Islam in America

[sumbrownkid]

I'm Muslim, and I just want to see my fellow GTP members thoughts and opinions on the subject.

Don't be afraid to post something contentious, I will not get angry.

But please, don't post something derogatory just to insult anyone and their respective religions or ideals.

 

[Keef]

The majority of people I work with (middle-aged and older blue-collar males without college educations) and many of my family members (again without any learning beyond high school 35+ years ago) are quite ignorant, intolerant, and sometimes downright hateful toward Muslims when in private. They're closet haters who think everyone from the Middle East is either an unimaginably rich oil baron or an extremist suicide bomber.

Thankfully I realized long ago that viewpoints like that are absolutely ridiculous. Unfortunately, I find it difficult to take advice on various subjects from anyone in my family, even my parents, without being skeptical and doing my own research. Luckily I've found plenty of very intelligent and thoughtful people on this forum to fill in the gaps and make me think about the way I think.

 

[sumbrownkid]

The majority of people I work with (middle-aged and older blue-collar males without college educations) and many of my family members (again without any learning beyond high school 35+ years ago) are quite ignorant, intolerant, and sometimes downright hateful toward Muslims when in private. They're closet haters who think everyone from the Middle East is either an unimaginably rich oil baron or an extremist suicide bomber.

Thankfully I realized long ago that viewpoints like that are absolutely ridiculous. Unfortunately, I find it difficult to take advice on various subjects from anyone in my family, even my parents, without being skeptical and doing my own research. Luckily I've found plenty of very intelligent and thoughtful people on this forum to fill in the gaps and make me think about the way I think.

Unfortunately many people are closet haters. I won't respect a hateful person until they come out with it in public. If you're going to hide it, then why even hate?

And wow, I really didn't know GTP can be that influential. Then again, GTP is the best website on Earth...period...👍

A lot of anti-Islamic sentiment stems from, in my point of view as a Muslim, from the combination of media outlets in America, as well as the general lack mainstream American Muslim voice of opposition to both radical Islamists and at those very people in America who claim Islam is this that.

I could easily lay all the blame with the media outlets, by saying that mainstream Muslims are not being heard conveniently, but I won't. It's too convenient of me to do so, and actually unfair of me to do so.

 

[zedextreme8177]

I'm a 15 year-old Muslim (Salaam Aleikoum) although I live in South Asia.

I feel that there are only a few fundamental reasons for the friction we see in America:
- Western Media: instead of focusing on Muslims who condemn terrorism, the radical segment gets all the attention. This is excarberated by the fact that only around 55% of Americans have a passport, hence the media becomes the main source of knowing the world.
- Assimilation: Some Muslim immigrants in America don't want to integrate into the American way of life. I always wonder why people immigrate when they cannot learn how to accept other cultures.
- Stereotyping: As Keef has stated above, stereotypes run both ways, and they are never helpful. A typical Muslim is a fanatic who wears bomb suits, and the typical American is an obese low IQ idiot who spends the whole day watching NFL
- Lack of knowledge: Without knowing the history of each other, there is no way of accurately knowing what the other group of people are like.

Especially following 9/11, and issues such as the Cordoba House construction, mutual respect is needed. Terry Jones burning the Qur'an doesn't help at all

 

[wfooshee]

I'm ignorant enough of the subject to not know whether the doctrine of intolerance used by jihadists is a major part of the religion, or a convenient verse packed away somewhere that's outdated by later teaching.

If "Kill them all!!!" is actually something they adhere to, then I'll have to be a hater.

That said, I've worked with some muslims as customers, and have no complaints about their behavior or attitude toward my infidel self.

I'm reminded of a West Wing episode that aired shortly after 9-11, where a question was put to a high school group on a tour of the White House by the staff: Taliban is to Islam as blank is to Christianity. In the episode, none of the kids answered it, and the staffer had to give them Ku Klux Klan.

The point is: I would not want someone judging me and my faith or philosophy based only on their familiarity with the Klan.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I'm a 15 year-old Muslim (Salaam Aleikoum) although I live in South Asia.

There are lots of fundamental reasons for the friction we see in America:
- Western Media: instead of focusing on Muslims who condemn terrorism, the radical segment gets all the attention. This is excarberated by the fact that only around 55% of Americans have a passport, hence the media becomes the main source of knowing the world.
- Assimilation: Some Muslim immigrants in America don't want to integrate into the American way of life. I always wonder why people immigrate when they cannot learn how to accept other cultures.
- Stereotyping: As Keef has stated above, stereotypes run both ways, and they are never helpful.
- Lack of knowledge: Without knowing the history of each other, there is no way of accurately knowing what the other group of people are like.
-

Walaium Salaam bro.

