Sorry Mike - thought I had apologised before and explained, Islam is not a race - "All male Pakistanis" is - if you got hit by my buckshot - again, I apologise - not intended for you in that respect.
When push comes to shove, there isn't a great deal of difference between Islamophobia (or any attack on any religion) and racism when it comes to the effect it has on the recipient - but surely not the place to discuss it here.
Personally I find the mixture of religion and political influence (again, whatever religion) fairly threatening - but it is the influence I find disturbing, not any particular religion.
I am struck by the similarity of the present attempts of Muslim attempts to infiltrate Birmingham schools, and similar attempts by The B.N.P., the National Front, and other extremist groups to influence children via leafleting outside schools and by having members of these organisations holding school positions.
I am also struck by the level of reaction to both.
What I would have thought we all wish to avoid is the actions of extremist groups reflecting on entire communities.
Jim Carroll