Comments on: The price of propaganda http://freethinker.co.uk/2007/10/20/the-price-of-propaganda/ The voice of atheism since 1881 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:46:21 +0000 hourly 1 By: SilverTiger http://freethinker.co.uk/2007/10/20/the-price-of-propaganda/comment-page-1/#comment-368 SilverTiger Sun, 21 Oct 2007 08:14:54 +0000 http://www.freethinker.co.uk/?p=251#comment-368 I disgree about this one. I think that folk like the police and social workers who deal with Muslims on a daily basis <em>do</em> need to familiarize themselves with their culture. Turning the matter the other way around, would you want to be treated by a Muslim doctor or nurse totally ignorant of your culture and your views? The answer must surely be no. Misunderstandings that can easily arise through ignorance can often be avoided by understanding. And no, "read[ing] a book on islam in their own time" doesn't do it: I have read books on Islam I wouldn't claim on that basis to understand Islam and Muslims. We read with the eyes of our own culture and need informed people to put us on the right track. To study and learn about people doesn't mean approving of their culture or, more to the point, of the abuses they they perpetrate in the name of their culture. Ignorance is not a valid way to deal with problems as has been shown by those foolish people who refuse to allow their children to receive sex education. I disgree about this one. I think that folk like the police and social workers who deal with Muslims on a daily basis do need to familiarize themselves with their culture. Turning the matter the other way around, would you want to be treated by a Muslim doctor or nurse totally ignorant of your culture and your views? The answer must surely be no. Misunderstandings that can easily arise through ignorance can often be avoided by understanding.

And no, “read[ing] a book on islam in their own time” doesn’t do it: I have read books on Islam I wouldn’t claim on that basis to understand Islam and Muslims. We read with the eyes of our own culture and need informed people to put us on the right track.

To study and learn about people doesn’t mean approving of their culture or, more to the point, of the abuses they they perpetrate in the name of their culture. Ignorance is not a valid way to deal with problems as has been shown by those foolish people who refuse to allow their children to receive sex education.

]]> By: fidothedog http://freethinker.co.uk/2007/10/20/the-price-of-propaganda/comment-page-1/#comment-362 fidothedog Sat, 20 Oct 2007 17:44:40 +0000 http://www.freethinker.co.uk/?p=251#comment-362 Shame on them, if they wish to learn about the moslem faith then read a book on islam in their own time. Shame on them, if they wish to learn about the moslem faith then read a book on islam in their own time.

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