bias towards muslims

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Of the 6 months I have lived in US, there has been only 1 time where I seen first hand religious prejudice and it wasn't even directed towards me.

I was at the bus stop with my hubby, people usually think of me as Mexican out here or African American. Anyways there was this another Indian guy out there who was waiting to board a long distance greyhound bus, once that Indian guy left the waiting room to get some smoke time outside, the driver of the greyhound bus started talking to others saying how he is scared to travel with that "terrorist" guy. Both me and hubby found it amusing, so my husband decided that when that Indian guy come back, I should talk to him in Hindi and see the reaction of that specific driver. And that's exactly what I did, I started chatting up with the Indian guy in our language once he got back. That driver sure was embarrassed, since he never expected me to be an Indian and talking those things.

But this is just 1 incident in the whole 6 month, only 1 ignorant person I met in 6 months, I bet my husband met more ignorant ones in India within his 1 month stay than I have. So not everything is bad and people are people at the end of the day, you will meet some really nice ones, some real je*rks, some fakes and some honest ones. It all depends upon how you conduct yourself and how you don't let anyone question your dignity.

You can be an honorary Messikan anytime hermana. I approve

[TruLuv 0]

I believe that EVERYONE is racist. Most chose not to show their racism on their shoulder or may not even know that they are racist. There are varying degrees of how racist someone might be. One person may believe that all Muslims are terrorists and try to avoid them at all costs where another may just have a passing thought and dismiss it later. It is not just white people that are racist either. There are Muslims that are racist too. It is when you recognize this and try to stop it within yourself that the world will begin to improve. Don't judge/accuse any place of being racist because you are just feeding in to another misconception. There will always be evil people in the world and lets not misinterpret that as racism.

I know that many people will not agree with my theory but before you judge it take some time to really think about it and reflect on your thoughts as you interact with many different races.

[Peace be still 6]

The problem with racism is that many people don't think it is. Many live their lives not even realizing what is happening the world around them. Racism, here, nah. Others know all about it, but they don't realize that they themselves, yes, themselves, are racists. Huh, I'm not racist. What do you mean? I'm more open minded than that. Give me some credit. Then they turn around and discriminate against someone else's human rights. Not racist, yah right. What is one of the main problems with racism? It's that many people live in racist conditions, without even seeing it. It flies right over their heads. Schools, the workplace, our community, our friends house, even our homes. We hear a racial slur, oh well, it's just a joke. Hardly. If you think racist joke are harmless than you should take a reality check. Racist jokes are just the start of it. Many people think the jokes are funny. Maybe they are, but they still hurt the people the jokes are about. Some of the worst racists are the ones who think that they are not racist and really are. They really have to come to grips with reality. Why are they some the worst racists? They are, because they can't comprehend what is happening. They don't realize what they are saying and doing are racist. Until they come to grips with it there is no problem. No problem, in their minds. They say that they aren't racist, even when they don't hire the East Indian employee who was the most qualified of the candidates. Even when the basketball team that they coach is all white. And even the time when they moved from their seat at the movie theater because of the black person next to them. Well, gee, they could have been a criminal. A robber from the hood. After all, isn't that what most of them are. No one deserves to be prejudged like that. The prejudice of people in the world is disgusting. The worst part of it all is that they don't even know that they are doing it. They think it's j! ust no rmal behavior. It doesn't even phase them when they do it. Then there are those who are completely unaware of racism in the world. They walk down the streets, through the stores and working at their job, completely oblivious. They're so blind! Why can't they see what is happening around them? Have they really lived such sheltered lives? Or do they just not want to believe it is happening? If you take someone and put them in the heart of a racist area, they still won't notice the problems. They will see it with their own eyes, but it won't register in their mind. If these people don't open their eyes, they will never see what is happening. What is going to happen to the world if people don't start realizing what is happening? Will we be plunged into a time where racial tension is everywhere? Will we soon start having racial wars? Will racial violence be a normal every day occurrence? I don't know. No one could know. Unless we start taking action and helping people come to grips with the way they are we can't combat racism. People who don't see that racism is a problem are almost as bad as the racists themselves. Now, don't take that comment in the wrong way, but as long as they are unaware, racism won't stop. I am aware of racism. I am also not a racist myself. I have lived in a racist community for most of my life, thank god I haven't turned out like the rest of them. There is hope for everybody.