I have seen some Muslims here reject assimilation here first hand. My uncle moved here from Saudi Arabia, and is really strict with his interpretation of Islam. He yelled at me once because I was wearing shorts and that I was becoming too American. I argued back calmly that where in the Quran does it state that becoming whatever ethnicity makes me less of a Muslim? If anything you telling me that makes you less of a Muslim than me. But all that is left to Allah.

A lot of us also have this holier-than-thou attitude as of late, and frankly it gets me annoyed.

Stereotypes get passed around about Americans in my family from time to time, but we all accepted that we became American (except my uncle but he's a different story) and learned to laugh it off. Muslims need to learn to laugh some things off, or just ignore it.

Remember those Prophet Muhammad cartoons that Danish newspaper printed? If Muslims just ignored that cartoon, that cartoon would have lost all of its power to hurt us. Instead, all the violence that occurred and threats of violence only reinforced the stereotypes of Islam.

Lack of education on both sides is really one of the biggest reasons why there is misunderstandings and hate between the West and the Muslim world. I'm glad that you brought this up.👍

In my high school geography class, no one was able to figure out where Iraq or Afghanistan was, the two countries we are at war with. I had to answer the question, and told everyone this is one of the reasons why the world hates us.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I'm ignorant enough of the subject to not know whether the doctrine of intolerance used by jihadists is a major part of the religion, or a convenient verse packed away somewhere that's outdated by later teaching.

If "Kill them all!!!" is actually something they adhere to, then I'll have to be a hater.

That said, I've worked with some muslims as customers, and have no complaints about their behavior or attitude toward my infidel self.

I'm reminded of a West Wing episode that aired shortly after 9-11, where a question was put to a high school group on a tour of the White House by the staff: Taliban is to Islam as blank is to Christianity. In the episode, none of the kids answered it, and the staffer had to give them Ku Klux Klan.

The point is: I would not want someone judging me and my faith or philosophy based only on their familiarity with the Klan.

Don't worry man, "kill 'em all" ain't our business slogan...it's more of get that oil money! Just kidding.

I wouldn't want to be judged based on familiarity to the Klan either, just like how I wouldn't want to be judged based on familiarity to the Taliban or their Al-Qaeda butt buddies.

 

[Duke]

For the profession in which I work (architecture/engineering), in 99% of the cases being Muslim or Christian or Hindu or whatever is not an issue that has much bearing. I have found engineers from certain countries to behave in broadly stereotypical ways, mostly unrelated to their religious status. But only broadly, and there are always exceptions. Stereotypes, of course, cut both ways.

On actual construction sites, where you tend to meet a large number of lesser-educated American laborers in addition to the professionals, I see more bigotry and misunderstanding. But even among the roughest types I've ever been among, I have never seen any actual confrontation of any type.

I used to work in a large company whose local office, for whatever reason, had a large number of conservative Christians in addition to Hindi and Muslims. There was zero animosity on a religious basis, though some of the Christians were politely but enthusiastically evangelical. In fact, one of the more overtly Christian engineers lobbied to be assigned to a position in Afghanistan for a year just so he could preach the Gospel to the heathens in his spare time.

I have to say, in my day-to-day adult life, I encounter very little actual friction from Muslims here, and somewhat more from conservative Christians (though that is directed much more at perceived atheistic immorality rather than towards believers who happen to worship a different god).

 

[sanmusa]

I am a US Army soldier and I have had plenty of Muslim friends in the Army, including a good friend of mine who was Turkish and hated with a passion all the crazy guys who give your religion a bad name. I have no problems with Muslims in America, as long as they respect American culture. Respect and you shall be respected, that's what I say.

 

[sumbrownkid]

For the profession in which I work (architecture/engineering), in 99% of the cases being Muslim or Christian or Hindu or whatever is not an issue that has much bearing. I have found engineers from certain countries to behave in broadly stereotypical ways, mostly unrelated to their religious status. But only broadly, and there are always exceptions. Stereotypes, of course, cut both ways.

On actual construction sites, where you tend to meet a large number of lesser-educated laborers in addition to the professionals, I see more bigotry and misunderstanding. But even among the roughest types I've ever been among, I have never seen any actual confrontation of any type.

