Quote:
Originally Posted by sworkhard
I think these people are less open for a variety of reasons including the ones you mention, but I think it's primarily a matter of focus and conflation between race and religion. In many ways the current fear of Islam manifests itself in ways that look like racism. People are scared of Muslims, and therefore discriminate against them. By and large, you can't tell a Muslim from a non-Muslim just by looking at them, so it's those that wear head scarves, turbans, particularly large and full beards, or have brown or olive skin that are targeted for harassment and abuse, even if they aren't Muslims. As a result, criticism of Islam has, in the minds of some, become a form of racism, and since it's racism, they think it needs to be called out, which often ends up derailing the conversation or ending it.
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To add to the problem, especially in Europe right now far right and racist sentiments are on a rise to the point where we people are seriously starting to fear right wing takeovers. It's a slightly paranoid fear in many cases, but not completely. Democracy essentially already ended in Hungary for example.
There's also the issue of scare campaigns directed towards the liberals. In Finland for example if you're an even slightly visible female liberal you are almost 100% quaranteed to get death threats and rape threats against you and your family. Literally every single female left winger I can think of has gotten them in some for or another. Just think what that does to the atmosphere of discussion.
I have a friend who is married to a Middle-Eastern man, but avoids being seen with him because of the amount of racist vitriol it brings upon them both. This is in Helsinki.
The problem of constant death threats and rape threats towards liberals and especially women is in my opinion one of the biggest failings of "free speech" in the west right in the last few years. It's one of the reasons why I'm extremely hesitant to criticize those people too harshly for their possible overreactions to things. "Checking my privilege" just doesn't even begin to cover the gap between us.
(I'm actually quite surprised that I've never received a death threat. One person I ran into personally did suggest that my kid should get raped so I'd understand the threat of immigration better. Closest I've come to literally digging the eyes out of someones skull. I'm not kidding, I scared him and his friends pretty good and I'm glad I did. Just some lines you don't even ####ing touch.)