[trinket 30]

Of the 6 months I have lived in US, there has been only 1 time where I seen first hand religious prejudice and it wasn't even directed towards me.

I was at the bus stop with my hubby, people usually think of me as Mexican out here or African American. Anyways there was this another Indian guy out there who was waiting to board a long distance greyhound bus, once that Indian guy left the waiting room to get some smoke time outside, the driver of the greyhound bus started talking to others saying how he is scared to travel with that "terrorist" guy. Both me and hubby found it amusing, so my husband decided that when that Indian guy come back, I should talk to him in Hindi and see the reaction of that specific driver. And that's exactly what I did, I started chatting up with the Indian guy in our language once he got back. That driver sure was embarrassed, since he never expected me to be an Indian and talking those things.

But this is just 1 incident in the whole 6 month, only 1 ignorant person I met in 6 months, I bet my husband met more ignorant ones in India within his 1 month stay than I have. So not everything is bad and people are people at the end of the day, you will meet some really nice ones, some real je*rks, some fakes and some honest ones. It all depends upon how you conduct yourself and how you don't let anyone question your dignity.

You can be an honorary Messikan anytime hermana. I approve

Aww thank you thank you, I puffy heart you

[buster2209 2]

Anybody who is biased against you because of your skin colour, race, religion, etc is just ignorant and ill educated and should be ignored

Bigots and racists live in ALL countries, not just America

[Y's_habibitk 2]

Anybody who is biased against you because of your skin colour, race, religion, etc is just ignorant and ill educated and should be ignored

Bigots and racists live in ALL countries, not just America

VERY well said.

[Old Dominion 26]

To answer the question, it will depend on where you live. In most small towns and rural areas in the U.S., folks probably tend to be fearful of Muslims and worried that they plan to take over this country. That is just honest truth. Ask any of the fine Muslim doctors about their experiences after 9/11. I don't see it as racism, but mainly fear of the unknown.

[Pez Pez 0]

Tell me a racist joke, if I think it's funny I'll laugh.

I'm not really sure you can change human behavior. This has been an issue since the dawn of man, and it will continue all over the globe. Race, Religion, Political ideation, Sexual Orientation, Social Status, Territorial Origins you name it. These have been the catalysts for war. We all pass judgement on others based on real or imagined differences whether we admit it or not. If one group is different than another group, they may be a source of ridicule, hatred or even violence. This does not just happen in America.

I don't believe that it has as much to do with Racism, bigotry or bias as it does simple human behavior. I'm afraid it may never end unless we all learn to teach our children to live together in peace.

Trinket said it best. At the end of the day, we are all people. We are all human, we will all live and we will all die. Wouldn't it be nice if the whole world set aside their differences and worked together to save the earth, feed the hungry and cure the diseased without trying to convince each other that their way is best?

It won't happen in our lifetime, but if it does, I'll convert.

[sara..... 371]

To answer the question, it will depend on where you live. In most small towns and rural areas in the U.S., folks probably tend to be fearful of Muslims and worried that they plan to take over this country. That is just honest truth. Ask any of the fine Muslim doctors about their experiences after 9/11. I don't see it as racism, but mainly fear of the unknown.

our small small town has six hundred people, we are the only muslim family here.

we dont have a lot of problems other than the teachers and lunch people at the school, there is a school rule no hats or head coverings in school they preferred my small sisters not to wear hijab because it could become an issue for abuse by others, one day the youngest was served pepperoni pizza instead of cheese pizza the lunch lady told her its ok just eat it today, of course she went with out lunch because she didnt feel she should eat something that had pork on it, also had to get special permission for my 13 year old sister that is a track star to wear long sleeved shirts under her track shirt and leggings with long shorts for running......i think its a matter of how u present urself, sure there are some idiots that say rude things, i wont say that we have never had a problem it would be a lie, but it was in the neighboring bigger town on the 4th of july when we went to see the fire works.

for the most part our small community is accepting of us, the kids seem to get along at school with the other kids as normally as any kids does, some of my sisters are full black, my 15 year old brother Hines fifty seven, but mom has taught all of us if u dont like what someone says about u ...........u have the choice of confrontation about it, or smiling and walking away

how ever i will say that i see confusion on so many peoples faces when trying to find a way to understand why we do not do this or that or eat this or that, but here in our small town there is not much racism

sara

[saran is back 0]

so true

racists are everywhere

and there only a handful of jerks in every community.

just ignore the rascal racists.

every race is equal.