I used to work in a large company whose local office, for whatever reason, had a large number of conservative Christians in addition to Hindi and Muslims. There was zero animosity on a religious basis, though some of the Christians were politely but enthusiastically evangelical. In fact, one of the more overtly Christian engineers lobbied to be assigned to a position in Afghanistan for a year just so he could preach the Gospel to the heathens in his spare time.

I have to say, in my day-to-day adult life, I encounter very little actual friction from Muslims here, and somewhat more from conservative Christians (though that is directed much more at perceived atheistic immorality rather than towards believers who happen to worship a different god).

Evangelical Christians usually have a bone to pick with atheist rather than a person who practices a different religion. I have no idea why it's like that

In my school, I feel no perceived anti-Islamic sentiment, and really no anti-anything sentiment at all other than the complaints against the usual tuition and fees increases.

I guess it depends on where you are. If you're in a metropolitan area, you're less likely to encounter hate of any kind than in the rural areas. Then again, people in the rural areas tend to be more honest about how they feel.

 

[Joel]

Well, I'm going to be frank here and say that I really don't know much abour Islam at all. I've done a slight bit of research, but overall I know very little about the religion. I'm taking a world religions class at school, but it's a (publicly funded) Catholic school, so I have to take everything with a grain of salt (for example, the teacher said the only reason gay marriage is legal in Canada is because the politicians want more votes).

I don't have any sort of bad opinion of Muslims, because from the little bit I've read, there's really nothing in common with the extremists like Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, just like what wfooshee said about Christianity and the Klu Klux Klan.


EDIT: Also, I'll agree that I get a hard time from some fundamentalist Christians more than I do Muslims. They think that because I'm an atheist that I'm going to go blow up a children's hospital.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I am a US Army soldier and I have had plenty of Muslim friends in the Army, including a good friend of mine who was Turkish and hated with a passion all the crazy guys who give your religion a bad name. I have no problems with Muslims in America, as long as they respect American culture. Respect and you shall be respected, that's what I say.

This should become universal law.

And since you're in the army, I always wanted to know the truth behind the matter that Muslim soldiers get harassed, and in general treated like second fiddles at best. I once thought about joining the military, but my mom said no because they will not look after you if you are Muslim, and will think they will betray them. I was taken aback when she said that because how is it fair that I enjoy all the rights the military protects for us, but yet I can't participate in helping the military achieve that? That also didn't sound Islamic to me.

 

[BigYoSpeck]

Does our not being Muslim bother you? Because if it doesn't I see no reason why your being should bother us.

I only have issue with those who pass judgement or take action against other people. People can go to a place of worship all they like for all I care it doesn't matter if as a secular person I don't agree with it, but anything done in the name of that which has a negative effect on others, ranging from protesting outside a clinic to flying a plane into a building is no better than those who commit immoral acts because of the lack of an almighty father figure keeping them on the straight and narrow.

As far as the Muslim faith I've only ever encountered problems with it on one occasion that couldn't just be put down to the people/person being a regular idiot regardless of faith. An old girlfriend of mine when in halls of residence left a note for the 3 Algerian girls on her hall that it was unacceptable to leave the kitchen in the state they did every night after cooking and their response was to leave a note back for her saying 'fatwa' and calling her a whore.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Well, I'm going to be frank here and say that I really don't know much abour Islam at all. I've done a slight bit of research, but overall I know very little about the religion. I'm taking a world religions class at school, but it's a (publicly funded) Catholic school, so I have to take everything with a grain of salt (for example, the teacher said the only reason gay marriage is legal in Canada is because the politicians want more votes).

I don't have any sort of bad opinion of Muslims, because from the little bit I've read, there's really nothing in common with the extremists like Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, just like what wfooshee said about Christianity and the Klu Klux Klan.


EDIT: Also, I'll agree that I get a hard time from some fundamentalist Christians more than I do Muslims. They think that because I'm an atheist that I'm going to go blow up a children's hospital.

To be honest with you, I don't have much knowledge about Islam too. The Quran is written in old Arabic, and in such a dialect that it is even hard for a fluent Arabic speaker to get the full sense of what the Quran is saying. Quranic Arabic is by far the hardest language I had to learn, and still learning by the way.

