 28, 2006 12:3230980
To Shehla Shukoor [49 words]Dinesh PatelFeb 27, 2006 13:3730980
Have you ever really been informed about Islam reality? [945 words]SaschaMar 30, 2006 02:0730980
Cave Tagem! [206 words]ddsJan 3, 2006 13:4130978
"cultural" issues vs "religion" issues and the apologists [153 words]PigfootJan 3, 2006 13:3530977
What We Are Actually Dealing With [160 words]Saemus MacNemiJan 5, 2006 14:0530977
Fighting yesteryear's war [174 words]John W. McGinleyJan 3, 2006 13:3030976
Electronic Tagging of Islamists - The Scarlet Letter [235 words]Sophia GatesJan 3, 2006 13:2530975
we can't! [73 words]noraJan 3, 2006 13:2030974
Terrible Idea [103 words]RachelJan 3, 2006 13:0630972
Creativity and courage? [335 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Timothy HallsJan 3, 2006 12:4830971
Why not in America? [56 words]Steve KleinJan 3, 2006 12:0030969
Thanks Dr. Pipes; you are on the right track [84 words]Carmen WaggonerJan 3, 2006 11:0730968
I have a vision in America [931 words]henri bollJan 3, 2006 10:1530964
Radical Islamists? [91 words]AlynJan 3, 2006 20:4330964
Loyalty test is not feasible. It's about recognition. [525 words]John BastileJan 3, 2006 22:0130964
Loyalty test is worthless, John Bastile said it all [291 words]N.KhanJan 4, 2006 13:3330964
Solving Islamism problem [114 words]A.A.Jan 4, 2006 13:5530964
Muslim immigrants and islamism [230 words]S.A.Jan 4, 2006 14:2930964
Loyalty Test [200 words]faqi hussainJan 4, 2006 17:3130964
Good idea [88 words]italianJan 4, 2006 17:4330964
wake up,before its to late.TO NON MUSLIMS. [211 words]surjiJan 8, 2006 19:5330964
its too late [64 words]don eastlakeSep 24, 2006 11:1030964
Not Over My Dead Body, Don, It Is Not Too Late! [212 words]JennyNov 5, 2006 09:0230964

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