Fort Hood, Texas Military Base Shooting

[Henna Rose 0]

I was in a coffee shop this evening where I noticed two beautiful Muslimas in Hajib. I found myself staring at them, not because I thought they were terrorists, but because of the gentleness in their eyes and they way they seemed unsure of their surroundings and others reactions to them. For sure they were feeling some affects of this past week... it was in the air.

We do not have a very large Arab population here, so they were very surprised when I offered my Salams to them on the way out. Actually, I think they were quite stunned as their eyes grew wide and they returned the greeting, smiling. I found myself thinking about this discussion today. I think this is how the healing can begin, in small moments like these

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

This is OT from the Ft Hood tragedy, but here is something I wanted to say in regards to people feeling like they are hated.

Heres how I try to look at things in life. I'll give work for an example since Im a manager and always there. Surely in nearly every day theres going to be "someone" whose going to say something ugly, something smart, call you out your name for whatever the reason, but in every day theres a thousand more people that are kind, sincere, good hearted. I dont let the one customer get me down the whole day, week or my lifetime bcz of something they did or said to me. Maybe more people need to keep looking at life like that. It really does make life go smoother. I dont feel hated on bcz one person makes a christian joke or comment, or stare at me when I wear long skirts or dresses covering my legs, or when people ask me what my religion is ect. I focus on all the good people out there that crossed my path through the day than to worry about one person who tried to get on my nerves.

[KittyPollitt 284]

I come from a family of veterans and my brother is about to be deployed.. This event has upset and frightened us all..

On topic, though my father has been known to be a blatant racist, I've been pleasantly surprised that he has had nothing negative to say about the shooter being Muslim.. As a Vietnam vet, he approached the entire subject as an unfortunate result of the stress of being in the military during wartime.. Unfortunately, however, I have seen a lot of negative comments toward Muslims on boards and Facebook lately that have been disturbing to me. It really makes me sad and worries me because every event like this that occurs involving a Muslim in the current political environment makes a negative impact in the minds of those who are ignorant to the truth and get their information from places like Fox News.. and there are far too many of these easily influenced people in America right now. I'm raising my Muslimah daughter in this country, and in my mind, these things could create a negative environment for her future.. I never really gave much thought to how it will effect my visa process, only that it's one more strike in the American media against good Muslim people...

It's a tragedy for everyone in this country

[Ban Hammer 13,548]

due to continued reports, i've made all controversial posts invisible. this should solve the problem.

[merijan 0]

This is OT from the Ft Hood tragedy, but here is something I wanted to say in regards to people feeling like they are hated.

Heres how I try to look at things in life. I'll give work for an example since Im a manager and always there. Surely in nearly every day theres going to be "someone" whose going to say something ugly, something smart, call you out your name for whatever the reason, but in every day theres a thousand more people that are kind, sincere, good hearted. I dont let the one customer get me down the whole day, week or my lifetime bcz of something they did or said to me. Maybe more people need to keep looking at life like that. It really does make life go smoother. I dont feel hated on bcz one person makes a christian joke or comment, or stare at me when I wear long skirts or dresses covering my legs, or when people ask me what my religion is ect. I focus on all the good people out there that crossed my path through the day than to worry about one person who tried to get on my nerves.

I agree with you that we should let things roll off our shoulders sometimes. And have maybe even some compassion for ignorance. However , if someone insults Allah (God), Prohpet Mohammad(pbuh), the Quran ... I have a major problem... and its my right to have that problem..

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

well for me, If someone wants to insult GOD, or Jesus Christ or Christianity or the Bible... thats for GOD to judge and I'll honestly try my best not to make a problem with it and not assume that the world is against me. Bcz in the end, they wont be answering to me anyways, so here on earth I should just let it go. Again, theres not that many people in a days time IMO that make MTNS out of molehills.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

I agree with you that we should let things roll off our shoulders sometimes. And have maybe even some compassion for ignorance. However , if someone insults Allah (God), Prohpet Mohammad(pbuh), the Quran ... I have a major problem... and its my right to have that problem..

So Merijan, do you honestly feel yourself hated on bcz some people dont like Allah, Mohamed or the Quran?

just curious about that bcz I have friends that are all different religions and I honestly dont feel hated bcz they dont agree with christianity or the bible or even if they dont choose to believe in GOD.

[merijan 0]

[so Merijan, do you honestly feel yourself hated on bcz some people dont like Allah, Mohamed or the Quran?

just curious about that bcz I have friends that are all different religions and I honestly dont feel hated bcz they dont agree with christianity or the bible or even if they dont choose to believe in GOD.

Well Palm Tree Girl

I have friends and family of different religions also. I don't hate them. I don't insult them either. Nor do I insult what they believe. But making comments that insult my faith yes I have a problem with that. If you disagree that is different than making puns and degrading things taken at my faith , at Allah, Quran and so on. That is not acceptable to me and I have no compassion or feeling for that person. If I feel angry at that degradation of my faith I have that right.