 

[zedextreme8177]

Nothing's more annoying than being called a non-Muslim by the local Salafi/Wahhabis. Thankfully there are none in my family, although I'm worried that they could take over our country anytime

I also believe that the term Jihadi is also innacurate. There's a much deeper meaning to it, although the misnomer has become picked up as a substitute word for terrorism

Paranoia is another thing. For example; we suggest Jordan to put up an Eid Mubarak greeting (Similar to the Merry Christmas ones), some people will immediately rush out claiming that we are "Islamising" the whole world

I lived in Scotland for 3 years starting in 2000, we took part in nearly every custom they had. Invite them to ours. Since the school went to church on each Friday, I was allowed to come to school after they were done. Even after 9/11 happened, our family didn't get discriminated, because we had proven that we could assimilate, and that we despise terrorism

 

[sumbrownkid]

Does our not being Muslim bother you? Because if it doesn't I see no reason why your being should bother us.

I only have issue with those who pass judgement or take action against other people. People can go to a place of worship all they like for all I care it doesn't matter if as a secular person I don't agree with it, but anything done in the name of that which has a negative effect on others, ranging from protesting outside a clinic to flying a plane into a building is no better than those who commit immoral acts because of the lack of an almighty father figure keeping them on the straight and narrow.

As far as the Muslim faith I've only ever encountered problems with it on one occasion that couldn't just be put down to the people/person being a regular idiot regardless of faith. An old girlfriend of mine when in halls of residence left a note for the 3 Algerian girls on her hall that it was unacceptable to leave the kitchen in the state they did every night after cooking and their response was to leave a note back for her saying 'fatwa' and calling her a whore.

Can you rephrase that, I kinda don't understand it.

Those Algerian girls must not be the brightest on her floor.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Nothing's more annoying than being called a non-Muslim by the local Salafi/Wahhabis. Thankfully there are none in my family, although I'm worried that they could take over our country anytime

I also believe that the term Jihadi is also innacurate. There's a much deeper meaning to it, although the misnomer has become picked up as a substitute word for terrorism

Paranoia is another thing. For example; we suggest Jordan to put up an Eid Mubarak greeting (Similar to the Merry Christmas ones), some people will immediately rush out claiming that we are "Islamising" the whole world

I lived in Scotland for 3 years starting in 2000, we took part in nearly every custom they had. Invite them to ours. Since the school went to church on each Friday, I was allowed to come to school after they were done.

Jihad really means struggle. Organic Chemistry is my Jihad, The Sebastian Vettel Challenge is a Jihad for others.

And for that Eid Mubarak greeting, they should have a Eid tree and Eid Clause.

 

[Motor City Hami]

I live in Dearborn, Michigan, one of the highest muslim populations in the world, outside of the Middle East. I also work on a Global client that does business in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. People are very similar everywhere. Most people just want to put in a good days work to support their family, find time in their busy schedules to enjoy the company of family/friends and make room for some fun or hobby time.

It seems to me that people who have expanded their experiences to make connections across different cultures seem to be more accepting of everyone. The majority of people fit what I described above. Having friends that cross religions/cultures really opens one's eyes to the good in each.

On the other hand, people in situations where less education and poverty are the norm and rarely seeing anyone from outside of your city or villiage or religion, they tend to hate anyone different from them. They focus on the evil part of a religion (all religions have some dark areas). Whether American, Muslim, Israili, Asian... poor, stupid and bigoted exhist.

I say no mercy for cowards who take innocent lives, but those individuals should not define an entire religion or an entire part of the world.

 

[zedextreme8177]

Yeah the Vettel challenge is sort of a Jihad for me, I'm praying to Allah that my fingers will still be intact by the time I manage to gold Suzuka with the DS3

I wholeheartedly agree that respect is a two-way thing. I would expect people tourists in our country to follow our law, which is related to Sharia in many ways. Likewise, I would expect Muslims to follow the laws of lands where they visit/live in. I would want people to accept our small Islamic country as being non-secular, and vice-versa.

That being said, it bugs me when people wearing Abayas or humongous beards are touted as perfect Muslims. It's not how you dress or how xenophobic you are which defines whether you are a good Muslim. It's how much you follow the teachings of Islam, and what you believe in.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I live in Dearborn, Michigan, one of the highest muslim populations in the world, outside of the Middle East. I also work on a Global client that does business in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. People are very similar everywhere. Most people just want to put in a good days work to support their family, find time in their busy schedules to enjoy the company of family/friends and make room for some fun or hobby time.

It seems to me that people who have expanded their experiences to make connections across different cultures seem to be more accepting of everyone. The majority of people fit what I described above. Having friends that cross religions/cultures really opens one's eyes to the good in each.

