Obama: No religion responsible for terrorism

[hrmjustin]

David Jackson

WASHINGTON (RNS) President Obama said Thursday (Feb. 19) that he doesn’t use terms like Islamic extremism because doing so would promote the false idea of a Western war with Islam, which would help extremists recruit more terrorists.

“No religion is responsible for terrorism — people are responsible for violence and terrorism,” Obama told delegates at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism.

Obama also said military force alone will not defeat terrorism, and the nation must work with local communities to reduce the influence of those who advocate violent extremism.

http://www.religionnews.com/2015/02/19/obama-no-religion-responsible-terrorism/

[carolinayellowdog]

1. Rachel Maddow had a great segment on Obama vs. Islamophobia last night

It's long, and starts out with some entertaining stuff that seems irrelevant, UNTIL you get to the part about a particular lady from Houston and her recent unseemly behavior. Religion-related and thus off-limits for the video section here:

http://on.msnbc.com/1EqLQKZ

[el_bryanto]

2. Yes - this language sure has some riled up.

But it's just common sense from a political and a moral standpoint. There's nothing to be gained by demonizing all Muslims or all believers, and a lot to lose.

Bryant