The cartoons

Mavis, it's all a distraction tactic.  And no, it hasn't been in the media in our country, that I know of.

I can't tell you "Don't waste your time with it..."  because that's a place you have to get to on your own, in your own time, for your own reasons.  But if and when you do arrive at that place, you'll realize that this is all stupid, and it's a distraction, and it's a waste of time, and who cares.   

Who cares what other people think or believe??   Let 'em believe and think what they will.  "What would a woman know" ?  Let 'em think that.   I'm female and it doesn't bother me in the least bit that there are men / religious groups who would look down on me for being "just a woman."   It's their problem, not mine.  Maybe in their next life they'll be enlightened, who knows.  In the meantime, it's not my problem.  Next.   

There's several issues that I'm picking out in regards to your post:

1.  Not yet having gotten to that place where you realize all this media stuff is a collasal waste of time and distraction tactic.  Get everybody all riled up, all fear, all the time, get everybody talking about stuff that doesn't matter, etc. and so on; 

2.  Getting riled up by other people's beliefs which are obviously vastly different from your own;

3.  Fear.  "This issue has ominous overtones. These are scary people......."  Fear's the worst thing you can give the media, trust me.  It / they aren't worth it. 

Indeed, Stuart Wilde says rise above it.  But the way we rise above it is by seeing through the illusion...not by trying to repress our negative reactions and try to look the other way while squirming around on the inside.  When you see through it, it loses its power.     

And that goes for all things, btw.  Not just the media distraction tactics.

It's amazing what happens when you just stop caring about things you can do nothing about.  !  Seriously.  We as individuals can only do so much.  We can work on ourselves.  We can help where we can in regards to our family/local community and so on.   But some stuff is beyond us.

Doc

Thanks for the reply. That's exactly what I asked for. One thing I was interested in is how the media is scaring people. I agree with the scary bit. This is what I mentioned in my post. We have had our share of these people in Sydney in the last couple of months. Last Saturday a group slashed into an Aussie group on one of our beaches. No matter how detached you feel in your life  these people are "in your face". I certainly don't believe what I read but interested if the rest of the world is watching and how they feel. I have been interviewed by the press several times and all times have had things printed that were misinterpreted. I will not succumb to a reporter any more so I know what the press can do.

Doc - you have a good outlook. I have some Muslim friends who aren't like the radicals. I agree, individuals should not be typed with the radical mobs.
Thanks Doc!