Comments on: The Threat of Conversion http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/ Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:12:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Islamic Law, Etc. » Blog Archive » Mental Illness No. 2 http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/comment-page-1/#comment-633 Islamic Law, Etc. » Blog Archive » Mental Illness No. 2 Mon, 21 Aug 2006 04:02:36 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/#comment-633 [...] Austrolabe: The threat of conversion [...] [...] Austrolabe: The threat of conversion [...]

]]> By: thabet http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/comment-page-1/#comment-579 thabet Thu, 17 Aug 2006 09:27:49 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/#comment-579 Although I am not a proponent of "its the foreign policy, stupid" argument, the video of the London bombers would question whether the attack was "meaningless". Although I am not a proponent of “its the foreign policy, stupid” argument, the video of the London bombers would question whether the attack was “meaningless”.

]]> By: Amir http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/comment-page-1/#comment-572 Amir Wed, 16 Aug 2006 22:02:57 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/#comment-572 Fortunately, there haven't been enough samples of 'Western Muslim terrorists' for any real conclusions to be formed. I think, for some, it may be simply mental illness that leads people to violence or to threaten violence. I would assume that this would be the principle motivation behind those individuals that act alone, such as Richard Reid, because I suspect mentally ill people would find it difficult to mantain the social interaction and cohesiveness needed to operate a successful terrorist cell. For other people, such as the 7/7 bombers, it may be the same sort of nihilistic rage that motivates other youths to kill their school mates (as has happened in the US at various times). Brendan O'Neill wrote a <a href="http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/177/" rel="nofollow">fascinating piece</a> arguing just that in a recent issue of Spiked Online that makes worthwhile reading. Fortunately, there haven’t been enough samples of ‘Western Muslim terrorists’ for any real conclusions to be formed. I think, for some, it may be simply mental illness that leads people to violence or to threaten violence. I would assume that this would be the principle motivation behind those individuals that act alone, such as Richard Reid, because I suspect mentally ill people would find it difficult to mantain the social interaction and cohesiveness needed to operate a successful terrorist cell. For other people, such as the 7/7 bombers, it may be the same sort of nihilistic rage that motivates other youths to kill their school mates (as has happened in the US at various times). Brendan O’Neill wrote a fascinating piece arguing just that in a recent issue of Spiked Online that makes worthwhile reading.

]]> By: WeekbyWeek http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/comment-page-1/#comment-569 WeekbyWeek Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:10:19 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/#comment-569 Excellent post and commnetary. But maybe its also involves the projection of masculuniy by young males see http://weekbyweek7.blogspot.com/2006/07/islam-masculinity.html and http://weekbyweek7.blogspot.com/2006/07/islam-masculinity-part-2.html Excellent post and commnetary. But maybe its also involves the projection of masculuniy by young males see http://weekbyweek7.blogspot.co.....inity.html and http://weekbyweek7.blogspot.co.....art-2.html

]]> By: Tariq Nelson » Blog Archive » A new threat from Muslim converts? http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/comment-page-1/#comment-568 Tariq Nelson » Blog Archive » A new threat from Muslim converts? Wed, 16 Aug 2006 11:50:36 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/#comment-568 [...] There is a post over at Austrolabe about the implied threat in Australia of Muslim converts as well as a post at Planet Grenada about radical trends amongst African American converts. [...] [...] There is a post over at Austrolabe about the implied threat in Australia of Muslim converts as well as a post at Planet Grenada about radical trends amongst African American converts. [...]

]]> By: Baybers http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/comment-page-1/#comment-567 Baybers Wed, 16 Aug 2006 08:13:43 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/#comment-567 superb piece by Madeline Bunting: http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1850856,00.html superb piece by Madeline Bunting:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comm.....56,00.html

]]> By: Baybers http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/comment-page-1/#comment-565 Baybers Wed, 16 Aug 2006 05:43:46 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/#comment-565 Through personal contacts, I have managed to get a sneak peak at the draft program for " Moderate Muslim induction (MMI) 101; the 7 day path to guaranteed moderate muslims that will be run by the reference group. " From: The grand Moslem poobah, of the southern ocean, lord of heaven, light of the worlds etc... To: Howard, ruler of the infidels, and his baldrich, Andrew Robb Please find attaching the attachment re the course for deliciously moderating Moslems (ps hoe is jineettee ?) Day 1 10am: Morning spiritual moment (best with short macchiato and prayer crystal) Morning Tawheed workshop: God is one....maybe Lunch: (c/o; children of Abraham catering) hummus, pitta bread and salsa, (fruit only if it has voluntarily fallen from the tree) 3pm: mid afternoon "think happy thoughts" theatre company; street theatre at the Rodney king lecture Hall 5pm, evening spiritual moment ( tablets to be arranged ) Dinner and evening spiritual sufi whirling course (please bring lubricant and loose trousers) Late lecture; topic tonight "Ariel Sharon, the misunderstood hero of sabra and shatiila' at the Ibn warraq auditorium Through personal contacts, I have managed to get a sneak peak at the draft program for ” Moderate Muslim induction (MMI) 101; the 7 day path to guaranteed moderate muslims that will be run by the reference group.