[Old Dominion 26]

Islam is seen as a repressive faith adhering to the old "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" theology that instills fear in others. It is not necessarily a racial matter, but one of religous beliefs that are seen as contradictory to the U.S. Bill of Rights, etc. etc.

[It's me 1]

do americans specially non-asian.non south asians more precisely i would say show bias towards muslims?

There will never be one specific answer to this questions. America is a big place with a big variety of people - and with people comes opinions. Are there people/places that are more biased than others? Sure. But there are also people/places that are open and inviting. What people living abroad don't often realize is Americans can be quite biased toward each other.

especially after 9/11.

That was a turning point for sure. Prior to 9/11 (IMO) Americans, in general, didn't have much of an opinion about Islam. That's been changed. Again, it's difficult to make a generalization, but my best answer would be that Americans are concerned about terrorists. The fact the 9/11 murderers lived in the US, plotting and planning, is most disturbing, I think.

is it hard to live in america and listen to irritating remarks against muslims??

It's hard to live in America and listen to the irritating remarks against anybody. As Americans, we aren't supposed to see skin color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income level, disabilities, etc., but it happens.

or one has to get used to it?

We have a duty to NOT ignore ignorance whenever we encounter it. Not that it happens, but it should.

i am from pakistan

I'm from America.

and these days it seems america and western and american media is busy spoiling the image of pakistan and presenting situation in a way it looks more grim and uncertain.although its not true.

Here's a quick run-down. The media is a business. As with any business, it depends on making money. One of the ways the media makes money is advertising. Advertising always has a target audience. If an advertiser places an ad, they expect their target audience will see it and be influenced into buying their product/service. The rules are these: "If it bleeds it leads" and "Sex sells." Do you see what I'm getting at?

media is not presenting the true pictture

Of course not. We all know that, or at least we should all know that.

i can say with confidence because i belong to pakistan.

its just a propoganda against paksitan

That said, what type of media coverage does the US get in Pakistan? Is it completely free from opinion and entirely factual? I suspect not, even though I've never seen Pakistani media, because I know the media is driven by money. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think so. For example, does the Pakistani media present the side of America that is warm and welcoming to Muslims, particularly immigrant Muslims? It should because it's there. However, I suspect not and that's the reason you've started this topic.

I LOVE YOU!!! Your responce is indeed excellent!!! Me being ex-military, and an American have very very mixed feelings about this topic, I was indeed in the military to protect this country from things such as terroists attempts/attacks. Me as a Christian dont look down on anyone regardless of religion or where they're from because I know that God has made and loves us all! i think ther's good in all people

[Anh map 2,098]

Come to the US and do your best to ignore those looking for excuses and blaming "others."

People here on VJ are going to be more accepting as we are all connected to people from other parts of the world. As said before, there are stupid, ignorant people everywhere not just here in the US.

I hope that your life here is full and happy.

[merijan 0]

but the T.V is showing what some people want it to show.

its biased.

you can see on yahoo news and everywhere on the internet

media presenting fake things to the world without evidence.

I am happy that you have finally figured this out. There are always two sides to a story.

What we don't see is how many Muslims are helping to eliminate the terrorists. Maybe if they did that, then other folks would have a different attitude.

[merijan 0]

First of all my husband is from Pakistan and he was a photojournalist there. I can tell u I have watched many news shows with him And its funny how we here in USA think of other countries. We think only we have "freedom of press". Well let me tell u they talk and they talk alot about politics there. More than u would think. They can beat Saturday nite live when it comes to makeing fun of their leaders. Beleive me they have no limits.

Where I live I have had no real problems with people. Yes sometimes people make a comment under their breath or give a funny look. But very rare. In my city and as well as many others there are doctors, surgeons, dentists, teacher all Muslim. So its what u make of it. Yes people are ignorant here about the world because, unless u have had the experience to know someone from other countries u only beleive what u see on tv, movies and the news. Unfortunetly the media does not show how many Pakistanis there are that do not , nor ever will support the Taliban. Infact its funny bec. the US supported them in the past. But the media and our govt puts fear into our hearts, and makes it look as if all Pakistanis are full of rage and burnig our flags.

Every country has prejudice. In Pakistan you know what those are. Every country has corruption and games in the govt.