# London Mayor Says Terrorism Is 'Part And Parcel Of Living In A Big City' **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 6, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318 "2017-06-06T22:55:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/101 "2017-06-07T17:13:38Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > For some americans of a certain political tendency, it is needed to engage in the Reality Show theatrics and run around screaming in panic while shouting about how they lead the free world “When in danger or in doubt, run around, scream and shout!” > [@BobLibDem](#): > > OMG HE’S A MUSLIM!!! THE HORROR!!! They’re practically everywhere! > [@Velocity](#): > > While ad hominem is a fallacy, Mayor Khan should have been aware that for a Muslim mayor to say, “Terrorism is part and parcel of living in a big city” was not an ideal choice of messenger to deliver that message. > That, and also the fact that there are big cities that have experienced very little, to no, terrorism, so it is not in fact part and parcel of living in a big city. Less than 2 years ago, Santo Domingo, our capital city, with nearly no Muslims, and zero history of terrorism, ever, had some homegrown loon try to start a fire in the subway with a homemade device. He only managed to seriously hurt a passenger. He got to try our spanking, shiny, brand new anti-terrorist law, going to prison for 30 yrs, the maximum possible penalty in our laws. We’re not even sure what point he was trying to make. So yeah, even in places with zero terrorism thus far, all you need is that one crazy guy. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/102 "2017-06-07T17:45:34Z")
ISIS hit Tehran today. Will the Iranian government stop Muslim immigration until they figure out what the hell is going on? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/103 "2017-06-07T18:02:07Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > While ad hominem is a fallacy, Mayor Khan should have been aware that for a Muslim mayor to say, “Terrorism is part and parcel of living in a big city” was not an ideal choice of messenger to deliver that message. > That, and also the fact that there are big cities that have experienced very little, to no, terrorism, so it is not in fact part and parcel of living in a big city. It’s a good thing he didn’t say that then. And by all means, do tell us which cities of comparable size and significance have experienced no terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/104 "2017-06-07T19:05:52Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > This is spectacularly wrong. It happens all the time. Hell, there was a [big meeting of religious scholars in Islamabad _just last week_](https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/207047-Religious-scholars-issue-unanimous-fatwa-declaring-suicide-attacks-Haram): Also, [130+ imams refuse to bury London attackers](http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/05/europe/imams-london-burial/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/105 "2017-06-07T19:11:04Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > When’s the last time you condemned right-wing violence? You didn’t condemn the patriot who stabbed a bunch of people to death on a train, did you? Why not? Why oh why won’t you right-wingers condemn the murderous violence inherent in the system? In Portland? He appears to be a crazy person, not motivated by any particular ideology. He has a weird mix of left and right wing beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/106 "2017-06-07T19:22:09Z")
Here’s the thing: _Most_ mass-murders are committed by people who are just plain crazy. And when the just plain crazy person is white and (nominally) Christian, people leave it at that. But whenever you get a just plain crazy person who happens to be (nominally) Muslim, it’s terrorism. Sure, maybe he was shouting “Allahu akbar!” or whatever during the attack, but religion was not the reason for the attack; being crazy was. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/107 "2017-06-07T19:23:29Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > No way not to earn a warning with that one, Lemur. Don’t do it again. > [@tomndebb](#): > > His statement had already been Moderated with a Warning. > If you would also like a Warning, for personal insults, continue in this manner. > > [/Moderating] Wouldn’t it be simpler just to move the thread to the pit, where it belongs? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/108 "2017-06-07T19:27:57Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > In Portland? He appears to be a crazy person, not motivated by any particular ideology. He has a weird mix of left and right wing beliefs. Wow, it turns out that the crazy right-wing patriot who stabbed people to death because he hated Muslims was crazy. Great observation. Yeah, it turns out that the people who suddenly stab, shoot, bomb, or run over people for no good reason turn out to be pretty crazy. If they’re, you know, white. Then we shake our heads in qualified regret, and shrug our shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/109 "2017-06-07T19:41:51Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > ISIS hit Tehran today. Will the Iranian government stop Muslim immigration until they figure out what the hell is going on? You laugh, but try immigrating there from Saudi Arabia as a Sunni. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/110 "2017-06-07T19:52:44Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Wow, it turns out that the crazy right-wing patriot who stabbed people to death because he hated Muslims was crazy. Great observation. > > Yeah, it turns out that the people who suddenly stab, shoot, bomb, or run over people for no good reason turn out to be pretty crazy. If they’re, you know, white. Then we shake our heads in qualified regret, and shrug our shoulders. According to some people, every white male conservative Christian who commits a violent act is a loner. But if a person who isn’t white or male or conservative or Christian commits a violent act it’s obvious that they’re a member of a vast organized conspiracy that includes everyone else in the world that shares whatever it is that distinguishes them from being a white male Christian. