Muslim Americans find inspiration in Obama's speech

[AlHayatZween 2]

Not to dismiss your observations completely but....

I get searched EVERY TIME too.

And any unconventional wardrobe will draw attention be it Orthodox Jew, Harikrishna (sp) or Traditional Vietnamese.

I bet this is true in any Muslim country too.

i might as well be muslim, i get searched too.

i get searched frequently, too. but i admit i am a shady-looking and suspicious character. i would search me, too, if given the chance.

[MrsAmera 41]

Yup what she said -- unfortunately what the media says/does is what sticks with the mindset - especially in areas where people have never even met a Muslim person...they have nothing to go on except what the media says.

That shooting did get alot of attention. Violence gets more attention then anything else, I agree all we ever hear is bad things coming from Islam and maybe in the minds of some they have come to a conclusion that that is what Islam is, I disagree with that frame of mind. I just cant tell you how many times a reporter or pundit has followed up the story with a explanation of how that is just the extremist element.

You may think its naive of me but what you dont get is how fustrating it is to see how there has been a collective movement to make sure that its known that extremists dont represent all of Muslims and in return we get no credit as a nation. I am not saying that as a nation we have been perfect but we have done a dam good job of making a distinction between Extremists and the rest of Islam.

Wait, you just contradicted your post to me above saying i need to open my eyes more....?

My point is not with the "nation" as a whole. i think most people in our country are open-minded & tolerant. My issue is with media portrayal and lack of research by media pundits...

[_Simpson_ 250]

That shooting did get alot of attention. Violence gets more attention then anything else, I agree all we ever hear is bad things coming from Islam and maybe in the minds of some they have come to a conclusion that that is what Islam is, I disagree with that frame of mind. I just cant tell you how many times a reporter or pundit has followed up the story with a explanation of how that is just the extremist element.

You may think its naive of me but what you dont get is how fustrating it is to see how there has been a collective movement to make sure that its known that extremists dont represent all of Muslims and in return we get no credit as a nation. I am not saying that as a nation we have been perfect but we have done a dam good job of making a distinction between Extremists and the rest of Islam.

Wait, you just contradicted your post to me above saying i need to open my eyes more....?

My point is not with the "nation" as a whole. i think most people in our country are open-minded & tolerant. My issue is with media portrayal and lack of research by media pundits...

I did not contradict myself, if you would of read the second line to what you highlighted you would know that.

So I will disagree with you and say what I have been saying all along, I think the media has done a good job along with the rest of the nation.

Edited June 5, 2009 by looking_up

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Maybe you're family adheres - I fly several times a month and it's random that I ALWAYS am pulled aside? I'm not talking occassionally. Before I wore hijab I flew the same amount and even with a changed last name I was never pulled aside and now that I do cover I am always, always there has not been once in the last year that I haven't had to go through additional screening. Tell me how is that random?? Coinsidence that out of the last 25+ trips I've gotten additional screen both leaving and returning? I think not.

Maybe they think you are VW?

[AlHayatZween 2]

I did not contradict myself, if you would of read the second line to what you highlighted you would know that.

So I will disagree with you and say what I have been saying all along, I think the media has done a good job along with the rest of the nation.

i did read the second line. we must be reading & watching different media sources.

[Laveau 67]

That shooting did get alot of attention. Violence gets more attention then anything else, I agree all we ever hear is bad things coming from Islam and maybe in the minds of some they have come to a conclusion that that is what Islam is, I disagree with that frame of mind. I just cant tell you how many times a reporter or pundit has followed up the story with a explanation of how that is just the extremist element.

You may think its naive of me but what you dont get is how fustrating it is to see how there has been a collective movement to make sure that its known that extremists dont represent all of Muslims and in return we get no credit as a nation. I am not saying that as a nation we have been perfect but we have done a dam good job of making a distinction between Extremists and the rest of Islam.

Wait, you just contradicted your post to me above saying i need to open my eyes more....?

My point is not with the "nation" as a whole. i think most people in our country are open-minded & tolerant. My issue is with media portrayal and lack of research by media pundits...

I did not contradict myself, if you would of read the second line to what you highlighted you would know that.

So I will disagree with you and say what I have been saying all along, I think the media has done a good job along with the rest of the nation.

Despite the fact that Kamran gets chosen for "random" searches almost always when flying, I have to agree with lookingup. He feels that he has never been treated "badly" because of his obvious ethnicity (South Asian/Paki). Anyway, he doesn't mind when he gets searched and he definitely doesn't whine about it.

[_Simpson_ 250]

That shooting did get alot of attention. Violence gets more attention then anything else, I agree all we ever hear is bad things coming from Islam and maybe in the minds of some they have come to a conclusion that that is what Islam is, I disagree with that frame of mind. I just cant tell you how many times a reporter or pundit has followed up the story with a explanation of how that is just the extremist element.

You may think its naive of me but what you dont get is how fustrating it is to see how there has been a collective movement to make sure that its known that extremists dont represent all of Muslims and in return we get no credit as a nation. I am not saying that as a nation we have been perfect but we have done a dam good job of making a distinction between Extremists and the rest of Islam.

Wait, you just contradicted your post to me above saying i need to open my eyes more....?

My point is not with the "nation" as a whole. i think most people in our country are open-minded & tolerant. My issue is with media portrayal and lack of research by media pundits...

I did not contradict myself, if you would of read the second line to what you highlighted you would know that.

So I will disagree with you and say what I have been saying all along, I think the media has done a good job along with the rest of the nation.

Despite the fact that Kamran gets chosen for "random" searches almost always when flying, I have to agree with lookingup. He feels that he has never been treated "badly" because of his obvious ethnicity (South Asian/Paki). Anyway, he doesn't mind when he gets searched and he definitely doesn't whine about it.

