Islam linked to Virginnia killer Cho

Showkat —

[quote][size=18]Theories abound about meaning of words on killer's arm[/size]

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.

[url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/world/theories-abound-about-meanin… Tribune[/url][/quote]

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

Forum

Mr Honey's Day Out — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 - 23:00

Seems the guy was very confused. The links to Islam are the name Ismail on his arm - although I think on the return address of the video he made it said "Ishmael" - and talking about the oppression of his brothers. While it could be worth scrutinising, there are other leads such as the [url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1261563,00.html]film[/url] he is alleged to have copied, obvious mental health issues (he was also held in a mental health unit for a while), his [url=http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8OJPBU00&show_article=1]failure to make friends[/url] and the argument with a girl. It is not as if the terrorism thing has been the main story here, Showkat.

Condolences to the bereaved.

Showkat — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 - 23:41

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

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/waleed_sha…

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.

yashmaki — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 - 15:33

let the crazed media make their links. So if a person is linked to a muslim name the crime must have been perpetrated in the name of islam, this is pathetic. It's the first i've heard of it, the mass media doesn't seem to have picked up on it. Btw Ismail, Ishmael however you wish to pronounce is present in all three abrahamic faiths so i don't believe in this link for one minute. Islam is being used as a scapegoat to explain this tragedy. Everyone is looking for a reason but the sad reality is no amount of reasoning can explain the motive for killing so many innocent ppl. His own vid didn't really explain anything either it was very generally full of hate.

In his speech he speaks of being crucified like Jesus (as) is this to be linked with islam, or christianity or both?

I don't think there was a religious agenda. This guy had mental problems and it was bought to the attention of school authorities prior to the shootings but it seems as if nothing much was done about it. the warning signs were there.

Dave — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 - 17:40

I meant taking an obscure news clipping, spinning it and then demonstrating how it is part of a massive conspiracy against Islam.

You — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 - 17:42

When we criticise "The Media", are we a part of it?

Afterall we do have a sizeable circulation - no matter that we do not seem to have any real schedule.

Dave — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 - 17:45

They want attention because attention = money. Since it's our attention they want, yes, we play a very important role in it. It's the most self promoting industry on Earth.

Imagine if tomorrow nobody was interested in Anna Nicole Smith's kid, how much longer do you think it would dominate the headlines? But since people are vulgar and sex, glitter and lots of money tends to grab ones' attention - that's what will be on the front page.