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Why All The Fuss Over UK Mohammeds?
- Thread starter Sajdah
- Start date
Hijabihippie
Member
What's the big deal? That's what I think.
Sounds good to me. We have a whole lotta groundskeepers here named Jesus, & that name didn't seem to cause trouble.
Revasser
Terrible Dancer
I should say that any negative reaction is just a part of growing discomfort with Islam and Muslims in the UK and all over Europe. And the name is inextricably and justifiably associated with Islam. A lot of people there seem to be worried - whether justly or unjustly - about Muslims "taking over" or somesuch and this certainly wouldn't serve to allay any such worries.
If the most popular name had been, I don't know, Hiroshi or something I doubt the reaction would be quite as negative. Islam and Muslim culture simply has a bad rep there, it seems.
My personal opinion is that if I were someone of British Isles descent (which I am) and were a citizen of the UK (which I'm not), I would probably be a bit concerned about the news and would probably find any ideas of progressive, non-racist attitudes I had about myself challenged.
If the most popular name had been, I don't know, Hiroshi or something I doubt the reaction would be quite as negative. Islam and Muslim culture simply has a bad rep there, it seems.
My personal opinion is that if I were someone of British Isles descent (which I am) and were a citizen of the UK (which I'm not), I would probably be a bit concerned about the news and would probably find any ideas of progressive, non-racist attitudes I had about myself challenged.
dust1n
Zindīq
Brits have to be fed something by media to distract from actual domestic problems, don't they?
HonestJoe
Well-Known Member
There is a general debate about immigration in the UK and immigration of Muslims specifically. There are legitimate questions to ask but some people (and minority I feel, though not an insignificant one) seem to want extreme action taken to deal with the problem as they perceive it (heavy or complete restrictions on immigration etc.).
To support this position, some of them seek to exaggerate the situation. Some UK tabloids (notably the Daily Mail and Express) are more than happy to feed this as they can generate extreme sounding reports that draw in readers (and thus money). It is those newspapers who took these statistics and twisted them to deliberately present a false image of a Muslim take-over. The did exactly the same thing with the same statistics last year too. Unfortunately, some international media picked up on the tabloid exaggerations without providing the data behind them. For example, I've seen innocent Americans stating that most British boys were named Mohammed.
The truth is that, however you count different spellings, the figures aren't anything like as dramatic as the picture painted. Around 2% of all boys born in 2009 were named Mohammed (or variations), actually a tiny bit lower than 2008 and when you consider how common that name is among Muslims, that in itself isn't any real cause for concern.
To support this position, some of them seek to exaggerate the situation. Some UK tabloids (notably the Daily Mail and Express) are more than happy to feed this as they can generate extreme sounding reports that draw in readers (and thus money). It is those newspapers who took these statistics and twisted them to deliberately present a false image of a Muslim take-over. The did exactly the same thing with the same statistics last year too. Unfortunately, some international media picked up on the tabloid exaggerations without providing the data behind them. For example, I've seen innocent Americans stating that most British boys were named Mohammed.
The truth is that, however you count different spellings, the figures aren't anything like as dramatic as the picture painted. Around 2% of all boys born in 2009 were named Mohammed (or variations), actually a tiny bit lower than 2008 and when you consider how common that name is among Muslims, that in itself isn't any real cause for concern.
Reptillian
Hamburgler Extraordinaire
If I named my child Mohammed, I'd probably call him Moe for short. 
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
The fact that Mohammad is the most popular name suggests a significant shift in population and culture. To pretend that it's non-notable simply for the sake of some superficial sense of tolerance and multiculturalism is silly.
Muhammad? Can think of worse names. It is really not a big deal in my opinion if people decide to use it.
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
The deal isn't about the name in and of itself, obviously. The deal is with immigrants out breeding the locals, and a population shift means a culture shift. And if the foreign culture is one that's hostile toward the local culture, then that could potentially be problematic. The rights and freedoms afforded by a secular, western society could be threatened if a sizable portion of the population is hostile towards them. Respect and tolerance only work if it's a two-way street, and when it comes to religious fundamentalism, well...
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HonestJoe
Well-Known Member
I'm not saying it's entirely insignificant, I'm saying it isn't anything like as significant as some people are trying to make it out to be. It's not about multiculturalism, it's about intellectual dishonesty.
The fundamental problem is that the image being (deliberately) created is that "most babies are Muslim" when the only definitive fact here is that 2% of boys were named Mohammed in 2009 (and 2008).
This isn't the undeniable proof of a take-over of the UK by evil, western-hating Muslims. It isn't undeniable proof of anything other than babies names. It tells us absolutely nothing about the politics and opinions of the parents and certainly nothing about the politics and opinions those baby Mohammeds will develop in the next two decades.
Renji
Well-Known Member
Honestly, I don't think any big deal out of it. And I can't see anything wrong with it.
So... lets assume there is a growing "foreign Muslim culture", and that among them it is common to use the name Muhammad. So what? Can you provide evidence that this "culture" is a problem and not just normal and sane people that aren´t prone to violence? But if I am to be completely honest I do not think this "culture" exist.
kai
ragamuffin
No i think if any other non anglo saxon type name was used it would be the same response like say Alfonce or Renete, Armand , Hing po, or wan lee, or dung show ping.