Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Theories abound about meaning of words on killer’s arm

ALL at once, the world went searching for the meaning of “Ismail Ax”.

The two words, written in red ink on the arm of Cho Seung-hui, triggered mass speculation on the internet for clues as to what might have motivated him.

Almost as soon as the detail was reported, the blogosphere filled with theories. Bloggers speculated on a link to Islam or to literature, offered their opinions and millions read the commentaries, according to the website www.technorati.com, a search engine for searching blogs.

One popular theory - which comes from a story in the Koran about Ibrahim and his son, Ismail - picked up speed because many bloggers wondered if Cho’s actions were linked to terrorism.

Ibrahim is known as the father of the prophets. Upset that the townspeople worship idols and not Allah, he smashes all but one statue in a local temple with an axe. Ibrahim’s son is Ismail, who also became a prophet.

Two other theories come from literature, where Ismail is spelled Ishmael; Cho was studying English at Viginia Tech.

In one, tied to James Fenimore Cooper’s novel The Prairie, Ishmael Bush is known as an outcast and outlawed warrior, according to a 1969 essay written by William Goetzmann, a history professor at the University of Texas. In the novel, “Bush carries the prime symbol of evil - the spoiler’s axe,” Professor Goetzmann wrote.

Also, the narrator from Moby Dick, Ishmael, is considered an enigma who is well educated yet considers his time on a whaling ship worthy of time at Yale or Harvard.

Other theories speculate that Ismail Ax could be a reference to Cho’s nickname on a video gaming site, or that it is a misspelling of the Turkish hip-hop artist, Ismail YK.

Chicago Tribune

Comment:

I was just thinking today when a link with Islam and terrorism would emerge, seems i didn’t have to wait very long. The US has convinced the world that Islam is public enemy number 1 and Bush and Blair openly talk about the return of the Caliphate as an evil empire. Its quite funny that killers and murderers are not linked to the western way of life, but the link with Islam is always there.

Muslims know their history and the Caliphate was a beacon light for humanity for over 1000 years, while Capitalism is now being acknowledged as being the cause for the injustice and suffering which exists today

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

Yeah Cho's great grandfather was from Basra, Iraq.

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

this is so stupid

Cho was christian, it has more to do with Christianity than islam

he was raving with Christian smybols, etc...

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

Here’s a real link between Islam and the murders at VT.

According to Randy Dymond, a civil engineering professor at Virginia Tech, Mr. Shaalan was in a classroom with another student when the gunman entered and opened fire.

Mr. Shaalan was badly wounded and lay beside the other student, who was not shot but played dead, as the gunman returned two times searching for signs of life. Just as the gunman noticed the student, Mr. Shaalan made a move to distract him, at which point he was shot a second time and died. The student believed that Mr. Shaalan purposefully distracted the shooter to save him, Mr. Dymond said.

“Waleed was bright, energetic and caring,” Mr. Dymond said. "The reason we are in higher education is because there are students who are the bright light to the future. Waleed was one of them.

Waleed Shaalan was a Muslim truly. No need for outlandish theories or tenuous imaginary links to Islam here. His selfless courageous act is the mark of a believer. May God give comfort to his widow and little baby who are left behind. Inna lilahi wa ina ilayhi rajioon. From God we come and to Him is our return.

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

I told you...Before you know,it would be Islam again...What can i say,these theorists are morons.

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He was Mad, nobody is giving any of his rants any serious thought. Sometimes it is not all about Islam.

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

If I were to go kill 30-40 people tomorrow with a 'cross' on my arm, I would be labeled a psycho who is trying to blame everything on Christianity, but if I were to do the same with Islamic symbol, I'd be the Islamic Terrorist and Islam would be "dangerous" religion.

**masoom group**
**masoom group**
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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

^^ I agree with u HHL...isnt it dispicable

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

So this article lists 5 theories and I have heard a few others, including Judeo-Christian theories. **One **of these conspiracy theories links it to a story in the Quran. And now we are all going to throw ourselves a pity party. :teary1:

The title of this thread could have been “Moby Dick linked to Virginia killer Cho”, but that wouldn’t have played into our victim mentality or egocentricity.

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

Seminole and Ohioguy, while I understand where you are coming from (the victim mentality and blame displacement etc), how would you respond to the hypothetical raised up in post #7 above?

