A little ticked

[joyeann 0]

I made the mistake of reading the post from back in March about Islam.

I think we should make it a standard question in police investigations all over the world. Since the religion of the person is so dayum important lets start with this:

"Mr. Doe, what is your Religion"

Lets start a tally. Since all we see is what the "Islam" people are doing, lets see the facts about all the other religions that we are not seeing in the news.

You know all these murders where I am in Phoenix that I hear about on TV everynight. It should go:

"A christian has killed another christian on 59th ave and Main"

" A Babtist has murder a family of 5 Mormons."

Lets at least make it fair!!

Sorry had to vent.

[Meriem_DZ 37]

I have said the same thing Joyeann. It is the person that is bad, not the religion.

Meriem

[MrsBruce5 0]

Yep...I agree with you both.

Judging a book by it's "cover" is what we Americans are infamous for...

Far as I am concerned, who one chooses to worship should be their own thing, a personal thing if you will, and not have ANY role in how anyone is viewed or perceived.

It's a shame that we are judged by such...

For the record, I was raised as a Catholic, converted formerly to Judiasm when I married my 2nd husband-then, later in life I became a Buddhist, and also embrace Hinduism...they all seem to work for me.

In hindsight-with knowing what I know about each form of belief system-they are all not so different with the exception of specific and small nuances between them.

Now, as such-imagine each connotation and prejudice that each one of those religeons conveys...I found that during each period of my life, I was viewed and treated differently from those who knew my beliefs.

I have learned by experience, to tell very few people whom I pray to anymore, as I don't want or need judgement in my life at this stage.

Finally though, at the end of the day-we are ALL human beings.

Rose

[Together4ever 1]

I couldn't agree more joyann. There is a huge misconception (thanks to the media most of all) that equates Islam with terrorism. For those that understand Islam, these are two utterly contradictory principles. You cannot be involved in terrorism and be a good muslim. Period.

Yes I am tired of the bigotry against muslims. People automatically assume I am of Arabic descent. I have heard too many times "Well if the muslim people don't like this terrorism thing, why don't they DO something about it?" LIKE WHAT??? I speak out AGAINST it every chance I get. I try to inform people as I can.

Well, I don't want to get all up on my soapbox. I'll just leave it with I agree 100%.

[munchkins 0]

I couldn't agree more joyann. There is a huge misconception (thanks to the media most of all) that equates Islam with terrorism. For those that understand Islam, these are two utterly contradictory principles. You cannot be involved in terrorism and be a good muslim. Period.

Yes I am tired of the bigotry against muslims. People automatically assume I am of Arabic descent. I have heard too many times "Well if the muslim people don't like this terrorism thing, why don't they DO something about it?" LIKE WHAT??? I speak out AGAINST it every chance I get. I try to inform people as I can.

Well, I don't want to get all up on my soapbox. I'll just leave it with I agree 100%.

I will admit freely that I know very very little about Islam but I do agree that there are two "faces" shall we call them, of the Islam religion, one from the genuine follower of the Koran and one from the fanatic.

What I do not understand, and I know that we are not on the subject of terrorism, is how the suicide bombers can say that they are good muslims!!! and believe it. Even I know from talking about the religion with muslims I used to do business with in my last business, is that Islam is a peaceful and respectful reigion and one that looks after the poorer in their society.

This is one reason I fear is the cause of the bigotry and I think a lot of the problem stems from some of the higher archy who are definitely not swift to condemn.

I for one believe that one worships the way one sees fit and as long as no one trys to force their religion on me that is fine and that wherever you may be, may your God go with you

Edited June 14, 2006 by munchkins

[noura 0]

AMEN & ALHAMDOULILLAH!!! AGREED....

noura

[lostinlove228 0]

What I do not understand, and I know that we are not on the subject of terrorism, is how the suicide bombers can say that they are good muslims!!! and believe it. Even I know from talking about the religion with muslims I used to do business with in my last business, is that Islam is a peaceful and respectful reigion and one that looks after the poorer in their society.

The Same way People call themselves good Catholics and do all the things that are forbiden.