On the other hand, people in situations where less education and poverty are the norm and rarely seeing anyone from outside of your city or villiage or religion, they tend to hate anyone different from them. They focus on the evil part of a religion (all religions have some dark areas). Whether American, Muslim, Israili, Asian... poor, stupid and bigoted exhist.

I say no mercy for cowards who take innocent lives, but those individuals should not define an entire religion or an entire part of the world.

My aunt lives in Bloomfield Hills, a really upper-class area compared to the surrounding areas that is Detroit. I love going to Dearborn because the arab food there is just spectacular. I sometimes miss Saudi Arabia just because of the food we got there.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Yeah the Vettel challenge is sort of a Jihad for me, I'm praying to Allah that my fingers will still be intact by the time I manage to gold Suzuka with the DS3

I wholeheartedly agree that respect is a two-way thing. I would expect people tourists in our country to follow our law, which is related to Sharia in many ways. Likewise, I would expect Muslims to follow the laws of lands where they visit/live in. I would want people to accept our small Islamic country as being non-secular, and vice-versa.

That being said, it bugs me when people wearing Abayas or humongous beards are touted as perfect Muslims. It's not how you dress or how xenophobic you are which defines whether you are a good Muslim. It's how much you follow the teachings of Islam, and what you believe in.

This is what I subscribe to. I, myself, have a beard but its not the hardcore Islamic type, its more of the trimmed Sunglasses model type beard.

And I had no idea Maldives was Islamic.

 

[Joel]

Can you rephrase that, I kinda don't understand it.

Those Algerian girls must not be the brightest on her floor.

I think he's directing it in general at the Christians (or whoever "us" is) in his country. He's asking rhetorically if it bothers you (the muslim) that "they" are Christian, and when you reply no, he's using that as justification to say that he doesn't mind that you're muslim.

 

[sumbrownkid]

I think he's directing it in general at the Christians (or whoever "us" is) in his country. He's asking rhetorically if it bothers you (the muslim) that "they" are Christian, and when you reply no, he's using that as justification to say that he doesn't mind that you're muslim.

Ohhh....Well I feel stupid Thanks for clearing that up.👍

And no, I have no problem with whatever religion they are.

 

[BigYoSpeck]

Can you rephrase that, I kinda don't understand it.

Those Algerian girls must not be the brightest on her floor.

If my self as an atheist of sorts who has rejected your ideals doesn't offend you and you are happy to let me follow what I feel is right then I can't think of any reason why I could take issue with the beliefs you hold.

I've often considered that it's impossible to respect an opinion or belief. You can only agree or disagree with it. And if you disagree then you consider it incorrect, which means you could have no more respect for it than anything else which you consider in error. But you can respect the person and not let that opinion/belief define how you perceive them.

 

[blaaah]

What if you were to tell someone you were Muslim and they laughed at you and found it amusing thinking it a ridiculous thing to believe in. Would you find that offensive? If people get offended by that then they are not very sociable. (that does depend though if it was a friendly joke or antagonist intimidation and unfriendliness, usually it's very east to tell which!)
Because the exact same morality applies if I tell someone my faith is a Jedi, it would amuse many people and cause ridicule, but I don't mind.
Both are religions/faiths/philosophical beliefs nothing more.
Mocking of religion is fine also, for example one could say "oh look at me i'm a Muslim I've got a funny beard, and I talk like this and do these silly things."
In the same way people could say "look at me i'm a Jedi" then they hum the theme tune and swish around an invisible light-sabre, and then try the force lighting with a funny face, to get a reaction.

Respecting someone can be different to respecting their beliefs, you can love one and hate the other at the same time. Just by getting on as friends.


Religion need not be an issue in this world if it wasn't taken so seriously in the exterior. It can be as serious as one likes in the private mind, no need to effect others with it though.

The thing is though the world has been corrupted by unjolliness, due to holy wars and things. So unfortunately I dont feel I could joke or mock a new person i met who was Muslim, but I would if they said they were a Jedi (like me). Or if they said they were part of the Thunder Cat cult, I would raise a smile and hold out the sword of Omens and say "sight beyond sight!"


By the way if anyone draws a picture of Darth Vader I will kill them.*




*Joke

 

[Joey D]

My aunt lives in Bloomfield Hills, a really upper-class area compared to the surrounding areas that is Detroit. I love going to Dearborn because the arab food there is just spectacular. I sometimes miss Saudi Arabia just because of the food we got there.

