I have been thinking about why there is so much hatred especially when we all go/went to school/Univerisity with lovely Muslims or work with really nice Muslims.
I have come to the conclusion it is a mixture of fear, the "well they started it" problem and the feeling of 'one set of rules for them and one set of rules for everyone else. I don't know if anyone else agrees.
This is my stand point. [Sorry it will be long]
Fear:
What with all the terrorist attacks being a bit too close to home the first reaction is to fear it happening to us. Hint for the comments of "deport all Muslims", "can't trust any Muslim", etc.
Please note, I am not saying that is right. Just think about all the Muslims you know of and how you think they deserve to be treated. Plus looking back in history this is how Germans were treated in the UK and Japanese were treated in the US during and between the WW1 and WW2. Many were treated appaulingly out of fear. Despite the fact most were refugees escaping their own countries.
The "well they started it" problem:
If you think about some of this is like children fighting. The issue I feel and looking back on my own experiences I have never been told by any Christian, Jew, Sikh, Buddhist, or any other religeon that what I am doing is wrong. However the only time I have felt like I have been critised in what I believe or have done has been by a Muslim. And when we are crisitised about something we believe we are quick to react and defend ourselves. It is human nature.
Reminds me of a picky flatmate who just couldn't understand why we were 'picking on her' as she would complain thag way we were cooking dinner (which only the person to eat was the person cooking) was not right or we were cleaning our own bedroom wrong and we would be quick to defend. She saw this defence as us bullying her.
At the same time I have been complimented so many times by Muslim friends on an above the knee dress I was wearing or how I had my hair was, despite it being against their own faith.
So just because we feel we are being attacked we shouldn't fight back. Just like when we tell a small child not to hit the bully back.
'One Set of Rules for Us and Another Set For EveryBody Else'
Related to my last point the other thing I have noticed is people get annoyed when immigrants come to the UK and expect the country to bend over backwards to suit their needs while if anyone was to do that in an Islamic country you would be arrested. We make every effort to welcome other cultures and perhaps that is our downfall. Perhaps, we should follow Islamic countries and be stricter in keeping our own culture. Especially when certain people are trying to introduce their own laws into the land. I am fully against Sharia law being introduced. If it is not part of British law I am not following it even if I am in one of these areas.
It is more an issue of intergration issue. You have to expect British people to get angry if you start chanting "UK Police go to hell!". I say 'British people' as if you are not offended or insulted by that then I don't know how you can consider yourself British. Just also imagine that happening in an Islamic country. I think the biggest irony would be if one of those people chanting claimed benefits as then the people they are suggestion should go to hell are actually effectively paying for their living.
Not only this but I am sure people find it difficult to see Islam as an accepting and charitiable religeon as a whole when Western Europe is slowly taking in Muslim Syrian refugees while their neighbouring Islamic countries have not taken in a single one of their brothers and sisters. Instead they must cross half a continent to find refuge. Yet these are the same countries that take in literally millions of Asian nationals to work for them. Take Qatar, the native Qataris are the 3rd biggest population in their own country but total refugee intake is 0.
One Last Point:
If any Muslim is feeling victimised. I really do feel sorry for you. My only suggestion is make sure your sure have friends from many different backgrounds. Never critise (do it in your head if you like) and instead give a compliment that goes against your beliefs and I am certain that will change entirely.