Disclaimer: The following is basically a bunch of definitions, so if you don’t like vocab then please go away.
Um, ya. So let’s just get right to it shall we? I want to talk about the words “Islam” and “Radicalism” and “Radical Islam.” I am personally offended by the term “Radical Islam” and let me tell you why. This word that the media has coined is actually an oxymoron and doesn’t work. The actual verbatim definition/translation of what Radical Islam is and what it has come to be known or defined as are two completely separate entities.
For example:
“Radicalism” can be defined as “the opinions and behavior of people who favor extreme changes especially in government: radical political ideas and behavior.”
Islam, when literally translated simply means peace.
Did you get it?
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Sorry for that, but I just really want to be crystal clear. And since we are trying to get as basic as fundamentally possible here, I have gone to our good friend Wikipedia to seek out the most rudimentary explanation on how words come to be defined. So here it is folks:
“A definition is a statement of the meaning of a term (a word, phrase or other set of symbols). The term to be defined is the definiendum. The term may have many different senses and multiple meanings. For each meaning, a defiens is a cluster of words that defines that term (and clarifies the speaker’s intention)… A dictionary definition typically contains additional details about a word, such as an etymology and the language or languages of its origin, or obsolete meanings… [blah, blah, blah…]”
Okay, so that was extremely long winded and if you are one of the lucky few who actually got through it unscathed I congratulate you. Let us continue.
People! You can’t just smoosh some words together and completely ignore what the etymology and direct meaning of a word IS, in order to make up a new one. Some people are freaks, I get it. We want to understand and make sense of our world, but PLEASE stop putting words like “Islam” “Muslim” and “Radicalized” together to connote a sense of fear and violence. And to get to the point, the term “radical Islam,” by definition actually means “Progressive Peace.” Doesn’t that sound deadly?? Um, deadly as in good, not as in killing. No, definitely not.
Now if you will allow me, I want to get Urban Dictionary on you for a second. That’s right, the place where radical actually means *awesome * cool * rad * and *sweet* Aren’t you feeling the positive vibes? Like we are watching an episode of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Ya, peace IS awesome!
Let’s just be real for a second here. I AM A RADICAL MUSLIM. And yes, I am totally cool throwing that into the ether. Do you know why? Because I want to practice something radical that hasn’t been done in a while: PEACE. Yes, Progressive Peace. You know, like those dudes, Buddah and Ghandi and hey, what do you know? MOHAMMED IBN ABDULLAH! (صلي الله عليه وسلم) Yeah he was a radical Muslim too. He was the ultimate in peace seeking. Look it up if you don’t believe me. Read his biography. Why else would someone like Micheal Hart, a white American astrophysicist dude, put him (Muhammed) as the #1 most influential people of all time? This is BEFORE Jesus Christ and BEFORE Buddha and BEFORE 97 other people in world history. Please tell me ‘cause I really want to know.
I know that the term has been coined and now understood as such. I realize that I am a speck in this vast universe. Nobody. But I for one, would really love for a new word to be used because this one, to me, makes absolutely no sense. Can’t we just call it what it is? Sociopathy, psychopathy, lunacy. Anything! I don’t care but please stop bringing my religion into the mix because it is simply confusing people and making me a target of hate and discomfort; which is a completely other rant!
I think this would have been much better as a vlog ‘cause I could influx my voice to sound like a 1980’s sci fi narrator. Do it, just do it: RaadicAL iiiiiSLAAAAM.
theskinnyjeanrant 