Unfortunately that is the reality of our time. Islam is considered a way of life by muslims. Therefore anything negative done by a muslim is automatically translated as Islamic teachings by media ... be it Islamic terrorists or Islamic suicide etc. If a muslim country develops a nuclear weapon, its labled Islamic bomb. People of other faiths pretty much get a free pass and things are limited to the particular individuals *nutiness *and not extrapolated to malign a faith system followed by 1 billion people (or is it 2 billion??).

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

Since when was Ismail a solely Islamic name...I know a Jewish by called Ismail...

And dint the guy speak bout Jesus Christ?...ridiculous...

Im happy to say it had nothing to do with Christinaity but i definitely agree that if he was a Muslim he wouldnt be described as some deranged troubled boy but a calculated, vengeful remorseless Islamic terrorist taking the lives of innocnets so he could meet his virgins in paradise...

Pathetic...

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Americans have grown up with Christians and Christianity. There is no enigma to what it represents. When the majority sees someone from their midsts commit crimes, they are able to diffrientiate the color, religion or creed from the act. But the first most knew of Muslims was when they were attacked on their soil for the first time for reasons they didn't understand other than the attackers used their religion as justification for killing innocents. I'm not bragging that Americans are mostly ignorant to Islam and Muslims in general. In their defense, Muslims have not been a large part of America's history until recently.

If Saudi Arabia were the super power with world influence we were talking about instead of US, how many Saudis would give a Christian a pass if they flew jets into their skyline while praising Jesus or was the first Christian country to develop a nuke? You don't think it would be referred to as the Christian bomb? People speak from their experiences or lack thereof.

Anyway, who perpetuates the ummah concept? You said it yourself, "Islam is conisdered a way of life my muslims". Muslims encourage oneness of thought. Many believe they are one. They should be under one goverment, ruled by Islam. Why wouldn't we expect that to be reflected in the way Muslims are viewed?

BTW, I think it is around 1.3 billion - who to some appear monolithically opposed to change or difference of opinion or practice lest they be cast from the fold.

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boo!!!

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His plane flew over Cairo...Islam is a religion of terror...

Why just the women?
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The people who have talked seriously about this being conneced to Islam in some way are those very far right nutjobs and muslims themselves. There are several theories, so bloggers are posting that there might be a connection to Islam or maybe Moby dick. Lets remember the sources before anyone starts feel like they are being blamed.

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

Almost every Psychotic rants about religion. They also rant about sexuality, their mothers, the people that are after them, as well as the CIA, spies in the walls, and movie actors with whom they have relationships. This kid may have been a Christian but he is clearly Mad. If a lone Muslim gunman with an extensive mental health history kills a bunch of people (like the beltway sniper), and invokes Islam in the attack, generally people are smart enough to understand that the insane can pick up on larger themes (like this kid did with columbine) and incorporate these themes in their psychosis. The Beltway sniper was Muslim, but it was brought up as an afterthought by most analysts.

If John Muhammed had extensive contacts with overseas Jihadis, the picture would change, but the public is generally aware enough that Madmen for centuries have ranted about religion. The cause of this tragedy was screwed up chemicals in a screwed up brain.

Now stop playing the victim.

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

true, but not everyne is smart. I recall reading many posts on yahoo forums back in that time that basically had zit faced, geeks in alabama giving "permission" to KKK to burn all mosques and shoot all muslims. And then there were other morons who joined in that view.

Although i do realize that it was some nameless faceless highschool dropout types that I dont have to deal with in my daily life, but such morons do exist, and in quite high numbers in the backwater states.

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

Hey, enough with the Alabama/backwater states generalizations. :mad:

What? We’re supposed to be immune to these type of stereotypical insults while placating others who feel they are being unjustly grouped together? Besides, how many of these mass murders/mosque burnings have been done by Alabama rednecks vs the rest of the country?

The DC sniper actually came through my ass-backward town and commited one of his murders.

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Re: Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

Who is playing the victim? Or is this how you address a valid point by a Muslim...simply dismissing it as playing the victim? One doesn't need contact with oversees Jihadis, a mere association to Islam would be sufficient to raise the imagery of an international terrorist.

As for far right nut jobs making the association...excuse me, but far right nut jobs run the country. That's hardly comforting.

Kidpal Position up for grabs.
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his writings say he wanted to die like Jesus Christ..

so why isn't everyone making the Christian-terrorism connection yet?