Islam is so different then it is portrade and Practice. violance is not condoned except in cases of Self Defense and defending your right to practice your religion. Women have more rights than are given my any other Religion or culture out there including the US. I believe if anyone really learned about True islam and Understood it, they would convert. The Media has protrade us as monsters. The Truth of the matter is that a person is not a muslim just because they claim to be. Another point is the media is Biased. You are not really getting the truth in there.

[Aymerlu 3]

What a great topic! I couldn't agree with you more Joyann. I am so complete sick of all the comments I hear regarding Islam and why that is the reason it's taking so long for my fiance to get here because he is from a muslim country. And believe me, I've heard it all. Hello....Islam is NOT only in select countries. Seems all we here is about the fundmentalists and what they are doing, we never hear about how peaceful Islam is. And what about all the freaky Christian fanatics? What's up with them? Burns my butt that because there is so much ignorance in this country regarding Islam, it seems all of us with SO from muslims countries have to wait longer than others for their visas. The media jacks things up too....everything is so out of context. I love to vent once in a while too.....makes me feel so much better.

[Bosco 1]

This is one reason I fear is the cause of the bigotry and I think a lot of the problem stems from some of the higher archy who are definitely not swift to condemn.

There is no hierarchy in Islam. Your relationship with God is personal and no Muslim should presume to be the voice for other Muslims, whether it be sheikh, cleric, imam or any other title. If they all came out today and condemned (or condoned) terrorism, they would only be speaking for themselves. There is a misconception that there are Islamic leaders that represent the voices of the people -- they do not.

Frankly, I don't understand why people feel the "good" Muslims need to condemn the acts of the "bad" Muslims. When crazy Christians boycott a soldier's funeral, blow up the Murrah Federal building or an abortion clinic, or commit genocide in Bosnia, there are no expectations on Christians to say "we are not like them". Why is it any different with Islam? Terrorism has nothing to do with me or my husband or our beliefs. Why should we be expected to defend or even explain our position? Do ordinary Christians feel they have to somehow pubicly denounce Falwell?

The problem isn't Muslims failing to denounce terrorism -- and for the sake of harmony, I will avoid going into what I think is behind the expectations that they should.

Rebecca

[iceyspots 0]

"The problem is not between the Arabs and the U.S. and it's not even the East versus the West... it is between religious extremism ... which exists in every religion.. and moderates... " Her highness Queen Rania of Jordan

It was HINDU extremists that killed ghandi... it is christian extremists that bomb abortion clinics... but the word terrorism is only used to describe any destructive events that occur from so-called Islamic groups (I say so called because they think they're muslims but they're not)...

the world these days is so trigger happy with the word terrorism that it's sickening... a couple of months ago there were drug smugglers crossing the Algerian Tunisian border... purely profit drug smugglers and they set off a bomb and blew up some customs agents... but the world was so quick to call it terrorism... if the same thing happend at the US-Mexican border it would not be called terrorism..

Sigh...

[joyeann 0]

I am so very glad that I am not the only one that feels this way!! Everything on tv starts with

"Islamic terroists........"

"Muslim terroists........"

It is just sickening. The whole reason for it is that they need something to attach to 9/11 and pull the viewers in. Oh yea and everyone is so damn patriotic uh huh. Do you remember when 9/11 happened and you could barely find a car that didn't have some kind of american flag on it? Look now...where did all the flags go? 9/11 has been forgoten and the only thing that has stayed with Americans are the words, Islam and Muslim. If you were to go out on the street and ask someone what country these men came from, they wouldn't know. All they would know is they were from an Islamic country. I am truly tired of stupid people.

I brought the holy book in to work so that I can read it on breaks and lunches and a supervisor told me that it gives her "goose bumps". I told her that I was sorry for her ignorance and maybe she should do more than watch CNN. Personally i just wanted to slap the sh$$ out of her, but hey, i need the job.

Ok, well I am done venting ~ for now. Thanks for your support!!

[amal 4]

What a great topic! I hope this doesn't start arguments....coz that's not my intent.

Someone asked about the suicide bombers and how they can claim to be good muslims...Oddly enough, my husband and I discussed that just the other night. I should let you know first that my husband and I do not think that suicide bombing is ok....

