United States Of Hate

I saw a rather interesting BBC Three documentary called United States Of Hate: Muslims Under Attack. This one-off one hour documentary, hosted by award-winning director and producer Steph Atkinson, was first shown on the BBC in May 2016. It examines America�s recent upsurge in Islamophobia, with Atkinson meeting Texan anti-Islam groups, law abiding American Muslims, and an extremist Muslim (just to keep the balance).

Atkinson asks how America got here, and if the fears (real and imaginary) between these groups are justified. For example, in Irving, Texas, the city�s growing Muslim community is under fire from right-wing hate groups who seek to marginalise and intimidate them. Atkinson meets two such groups � Bomb Islam and BAIR (Bureau for American Islamic Relations) � two of the most extreme anti-Muslim groups in America, both believing all Muslims are potential terrorists.

Then;

This reminded me of a famous Ricky Gervais quote, used liberally by atheists:

Just because you�re offended, doesn�t mean you�re right. � Ricky Gervais

That may be so, but should there not also be a responsibility on those trying to offend to perhaps not incite hatred purely for their own amusement or their own political ideologies?

You do not have the right to tell me to stop doing something just because it offends you. Lots of stuff all religions does offends me greatly. Tough. Offend me back. It can go no further!