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/111 "2017-06-07T20:08:37Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Wow, it turns out that the crazy right-wing patriot who stabbed people to death because he hated Muslims was crazy. Great observation. > > Yeah, it turns out that the people who suddenly stab, shoot, bomb, or run over people for no good reason turn out to be pretty crazy. If they’re, you know, white. Then we shake our heads in qualified regret, and shrug our shoulders. Sigh. There is a big difference between psychopathically violent and batshit insane. Many of the worst people are markedly rational seeming with appalling beliefs. But again, his beliefs seemed to be very contradictory, and not typical of right wing extremists. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/112 "2017-06-07T20:28:53Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Wouldn’t it be simpler just to move the thread to the pit, where it belongs? The OP contains a misleading assertion in the form of a truncated quote. Has **Silver Lining** apologized or made any attempt to correct his error? Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/113 "2017-06-07T20:45:25Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > But again, his beliefs seemed to be very contradictory, and not typical of right wing extremists. No they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/114 "2017-06-07T21:21:32Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > For some americans of a certain political tendency, it is needed to engage in the Reality Show theatrics and run around screaming in panic while shouting about how they lead the free world It’s a good thing nobody outside the USA considers POTUS to be leading the free world then, eh? ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/115 "2017-06-08T00:35:24Z")
LOL. The G7 summit in Italy was funny. Within a day it was like the G6 plus Stupid. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/116 "2017-06-08T01:06:25Z")
Not that this thread had much substance to debate from its OP, but we have now gotten to the point where there is nothing but snark and cheap shots without any pretense that there is any actual debate or discussion. Off to the BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/117 "2017-06-08T03:37:55Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > From what little I know, I doubt that this British guy could (validly) have been arrested for what he did, if he’d done it in the US. But the distinctions are very fine. I dunno guy standing in the front of the capitol building reading racist ramblings through a megaphone without a permit, and refusing to stop when told to quit it by police? I bet that he could be charged with disturbing the peace if nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/118 "2017-06-08T05:46:48Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > It’s a good thing nobody outside the USA considers POTUS to be leading the free world then, eh? At this point the USA is the crazy guy on the corner yelling and waving his arms that other pedestrians can’t help but be amused by, but are giving a wide berth in case he does something violent. We all just feel sorry for his family (I do anyway). > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > I dunno guy standing in the front of the capitol building reading racist ramblings through a megaphone without a permit, and refusing to stop when told to quit it by police? I bet that he could be charged with disturbing the peace if nothing else. Actually it would be more like going to a very black neighbourhood and pouring out racist abuse. And the English guy was initially detained for breach of the peace (in effect) but then in relation to racial abuse offences AIUI. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/119 "2017-06-08T08:41:29Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > That’s what London Mayor Sadiq Khan said. He is a Muslim by the way. > > Is this an outrage or did he have to say this to keep his political base? So dickhead, twice you intentionally misrepresented statements by Sadiq Khan. Chopping up quotes to change the meaning is a favored tactic of the alt-right retards, but it’s not going to work here. Dickhead. Yes, everyone knows he is a Muslim. Why do you think your fatass, bigoted, orange Jesus attacked him in the first place? > [@Silver\_lining](#): > > The bait has been taken. Trolling in GQ? You’re not smart enough pull that off in a kindergarten. > [@astorian](#): > > I have no doubt that Khan would show genuine anger if the killers had been “right wing” skinheads, as opposed to the qualified regret Muslim attacks usually inspire. Dick. Head. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318/120 "2017-06-08T09:08:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Here’s the thing: _Most_ mass-murders are committed by people who are just plain crazy. And when the just plain crazy person is white and (nominally) Christian, people leave it at that. But whenever you get a just plain crazy person who happens to be (nominally) Muslim, it’s terrorism. Sure, maybe he was shouting “Allahu akbar!” or whatever during the attack, but religion was not the reason for the attack; being crazy was. I don’t buy this. People can be driven to mass murder by circumstance and mental instability certainly but, to get otherwise sane people to commit atrocities what you need is a strong enough ideology. Tacking on a divine inspiration is often a good idea as well. Look at Jamestown, Heaven’s gate etc. Heck, look at the amount of otherwise rational German people who bought in to the Nazi ideology and were lead into performing atrocities. Were they all mad? When they said they did what they did for the Fuhrer did we believe them? When the otherwise normal people are performing these acts and make clear statements as to why they do it, I for one am apt to believe them. Their ideology has driven them to it, their ideology takes a lot of the blame. There is no downside in accepting that. We can be clear that it is not a _mainstream_ islamic ideology but it is very clearly _an_ islamic ideology, just as the KKK is a protestant christian ideology. I know why people like you want to divorce their religion from the acts but I don’t think it is helpful in the long run. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-mayor-says-terrorism-is-part-and-parcel-of-living-in-a-big-city/788318.md?page=7)