BUT..the way he said it to me was... "their thinking is similar to the romeo and juliet story" "they love what they belive in so much that they would rather die than to see it be harmed or bashed etc etc..." IF they are doing it for this reason and with an honest heart (hard to say being that americans don't see how a suicide bomber could have an honest heart..but it can happen) then they are not bad muslims. It's purely based on the intent in their hearts. This is what my husband (a muslim) told me and, although difficult to understand, I can see what he means and I have a different feeling toward them than I did before...

On the topic of stupidity toward Islam...People make me so mad sometimes.. A lady actually came up to my husband at work and asked him his religion.. he told her he is muslim and YOU KNOW WHAT SHE SAID TO HIM??!!!?? She actually said "you came to America to blow us up"!!! can you belive that!!! THEN she started trying to tell him what the quran says and means... who the heck does she think she is??? My co-workers asked me if I would have to wear the hijab (or as they so eliquently put it "head thing") since my husband was muslim.. I had quite a time explaining to them that in jordan they are free to wear what they want ..I would go into the whole thing but it would take 30 pages to write it all down.. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about anyway .....

I'm so glad you opened this topic it feels good to vent about stupidity once-in-a-while

amal

[Together4ever 1]

I am so very glad that I am not the only one that feels this way!! Everything on tv starts with

"Islamic terroists........"

"Muslim terroists........"

It is just sickening. The whole reason for it is that they need something to attach to 9/11 and pull the viewers in. Oh yea and everyone is so damn patriotic uh huh. Do you remember when 9/11 happened and you could barely find a car that didn't have some kind of american flag on it? Look now...where did all the flags go? 9/11 has been forgoten and the only thing that has stayed with Americans are the words, Islam and Muslim. If you were to go out on the street and ask someone what country these men came from, they wouldn't know. All they would know is they were from an Islamic country. I am truly tired of stupid people.

I brought the holy book in to work so that I can read it on breaks and lunches and a supervisor told me that it gives her "goose bumps". I told her that I was sorry for her ignorance and maybe she should do more than watch CNN. Personally i just wanted to slap the sh$$ out of her, but hey, i need the job.

Ok, well I am done venting ~ for now. Thanks for your support!!

You know, I just adore your posts. When I'm not psycho over this whole process, I have this weird little view. Those of who are cherishing our muslim men (and those of us who have also embraced Islam) have a very special thing to share with our fellow cnn-addicted fellow countrymen. We can share the gift of experienced information with them about the reality outside of cable tv news.

I will also share I recently lost my job. Part of it was due to the fact that my stress level was affecting my health, but I also strongly feel that they didn't feel comfortable with me being there. I worked with construction people here in the almost-south. (I had just had a recent review and they were quite pleased with my work quality and I was given a raise...then wham suddenly fired because I had to leave sick one afternoon.) We are talking flag waving, red white and blue bleeding southern fried people. I had to listen to "allah" and "sand ni**er" jokes until I wanted to scream. (side note: Although we are to be "culturally-sensitive and respectful" in this country, it is quite fashionable and widely acceptable to insult those from the ME/NA.) I made the mistake of being honest about my personal life. Well, perhaps it wasn't a mistake. I didn't belong there. I won't be sharing my personal life quite so freely next time until I feel comfortable that it will not cost me my paycheck. Sad, isn't it?

[joyeann 0]

Hi Amal! Good point about the suicide bombers!!

Imagine if the US were being invaded and we were all told that we must do this and do that etc with bombs raining down and foreign troops with guns walking through the street..... I can see a bunch of AMERICAN fanatics doing the same thing. Why shouldn't another country's people protest that we are there? There are enough fanatics in the US that would do the same thing!!

[joyeann 0]

ahh just_waiting I am sorry to hear that! I don't know whether to be mad at these people or to pity them as I usually do. One day we will look back and see this whole journey from a different perspective ~ for our loved one will be sitting beside us!! I know what you mean about stress!! It is like being on a constant roller coaster!

I am tired of stupid people. I have decided that if anyone says anything to me.. well from now on I am going to speak MY MIND.