Religious or race hate crime?

[Daddy B]

Are the people behind this any better than the Muslim hotheads protesting against the Danish Muhammad cartoons?

Also, given the same thing has happened before in the US, are these people motivated by religious or racial hatred?

[Icon oclast]

Originally Posted by Daddy B

Are the people behind this any better than the Muslim hotheads protesting against the Danish Muhammad cartoons?

Also, given the same thing has happened before in the US, are these people motivated by religious or racial hatred?

No they are no better. Athiests against white Baptist rednecks. They will be caught and punished and no one will make excuses for their behavior, unlike the Muslim thugs. IMO the Danish incident is a concerted attempt to require or allow Sharia law to be enforced in Europe and elswhere. Europe is in for a bumpy ride when their politicians and media fear for their lives when they
speak their minds.

[cuervobum]

No individuals or groups have been identified in these burnings. Regardless, they are no better or worse than any other group that resorts to violence.
Criminal activity is still criminal activity. Some people seem to have no motive while others hide behind their religious/cultural/personal beliefs but it is still criminal activity.

[UGAplaya]

Originally Posted by Daddy B

Are the people behind this any better than the Muslim hotheads protesting against the Danish Muhammad cartoons?

Also, given the same thing has happened before in the US, are these people motivated by religious or racial hatred?

I'm not in support of either group but what I will say is that the people burning down the churches are trying to make a statement without directly hurting anyone, but the "Muslim" people (I don't believe they are true Muslims) are out for blood and would gladly kill a Danish person is a heartbeat.

[Mikey]

Lets see DB....Are one or two idots that are burning down churches the same as thousands of Radical Muslims?

[jwp0077]

Generally the people who burn churches are not trying to make a statement, rather they are just drunk and stupid. There was a wave of these burnings 10 years ago – here are some of the findings from a study of the “perps” –

In Church Fires, a Pattern but No Conspiracy
By William Booth
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 19, 1996

Washington Post
“”The people burning down black churches in the South are generally white, male and young, usually economically marginalized or poorly educated, frequently drunk or high on drugs, rarely affiliated with hate groups, but often deeply driven by racism, according to investigators and a review of those arrested or convicted in the burnings.
Little evidence has emerged to suggest a national or regional conspiracy, according to investigators. But they point to a climate of underlying racism that encourages the arsonists to strike at African American churches.
Noah Chandler at the Center for Democratic Renewal, a civil rights watchdog group in Atlanta, put it this way: "The conspiracy is racism itself."
At the same time, the burnings of predominantly African American churches occur against what investigators said is a backdrop of widespread arson against houses of religion of all kinds, including white churches, mosques and synagogues.
As of yesterday, there had been 37 suspicious fires at black churches in the last 18 months, including two in Mississippi late Monday night. During about the same time frame, according to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), there have been 23 suspicious fires at predominantly white churches, which far outnumber black churches. Just this week, another white church, in suburban Atlanta, was heavily damaged by fire that investigators are examining for possible arson.””

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by UGAplaya

I'm not in support of either group but what I will say is that the people burning down the churches are trying to make a statement without directly hurting anyone, but the "Muslim" people (I don't believe they are true Muslims) are out for blood and would gladly kill a Danish person is a heartbeat.

Really? The extremists have also been demonstrating hard in Denmark and they haven't killed a Danish person, even if Denmark is probably the best place to find Danes.

Even in Syria, scene of the worst excesses (two embassies burnt) they don't seem to be that interested in killing people, at least not people represented by the stricken embassies' nationality. Read this .

I think there's no difference between those burning churches and those burning embassies; at heart, they are one and the same, and their statements are idiotic - to say the least - wherever in the world you go, whatever religion is involved or whatever ethnicity you belong to.

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by Mikey

Lets see DB....Are one or two idots that are burning down churches the same as thousands of Radical Muslims?

How do you know only two idiots are involved? What's the individual damage ratio?

Besides, how would you quantify the damage?

Also, were the church arsonists provoked or deliberatly offended in any way?

The more simplistic way of comparing is by doing the maths; how many churches have these idiots burned down and how many buildings have the other idiots torched?

[roni]

Originally Posted by Daddy B

Really? The extremists have also been demonstrating hard in Denmark and they haven't killed a Danish person, even if Denmark is probably the best place to find Danes.

Even in Syria, scene of the worst excesses (two embassies burnt) they don't seem to be that interested in killing people, at least not people represented by the stricken embassies' nationality. Read this .

I think there's no difference between those burning churches and those burning embassies; at heart, they are one and the same, and their statements are idiotic - to say the least - wherever in the world you go, whatever religion is involved or whatever ethnicity you belong to.

Look, DB, those burning the churches have not yet been identified as far as I know. Without knowing who they are or what their motivation is such a statement is premature------at best. Don't try my patience

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by roni

Look, DB, those burning the churches have not yet been identified as far as I know. Without knowing who they are or what their motivation is such a statement is premature------at best. Don't try my patience

Yes, the ultimate instigation suceess; trying Roni's patience!!!

[UGAplaya]

Based on recent events, I'll take my chances with the Alabama rednecks.

[Rissask]

“”The people burning down black churches in the South are generally white, male and young, usually economically marginalized or poorly educated, frequently drunk or high on drugs, rarely affiliated with hate groups, but often deeply driven by racism, according to investigators and a review of those arrested or convicted in the burnings.

Yup, sounds like good ole boy redneck racism to me.

Edited to answer OP's question:

I would say not motivated much by religious hatred (they are likely conservative Christians themselves, aren't most skinheads and their ilk? ) but by racism.
And they are no better, no- ignorance is ignorance.

[Mindbender]

Don't forget the burning of the Black Parrot.

[krazy4playa]

Originally Posted by Daddy B

Are the people behind this any better than the Muslim hotheads protesting against the Danish Muhammad cartoons?

Also, given the same thing has happened before in the US, are these people motivated by religious or racial hatred?

My home state. Boy they do me proud.

[Icon oclast]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Yup, sounds like good ole boy redneck racism to me.

Edited to answer OP's question:

I would say not motivated much by religious hatred (they are likely conservative Christians themselves, aren't most skinheads and their ilk? ) but by racism.
And they are no better, no- ignorance is ignorance.

The only problem is that most of these churches were white churches, so it is more likely that it is either random stupidity or anti-religious sentiment. ATF is saying that the fires were started at or near the pulpit. some type of message perhaps. Just speculation. How quick you are to blame racism.