Do I feel hated because I am Muslim? Yes there are People who hate Muslims. I can not change that. Do I feel angry at a bunch of young, uninformed, mislead who go to a Muslim Country and desecrate Mosques, Qurans and brag about it? Yes I do. I feel even more angry that is is done in the name of my freedom under the flag of MY country. As I also feel angry at those who take innocent lives, those of their own people in the name of a faith I adhere to. When it is clearly not actions that have to do with my faith.

Do I get angry if I am in the super market and someone asks me about my head covering? NO Do I get angry at my neighbors, or my children s friends who don't understand what they are saying and just repeat the rhetoric they see and hear on tv? NO I try to inform them. Do I get angry at people who are educated and know what they are saying such as Evangelical preachers on tv that say Islam is Evil.?I should not feel they hate me? they do.So it is my duty as a Muslim as well as other Muslims to inform people as often as we can. And leave the rest.

I have experienced hate in my own family. My brother who served in the Air force and is now working for a military contractor and my cousin who used to work in the Pentagon made some comments on my facebook.. i deleted them. i guess i wont be talking to my brother anytime soon.

Since I was raised Christian I know all about Christianity, I can debate anytime. However I would never ever ever NEVER insult and degrade what they or any Christian believes.

That is where I stand.

Edited November 17, 2009 by merijan

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

Well Palm Tree Girl

I have friends and family of different religions also. I don't hate them. I don't insult them either. Nor do I insult what they believe. But making comments that insult my faith yes I have a problem with that. If you disagree that is different than making puns and degrading things taken at my faith , at Allah, Quran and so on. That is not acceptable to me and I have no compassion or feeling for that person. If I feel angry at that degradation of my faith I have that right.

Do I feel hated because I am Muslim? Yes there are People who hate Muslims. I can not change that. Do I feel angry at a bunch of young, uninformed, mislead who go to a Muslim Country and desecrate Mosques, Qurans and brag about it? Yes I do. I feel even more angry that is is done in the name of my freedom under the flag of MY country. As I also feel angry at those who take innocent lives, those of their own people in the name of a faith I adhere to. When it is clearly not actions that have to do with my faith.

Honestly, there is people doing that but NOT every single person from our Country in the military that is in foreign countries are doing that. Just like there have been suicide bombers in Pakistan, India, Egypt ect blowing up their own mosques, and their own people, or destroying churches. Its a shame any of those things are happening whether its coming from our country men or their own country men. Neither is right. I almost think that you feel its coming from ALOT of our own people.

Do I get angry if I am in the super market and someone asks me about my head covering? NO Do I get angry at my neighbors, or my children s friends who don't understand what they are saying and just repeat the rhetoric they see and hear on tv? NO I try to inform them. Do I get angry at people who are educated and know what they are saying such as Evangelical preachers on tv that say Islam is Evil.?I should not feel they hate me? they do.So it is my duty as a Muslim as well as other Muslims to inform people as often as we can. And leave the rest.

I have experienced hate in my own family. My brother who served in the Air force and is now working for a military contractor and my cousin who used to work in the Pentagon made some comments on my facebook.. i deleted them. i guess i wont be talking to my brother anytime soon.

Since I was raised Christian I know all about Christianity, I can debate anytime. However I would never ever ever NEVER insult and degrade what they or any Christian believes.

And as for the hate. Im going to tell you straight up that I dont agree with many things in Islam. My beliefs are different than what islam teaches , but I will tell you that Jesus told us Christians not to hate even our own enemies, (not that anyone in here is my enemy). I dont even agree with what some evangelical preachers on tv might say bcz I honestly doubt they are speaking in love regarding how Christ asked us to speak. I have muslim family (even before I met my husbands family) I have muslim friends way before Sept 11th. I dont hate ANY of them even though I dont agree with many things they believe. Have you ever met someone who really loved you but they just didnt agree in believing what your religious beliefs are? I really believe that is possible, but there probably isnt alot like that. And that is exactly where I stand.

[Safiya&Samir 0]

PTG, I think you have good intentions, but I don't think you can understand what it's like to get dirty comments and stares all the time when you just want to go about your life. I don't like feeling like an outsider. It's painful, and sometimes it's incredibly dangerous. During the war in Gaza almost a year ago, someone almost ran me down with their car in a grocery store parking lot. I'm just glad my son wasn't there, because I can't even how much more painful it would have been to feel his terror on top of mine.

And someone saying "I don't believe in God," is really not the same as random people saying, Oh you're Muslim, oh well then EXPLAIN this!! all the time.... I used to make videos on youtube, and I really enjoyed it, but I had to walk away after awhile because I just felt so down by being attacked all the time. Every time I said anything about anything, someone would come in with their snide comments and be like, Oh did your husband let you out of the house today? Or something like that.