I didnt whine about it because in light of 9/11 I understood.

[Laveau 67]

That shooting did get alot of attention. Violence gets more attention then anything else, I agree all we ever hear is bad things coming from Islam and maybe in the minds of some they have come to a conclusion that that is what Islam is, I disagree with that frame of mind. I just cant tell you how many times a reporter or pundit has followed up the story with a explanation of how that is just the extremist element.

You may think its naive of me but what you dont get is how fustrating it is to see how there has been a collective movement to make sure that its known that extremists dont represent all of Muslims and in return we get no credit as a nation. I am not saying that as a nation we have been perfect but we have done a dam good job of making a distinction between Extremists and the rest of Islam.

Wait, you just contradicted your post to me above saying i need to open my eyes more....?

My point is not with the "nation" as a whole. i think most people in our country are open-minded & tolerant. My issue is with media portrayal and lack of research by media pundits...

I did not contradict myself, if you would of read the second line to what you highlighted you would know that.

So I will disagree with you and say what I have been saying all along, I think the media has done a good job along with the rest of the nation.

Despite the fact that Kamran gets chosen for "random" searches almost always when flying, I have to agree with lookingup. He feels that he has never been treated "badly" because of his obvious ethnicity (South Asian/Paki). Anyway, he doesn't mind when he gets searched and he definitely doesn't whine about it.

I didnt whine about it because in light of 9/11 I understood.

Oh I know you didn't. I wasn't implying that when I said Kamran doesn't whine about getting searched. And I agree about our country (media, included) making a clear distinction between extremists and the general Muslim population.

[Ban Hammer 13,705]

Maybe you're family adheres - I fly several times a month and it's random that I ALWAYS am pulled aside? I'm not talking occassionally. Before I wore hijab I flew the same amount and even with a changed last name I was never pulled aside and now that I do cover I am always, always there has not been once in the last year that I haven't had to go through additional screening. Tell me how is that random?? Coinsidence that out of the last 25+ trips I've gotten additional screen both leaving and returning? I think not.

Maybe they think you are VW?

no need to display your obsession with her in this thread.

[_Simpson_ 250]

That shooting did get alot of attention. Violence gets more attention then anything else, I agree all we ever hear is bad things coming from Islam and maybe in the minds of some they have come to a conclusion that that is what Islam is, I disagree with that frame of mind. I just cant tell you how many times a reporter or pundit has followed up the story with a explanation of how that is just the extremist element.

You may think its naive of me but what you dont get is how fustrating it is to see how there has been a collective movement to make sure that its known that extremists dont represent all of Muslims and in return we get no credit as a nation. I am not saying that as a nation we have been perfect but we have done a dam good job of making a distinction between Extremists and the rest of Islam.

Wait, you just contradicted your post to me above saying i need to open my eyes more....?

My point is not with the "nation" as a whole. i think most people in our country are open-minded & tolerant. My issue is with media portrayal and lack of research by media pundits...

I did not contradict myself, if you would of read the second line to what you highlighted you would know that.

So I will disagree with you and say what I have been saying all along, I think the media has done a good job along with the rest of the nation.

Despite the fact that Kamran gets chosen for "random" searches almost always when flying, I have to agree with lookingup. He feels that he has never been treated "badly" because of his obvious ethnicity (South Asian/Paki). Anyway, he doesn't mind when he gets searched and he definitely doesn't whine about it.

I didnt whine about it because in light of 9/11 I understood.

Oh I know you didn't. I wasn't implying that when I said Kamran doesn't whine about getting searched. And I agree about our country (media, included) making a clear distinction between extremists and the general Muslim population.

My mistake, I misunderstood what you were saying.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Maybe you're family adheres - I fly several times a month and it's random that I ALWAYS am pulled aside? I'm not talking occassionally. Before I wore hijab I flew the same amount and even with a changed last name I was never pulled aside and now that I do cover I am always, always there has not been once in the last year that I haven't had to go through additional screening. Tell me how is that random?? Coinsidence that out of the last 25+ trips I've gotten additional screen both leaving and returning? I think not.

Maybe they think you are VW?

no need to display your obsession with her in this thread.

I was just bringing up the possibility. You know, it could happen.

[MrsAmera 41]

But I"m not Just putting it out there. I think unless your affected it's easy to say things are different than they are in reality.

[_Simpson_ 250]

But I"m not Just putting it out there. I think unless your affected it's easy to say things are different than they are in reality.

By the same token I could say that because you have been affected its hard for you to step out and see the bigger picture.

Edited June 5, 2009 by looking_up

[MrsAmera 41]

Except that I have seen the bigger picture. I wasn't Muslim my whole life and post 9/11 I definetely wasn't. I didn't convert until 2004. I also worked on Capitol Hill and have a completely broad opinion - not to mention have a master's certificate in Homeland Security Management. I get it I really do.

[Susita 175]

There was a hot TSA screener the last time I flew and I was hoping she'd search me, but sadly I just passed through.

I live in NYC and everytime I fly I find it odd that the people who appear to be Middle Eastern usually get searched. I got searched one time in Puerto Rico and they found mangoes on me and detained me in the agriculture area. I apologized it's that I was leaving and my family was sending me home with PuertoRican mangoes (which are soooooooo good) and apparently that's not allowed. LOL I was scared.

Anyway, I go to Stony Brook University and our school has a large number of international students, the VAST majority being from Asia and the Middle East. Consequently, Asian and Middle Easterners make up a chunk of the population around the University. There is, without a doubt, fear and discrimination and it is totally uncalled for. It's ignorance.