The word "Islamist"!

[Revert2001]

While we are the oppressed, one has to explain. When we are ruling then we can force the correct definition?

In your avatar is the Newcommen engine? or is it a Spinning Jenny or the one before the Jenny, name escapes me?

The gays made a brilliant move when they coined the word "homophobe".

Which suggests that anyone who opposes their lifestyle or agenda has a mental condition and needs psychological help.

Basically one word that vilifies their opponents; yet validates their position as normal.


Look, the ideological battle field isn't the muslims vers Islam detractors. Which in reality is just a small portion of the population.

The battle is for the heart and soul of the 90% who are in the middle on the issues concerning Islam.


btw your guess(s) were wrong

[SaifnSound]

The gays made a brilliant move when they coined the word "homophobe".

Which suggests that anyone who opposes their lifestyle or agenda has a mental condition and needs psychological help.

Basically one word that vilifies their opponents; yet validates their position as normal.


Look, the ideological battle field isn't the muslims vers Islam detractors. Which in reality is just a small portion of the population.

The battle is for the heart and soul of the 90% who are in the middle on the issues concerning Islam.


btw your guess(s) were wrong

Ok, you mean like Department of Defense, when its patently a Department of War.
I undertand what you mean, one word that negates any opposition and villifies anyone who opposes a "defense", surely only those needing psychological help can oppose a "defense"
I see what you mean, 90% in the middle.
So what shall we do to win these hearts and minds, except deconstruct and explain why the words are biased? How should we enter the battle, whats the procedure?

Is the avatar the first industrial coffee maker?

[Starting_anew]

I am very glad at the high level of this discussion. I came across the psychological phenomenon of 'framing' which links in with what everyone is saying.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framing_(social_sciences)

So in our case, as people have already pointed out, by using 'islamist' as a catch-all term, many non-muslims have started to associate Muslims behaving politcally as terrorists. Why? Because terrorists are called Islamists, and politcal leaders are called islamists. Terrorist groups are called islamists, and politcal parties are called islamists. So we witnessed the rather bizarre sight of supposedly 'liberal' non-muslims wishing Shafiq to win power in Egypt because they didn't want the 'islamists' to win... and Shafiq was a protege of the former dictator..

I read a very interesting report by the WorldWide Fund for Nature (wwf) on this pheonomenon of framing and how it effects how people react to ecological issues. if you have time, please take a look:
http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/c...use_report.pdf
Now.. from our perspective, yes we definitely have to wrestle back control of our langauge. Therefore, in my own small case, whenever someone I know uses the term Islamist, i do correct them. i say, for example, 'i prefer the term Muslim'.. by voiding the use of the term islamist, it forces them to think of something else.. we have a lot of power in this case, let's utilise it. We can decide how people use our words, because we are the ones who are most motivated.

[Revert2001]

Ok, you mean like Department of Defense, when its patently a Department of War.
I undertand what you mean, one word that negates any opposition and villifies anyone who opposes a "defense", surely only those needing psychological help can oppose a "defense"
I see what you mean, 90% in the middle.
So what shall we do to win these hearts and minds, except deconstruct and explain why the words are biased? How should we enter the battle, whats the procedure?

Is the avatar the first industrial coffee maker?

Now you are getting it.

When the Bush administration came up the the totally unConstitutional laws after 9/11 and named it the "Patriot Act" was pure genius.

No American politician could vote against it without being labeled unpatriotic or even worse.

Thus, one word (actually two) controlled the discourse and basically ended any debate or discussion.


btw your guess is wrong

[SaifnSound]

The avatar is the first computer by Charles Babbage?
If not, any clues? Is it something invented in the US?

[Revert2001]

The avatar is the first computer by Charles Babbage?
If not, any clues? Is it something invented in the US?

Correct

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analytical_engine

[Abu Zakir]

A good example I heard is the Democratic Party in America when it argues in favour of abortion (which is terminating a new life) they call it Pro-Life (meaning they support the mothers choice to abort).

Revert is right, depending on the context engaging with their frame only traps us and people stop listening. In some contexts people will listen and pay attention. How can we re-frame Islam positively in these discussions? You need to be a master communicator for a start and you need to be a quick thinker who can come up with the right re-frame without hesitation. Muslims should be training people to do this...so they can speak to the mass media. Or we must produce our own internet videos.

[Revert2001]

A good example I heard is the Democratic Party in America when it argues in favour of abortion (which is terminating a new life) they call it Pro-Life (meaning they support the mothers choice to abort).

Revert is right, depending on the context engaging with their frame only traps us and people stop listening. In some contexts people will listen and pay attention. How can we re-frame Islam positively in these discussions? You need to be a master communicator for a start and you need to be a quick thinker who can come up with the right re-frame without hesitation. Muslims should be training people to do this...so they can speak to the mass media. Or we must produce our own internet videos.

You nailed it brother!!

You can't win the game if you don't know what the game is; or the rules on how to play.

We have plenty of smart people in the ummah; but they need to become media savvy.

Otherwise, we will always be reacting; and never in control.

[Peace Of Soul]

JazakAllah brothers!
Brothers, is there any authentic Muslim Media Watch website, if so may be they can introduce a section that should have a list of misleading words circulating in media. Where they can state the origin of the words, like where it first appeared (news channel, book, magazine etc) with authentic dates, names and references. And which channel uses it more often. And whenever people get to listen to such words they could report it by filling out a form by selecting date, channel name etc. from drop down menus. It could also show a counter of votes cast online against the use of such words.
I dont know if it is a good idea to show the resentment muslims feel against such discrimination?