That's odd that your aunt lives in Bloomfield Hills, it's a predominately a wealthy Jewish community. Most of the Muslim population in the suburbs of Detroit live on the eastside out Sterling Heights, Utica and what not. Obviously Dearborn has a huge Islamic population and you are right, you can find some epic places to eat down there. It's just a shame Dearborn is so run down, it's coming back though which is nice.

I digress, but only slightly. Living in southeast Michigan we have quite a diverse culture, however it's very segregated. Growing up it seemed like I was bombarded with rhetoric that preached you had to be white and protestant. So obviously that's how I grew up thinking. After September 11th I hated Muslims, but it was a lack of understanding.

Once I got to university and started being immersed in a culture that wasn't a bunch of upper-middle class white kids who all believed in Jesus my outlook on the world started to shift. I ended up with a degree in Anthropology even and taking classes like that really opens ones eyes to varying cultures.

Now I'm cool with any race or religion and think you can have whatever views you want, just as long as you don't force them on me. I am willing to learn and even participate in the customs, but only because I want to learn. Being forced into anything just makes me hate it.

I have some good friends who a non-practising Muslims who I met in college and it's been pretty interesting getting to know them and here about how their families view the US (they are from Jordan).

 

[gtsmashbros]

I'm Muslim, and I just want to see my fellow GTP members thoughts and opinions on the subject.

Don't be afraid to post something contentious, I will not get angry.

But please, don't post something derogatory just to insult anyone and their respective religions or ideals.

Assalam Alaikum.

I didn't know you were muslim.

Anyhow, people have told me a few funny jokes, and I laughed. There is, even in stereotype jokes, a fine line between funny and insults. Most of the time, they're funny, but sometimes, they are kind of mean. But being middle school, nobody really has a view on things, so I don't take it personally.

 

[sumbrownkid]

If my self as an atheist of sorts who has rejected your ideals doesn't offend you and you are happy to let me follow what I feel is right then I can't think of any reason why I could take issue with the beliefs you hold.

I've often considered that it's impossible to respect an opinion or belief. You can only agree or disagree with it. And if you disagree then you consider it incorrect, which means you could have no more respect for it than anything else which you consider in error. But you can respect the person and not let that opinion/belief define how you perceive them.

You do have a point there, but that's a whole different topic there, but I can see a good discussion being made out of it.

 

[sumbrownkid]

What if you were to tell someone you were Muslim and they laughed at you and found it amusing thinking it a ridiculous thing to believe in. Would you find that offensive? If people get offended by that then they are not very sociable. (that does depend though if it was a friendly joke or antagonist intimidation and unfriendliness, usually it's very east to tell which!)
Because the exact same morality applies if I tell someone my faith is a Jedi, it would amuse many people and cause ridicule, but I don't mind.
Both are religions/faiths/philosophical beliefs nothing more.
Mocking of religion is fine also, for example one could say "oh look at me i'm a Muslim I've got a funny beard, and I talk like this and do these silly things."
In the same way people could say "look at me i'm a Jedi" then they hum the theme tune and swish around an invisible light-sabre, and then try the force lighting with a funny face, to get a reaction.

Respecting someone can be different to respecting their beliefs, you can love one and hate the other at the same time. Just by getting on as friends.


Religion need not be an issue in this world if it wasn't taken so seriously in the exterior. It can be as serious as one likes in the private mind, no need to effect others with it though.

The thing is though the world has been corrupted by unjolliness, due to holy wars and things. So unfortunately I dont feel I could joke or mock a new person i met who was Muslim, but I would if they said they were a Jedi (like me). Or if they said they were part of the Thunder Cat cult, I would raise a smile and hold out the sword of Omens and say "sight beyond sight!"


By the way if anyone draws a picture of Darth Vader I will kill them.*




*Joke

Don't worry, you can make all the Islam jokes you want with me, as I make quite a few myself. But I can see what you're saying about being uncomfortable joking around with a new Muslim person you met, and you're not the only one. My friend told me that he was at first uncomfortable mentioning anything about terrorism and things like that around me, so I broke the ice by popping a joke and told him not all Muslims are tight assed about Islam.

And duly noted about drawing a picture of Darth Vader.

 

[drivehard]

I think there is a solidarity among Muslims that is hard for Americans or Westerners to understand. Americans and Westerners tend to think about Muslims in black and white, or either good or evil, when there is a large area inbetween that is responsible for the thought process of many Muslims. It's very similar to the disconnect between African Americans and white people. Most white people realize that there is some justification to feel guilty about slavery. And at the same time most black people know that the people responsible or who support slavery are not the majority of white people. So everyone just kind of looks at each other funny.