Please, just.... I don't know why it hurts you so much that others feel attacked and hurt. Do you want to argue us out of our feelings? You seem like you're trying to invalidate our experiences since you have not experienced the same things. Leave it be.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

PTG, I think you have good intentions, but I don't think you can understand what it's like to get dirty comments and stares all the time when you just want to go about your life. I don't like feeling like an outsider. It's painful, and sometimes it's incredibly dangerous. During the war in Gaza almost a year ago, someone almost ran me down with their car in a grocery store parking lot. I'm just glad my son wasn't there, because I can't even how much more painful it would have been to feel his terror on top of mine.

And someone saying "I don't believe in God," is really not the same as random people saying, Oh you're Muslim, oh well then EXPLAIN this!! all the time.... I used to make videos on youtube, and I really enjoyed it, but I had to walk away after awhile because I just felt so down by being attacked all the time. Every time I said anything about anything, someone would come in with their snide comments and be like, Oh did your husband let you out of the house today? Or something like that.

Please, just.... I don't know why it hurts you so much that others feel attacked and hurt. Do you want to argue us out of our feelings? You seem like you're trying to invalidate our experiences since you have not experienced the same things. Leave it be.

Bcz it really seems like 'some' keep the chip on their shoulder every single day. Do you feel like a victim every single day? It seems like some people day after day after day feel like they are getting attacked or hurt. Im just sayin' dont keep carrying all that on your shoulders all the time.

and btw, I dont have to be muslim or wear a headscarf to go thru the same stares or similar questions. I had a jewish mother, grew up in an adopted home became a Christian, girls in my family ONLY wore long dresses and skirts for all the teenage years even on vacation to Colorado in the freezing cold or in the summertime vacation to Florida wherever, was homeschooled, didnt date, went to church ALL the time and anytime the doors were open literally. Got alot of questions and alot of stares all the time. I just dont dwell on it on a daily basis as I feel some people do.

Edited November 17, 2009 by ~PalmTreeGurl~

[Safiya&Samir 0]

Bcz it really seems like 'some' keep the chip on their shoulder every single day. Do you feel like a victim every single day? It seems like some people day after day after day feel like they are getting attacked or hurt. Im just sayin' dont keep carrying all that on your shoulders all the time.

We have a chip on our shoulder because we're sharing our experiences? We're venting. It's by no means the only thing I talk about all day, nor do I even think about it every day. No, I don't feel like a victim every day. I'm happy. Things happen sometimes, tho, and it sucks. And I'm sure you've had life experiences which should enable you to relate and empathize with others, but I really hope no one has ever wanted to kill, badger you with accusations, or harass you because of the clothes you were wearing. It's fine, I don't care if you "know what it's like," just don't make out like you know exactly how it feels and we're all just a bunch of whiney cry babies, and we're not allowed to talk about it. You're like the non Muslim Haram Police.

Why are you dwelling on us and our behavior if you've got being positive about everything all the time down pat? It's bothering you that we're talking about our lives. And your advice to us, is.... whatever happens Suck it up and don't whine.

Sometimes people whine at me (or post whiney forum posts which I am under no obligation to read), but here's how I look at things in life. I don't let the poster or group of posters get me down. I focus on all the good people out there who aren't whiny and annoying, who don't bother me with their problems or ask me to care, and it makes me a very happy person. I can do it, why can't you?

Let me make one thing clear. You are under no obligation to care about my life or to agree with any of the mostly small annoyances I've posted about experiencing. Likewise, I am under no obligation to see my life the way you from the other side of the internet see it. I'm not blaming you for anything that happens in my life, but if I want to vent with others how does it hurt you?

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

Simple answer and back to the Topic, is bcz everytime a thread is about something else here in MENA it usually ends up about being 'poor me' of how its affecting them every other day someway or another. Its a common thing in MENAland and its been going on for awhile. It just gets old after awhile in nearly every topic.

[merijan 0]

Actually in my city, Fresno I have had no real problems. I think people are pretty easy going here most of the time. Yes , I have had a few comments made here and there and stuff but most of all I dont get harnessed all the time or anything like that.

No I don't have a chip on my shoulder, I do however have my opinions and I don't ever see the worlds political situations as black and white as many do. I read, listen and watch as the citizens of many countries are just pawns in a game.

What I am tired of is that I nor should any of us who are real Muslims who are just living our daily lives have to apologize all the time for the actions of people who have other agendas and other political or vindictive agendas.

Yes my husbands country is being torn apart. His city of Peshawar is like a war zone. Yet you will just believe instantly it must be the Taliban or Al Qada.. when if you investigate bigger powers are feeding into those who claim to be Al Qada or Taliban or whatever they choose to call themselves (or whatever the media and politicians choose to call them). And whoever does such acts has no soul no feeling and can not truly believe in Allah.

The question is does what happened at Fort hood effect Muslims here? will it effect those coming here? Well just look at the news and listen carefully to the words... yes they will try to make you more in fear of Muslims. And instead of taking responsibility for their own failure to detect something wrong with the man who did this and defuse the situation they are trying soooooo HARD to prove he was linked to some terrorists organization.. and his masjid and so on. And it effects us as Muslims here.

[me_4_musa 1]

Some of us are not allowed to post our opinions, thoughts and vents. So i'll just sit back and view: