In My View

Will the Silent Majority please stand up?

I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Writer and scholar on world religion Reza Aslan said the rise of Religious Right in America was a response to 9/11.

He also said once the Islamic fundamentalism has been brought into perspective, countries will return to centre ground.

With the tragedy of London bombs, a similar scenario could happen here.

Already, The Moral Right is gaining momentum even if UK isn't moving there, yet.

It has managed an effective media campaign and intimidated people with threats and emotional blackmail and there is a deep-seated mistrust between the religious and irreligious.

Not all religious are moral

Religion is often used as a tool. Who needs to obey the laws of man when you have God on your side?

"Worries that incitement to religious hatred bill will become another Clause 28."

No wonder people are worried about the incitement to religious hatred bill, that it will become another Clause 28, and use to stifle any intelligent discussion.

And while many agree religion and politics are becoming increasingly intertwined, the worry is that moralists are silencing moderates and liberals.

Moral politics and extreme tactics

"The Tory leadership race seems to be on who can be more right-wing."

Already, the Tory leadership race seems to be on who can be more right-wing.

After David Davis, said to be the most conservative of the lot, became a hot favourite, Liam Fox has called for churches and volunteers to regenerate social decline, starting with same-sex schools and cadet-style training for boys to discipline them.

The younger David (Cameron) from the liberal wing has called for a boosting of marriage.

What next? Calling for abortion to be outlawed? Wait, Liam Fox did that already. In 2001 election.

Hunt supporters storm the Commons

While extreme direct action like storming the Commons and exhuming the body of a family member of an animal laboratory owner have been condemned generally, they've also found supporters.

Homophobia the new racism?

An American civil rights group Southern Poverty Law Centre, in its magazine Intelligence Report, accused the religious right of contributing to homophobic crimes and compared them to the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and skinheads.

Sure, Britain and the Deep South are very different, and recent legislative changes shows where the general feeling lies.

But statistics show hate crime has increased. It may be because of rising confidence in the police, but it could also be because of rising homophobia.

Already, religious groups complain about putting homophobic crimes in a class of their own.

Don't judge a book by its cover

"Not all religious groups or moralists are fundamentalists.
.... not all liberals are defenders of rights."

Don't get me wrong. Not all religious groups or moralists are fundamentalists. I've met religious leaders who are fair and a young student who believes in spreading God's word peacefully.

In the same vein, not all liberals are defenders of rights. Remember Peter Tatchell and Outrage!, whose militant 'outing' of clergymen and extreme tactics turn people off?

And although an innocent foetus shouldn't suffer for the irresponsibility of adults, you wouldn't force a rape victim to keep her baby against her wishes.

While I get angry at a picture of Buddha in the same layout as near-naked celebrities in tabloids, it doesn't mean you can't joke about monks or clergymen.

It's not about censorship. Everyone should be free to express themselves. I also prefer the devil I know.

But they shouldn't be allowed to physically and emotionally intimidate people to get their authoritarian ways.

But where are they?

Many say this is also the view of an average Briton. But where's the noise?

All we ever hear is from the extreme. Surely the media is partly to blame but the silent majority also needs to stand up and be counted.

"The silent majority is already losing its voice by refusing to take part in the debate. "

Maybe we're coming full circle after a period of liberalism. Maybe we're over-reacting.

But this wedge will become bigger if we don't do anything about it.

The silent majority is already losing its voice by refusing to take part in the debate.

If it continues to duck the issue, it might find itself losing its rights as well.

HOME
- Why Should We Care?

THE MORAL RIGHT
- Who Are They?
- What's Their Beef?

THE DEBATES
- Religious Censorship
- Abortion
- Homosexuality

THE IMPACT
- Is Media to Blame?
- Experts and Lobbyists
- How Religious is UK?

THE VERDICT
>In My View

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