So I’ve deliberately ignored this thread in the past few days as it just felt a good time too, but let’s see if I can put this across.
Rob, you asked who I mean when I talk about the people causing this - Glenda summed it up pretty well tbh, and beat me to it before I saw your reply. Essentially those who profit from people in society pointing the finger at each other rather than realising where the real con men who use hate to their own means are.
There is a mix in this thread and I like to try and stay true to myself rather than having a ‘side’ as it were. I would sum my side up as just not being a racist, and honestly, I don’t think it’s that difficult if I’m honest. There are scum bags out there of all colours, backgrounds and religions. I don’t think anyone is a scum bag BECAUSE of their religion or skin colour, and I really don’t think that view is one which requires rocket science.
This idea that a more horrific crime (which this is in Belfast btw) is some sort of ‘gotcha’ moment that proves a point is nonsense to me. We’re led to believe he tried to cut this guys eyes out… now, anyone that does that isn’t a well human being. That level of aggression and let’s call it …nastiness. That isn’t something that is just readily programmed in. Whilst we should all be able to work it out, let’s make it clear because there are a couple of actual racists on this site, the Qu’ran, nor any other holy book or text tells you to cut people’s eyes out in this manner either.
My point being, these attacks aren’t carried out because of someone’s religion, they’re carried out by really truly nasty and unwell individuals. All of these people saying certain religions cause this, seem to forget the millions of people who live in this country who DONT commit the same crime and don’t follow this behaviour.
I will agree in many ways to the idea that there has become a bit of a trait on here that we get a post about someone who follows a certain religion committing a crime, and it’s then followed up by balancing this with “this person committed a crime too” and I think in the most part this is meant to be to show that anyone is able to commit these crimes and that again it isn’t beaded on religion, colour or background, however it can at times feel like a competition even if it isn’t intended.
It comes back to my point, anyone is capable of these crimes.
I do think there are a few people here who have their beliefs, and I believe that they are set amongst some quite obvious racism. I think they don’t actually care about the individual harmed, they’re just enjoying the fact they can hold it up as evidence that apparently, proves their belief. Weirdly, if you say that you don’t think a persons religion makes them a bad person, you’re a ‘lefty’ and if you say you think there’s problems around immigration in this country you must be an automatic right winger.
Weird thing being, I think, being an island with a limited amount of public services and infrastructure we need to have a clear immigration policy and make sure it is handled well and yet, I don’t think immigrants are the source of all evil and we should send them all back to various countries and blame them for all the countries problems, so funny enough you don’t have to fit into a camp. I just believe in individuals and don’t think you’re evil because you follow a certain religion. This sound a bit “I have friends who are black” but I have friends who follow Islam, and you know what they’ve never done? Tried to murder me or cut my eyes out… so it can’t be the religion and nothing else can it?
Equally, I don’t have any friends who are sex offenders… and yet I don’t think we should deport everyone who works for the BBC either.
The worst bit is, they’re winning. You see it even in what I’m typing… there’s “lefty’s” now, and there’s “right wingers” too. There’s “us” and there’s “immigrants” there’s always an us and a them, and you know what when all this goes wherever it goes, there will be someone else too. It’ll never be enough, we could deport everyone on sight, but if we do it will be disabled people, or women, or redheads, the left handed…. There will always be someone who these agitators, the people causing this division, this hate, will want you to look at and blame, because when you do, you won’t be looking at them.
Racism isn’t something you’re born with, it is always a learnt behaviour. It’s something that doesn’t need to exist and yet sadly does. It’s beyond shameful that people are putting balaclavas on and going to people’s homes to see which colour the people living there are, that isn’t something which should still be happening in 2026, it’s people pushing fear and hatred and it’s taking us I fear to a very dark place - that doesn’t mean that this attack on this person in Belfast isn’t abhorrent, it absolutely is. Being pushed toward a racist society where we see who can live in more fear isn’t the answer though.
Genuinely hope everyone is well tonight, and I hope you also know neither your skin colour nor your religion is the problem here.