”

From: The grand Moslem poobah, of the southern ocean, lord of heaven, light of the worlds etc…
To: Howard, ruler of the infidels, and his baldrich, Andrew Robb

Please find attaching the attachment re the course for deliciously moderating Moslems (ps hoe is jineettee ?)

Day 1
10am: Morning spiritual moment (best with short macchiato and prayer crystal)

Morning Tawheed workshop: God is one….maybe

Lunch: (c/o; children of Abraham catering) hummus, pitta bread and salsa, (fruit only if it has voluntarily fallen from the tree)

3pm: mid afternoon “think happy thoughts” theatre company; street theatre at the Rodney king lecture Hall

5pm, evening spiritual moment ( tablets to be arranged )

Dinner and evening spiritual sufi whirling course (please bring lubricant and loose trousers)

Late lecture; topic tonight “Ariel Sharon, the misunderstood hero of sabra and shatiila’ at the Ibn warraq auditorium

]]> By: lala http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/comment-page-1/#comment-555 lala Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:07:54 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/#comment-555 Accordinng to the academic orthodoxy, it is not permissable to contend that terrorists are mentally ill. Other explanations must be "constructed." I've never been in a position to conduct the research myself into the psychiatric histories of Islamist terrorists - I've only been able to go on secondary surces - but at the least, I think there is an important chicken/egg issue: just because someone had not been diagnosed with a disorder or psychopathology before committing a terrorist act, does not mean that the psychosis wasn't there. I mean, psychiatry in the Middle East? That the ex-mujahedeen from Afghanistan (USSR invasion) were not profoundly disturbed by their experiences to the extent that it warped their minds? But more to the point, is not the very act of self-destruction in the pursuit of mass murder profoundly indicative of a pathology in the first place? Thing is - and here's where I get a bit Da Vinci Code - it is absolutely not in the interests of political scientists to pathologise terrorist actions because that removes them as analysts of the situation. The situation becomes medicalisedand, no longer within the pol sci purview. And those groups whose political interests benefit from terrorist action, tho the majority themselves are too sane to blow themselves up, have no intention of delegitimising their cause by admitting that their most active reps are batshit crazy. General note: I don't agree with everything around here, but this is a fantastic blog. Accordinng to the academic orthodoxy, it is not permissable to contend that terrorists are mentally ill. Other explanations must be “constructed.” I’ve never been in a position to conduct the research myself into the psychiatric histories of Islamist terrorists – I’ve only been able to go on secondary surces – but at the least, I think there is an important chicken/egg issue: just because someone had not been diagnosed with a disorder or psychopathology before committing a terrorist act, does not mean that the psychosis wasn’t there. I mean, psychiatry in the Middle East? That the ex-mujahedeen from Afghanistan (USSR invasion) were not profoundly disturbed by their experiences to the extent that it warped their minds? But more to the point, is not the very act of self-destruction in the pursuit of mass murder profoundly indicative of a pathology in the first place?

Thing is – and here’s where I get a bit Da Vinci Code – it is absolutely not in the interests of political scientists to pathologise terrorist actions because that removes them as analysts of the situation. The situation becomes medicalisedand, no longer within the pol sci purview.

And those groups whose political interests benefit from terrorist action, tho the majority themselves are too sane to blow themselves up, have no intention of delegitimising their cause by admitting that their most active reps are batshit crazy.

General note: I don’t agree with everything around here, but this is a fantastic blog.

]]> By: Tariq Nelson http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/comment-page-1/#comment-553 Tariq Nelson Tue, 15 Aug 2006 16:43:03 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/#comment-553 Amir, If I'm not mistaken, it was reported that Richard Reid (the "shoe bomber") and Zakaryious Mousaoui both had mental problems as well Amir,

If I’m not mistaken, it was reported that Richard Reid (the “shoe bomber”) and Zakaryious Mousaoui both had mental problems as well

]]> By: Amir http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/comment-page-1/#comment-549 Amir Tue, 15 Aug 2006 14:40:47 +0000 http://austrolabe.com/2006/08/15/the-threat-of-conversion/#comment-549 Excellent point, Tariq. It's intersting but if you look at all the people who have been arrested on terror charges in Australia, a number of them were/are on medication for various psychiatric conditions. For example, see http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/11/15/1132016796593.html?from=rss and http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Melbourne-terror-suspect-seeks-bail/2006/04/13/1144521442105.html I understand that at least one other has even been hospitalised at various points in his life for psychosis. I wonder to what extent other alleged terrorists elsewhere in the world are really just mentally ill people who came into contact with a 'radical' and 'fiery' version of Islam. It certainly seems plausible. Excellent point, Tariq. It’s intersting but if you look at all the people who have been arrested on terror charges in Australia, a number of them were/are on medication for various psychiatric conditions. For example, see http://www.smh.com.au/articles.....l?from=rss and http://www.theage.com.au/news/.....42105.html I understand that at least one other has even been hospitalised at various points in his life for psychosis. I wonder to what extent other alleged terrorists elsewhere in the world are really just mentally ill people who came into contact with a ‘radical’ and ‘fiery’ version of Islam. It certainly seems plausible.

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