Attitudes towards Muslims in America

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

wait let me get this straight are you stating that my mom was involved in some drug problem??????????

we are from a town of 600 but were in a city called salem the capital of oregon.....wow im really shocked at that response

sara

No, I'm sorry, not your mom. The person who freaked out. You were in a larger city, that makes more sense. I'm sorry that happened.

[Dan and Judy 614]

I'm a 6'4" male. It has happened in the past that I am out walking late at night and a women becomes frightened of me and crosses the road or even runs to get away from me. I am no threat, but I know that, she does not. She runs because of stories she has heard or read in the newspapers and fear generated from her helplessness should I turn out to be a bad guy. I pay this price of being judged for the very small fraction of those who cause trouble and harm others. Unlike you, I am not about to yell that I am judged unfairly (which I am) or demand to be treated like the nice guy that I am. You have to get to know me to know I am not a bad guy. You cannot demand to be treated nicely either, because of that small minority who got you stereotyped.

So what do you do? Be the best person you can be and show others through your actions that their assumptions are wrong about you.

Your frightening story about women crossing the street to avoid you is as relevant to Sara's story as whether or not you eat peanut butter.

An anecdote that would have some equivalence would be more like this--- I'm a 6'4" male. A girl in our town got raped and the only description she gave was "He was very tall" Then I was walking down the street one night minding my own business. 5 guys with baseball bats saw me and crossed the street to confront me. They surrounded me. They called me a rapist and said they didn't want to ever

see me in their town again. Luckily someone saw the commotion and called 911. The police got there just in time and arrested me for my own protection. After a couple of days they figured it was safe to

release me, but they did drive me to the edge of town and suggest that it would be better if I just started hitch hiking. Now, I'm not going to whine that I was treated unfairly, after all I am 6'4". The cops didn't even charge me with the rape. I moved two states away. that happened 5 years ago, now I'm very busy not raping anyone to prove what a great guy I am. Naturally my wife and kids stayed there, (they have very good schools). I called my wife the other day to ask if it was safe to come home. A man answered the phone. I think it was her brother. He said they still haven't caught the rapist so I better spend a couple more years not raping anybody. I really appreciate this opportunity to redeem myself. Oh no!!!! The guy on tv just said a tall man has robbed the local 7-11. This is going to be harder than I thought!!!!!

[Dan and Judy 614]

I had an Asian friend move from California to Kentucky. She was back a few months later. She said it was impossible to get work where she was, that racism is alive and well in some parts. I have no idea who would hate Asians!

We've got just as much right to hate the Asians as the Muslims. December 7th 1941 was the 9/11 of the 20th century.

We fought the Korean war for 3 years and that included fighting the Chinese.

We fought the Vietnam war for more than 10 years.

Don't forget some Asians are Muslims too. Those are the ones I really hate!!!!

[mike411 15]

I lump because I don't have time to know everyone or willing to take the risk. Some call it experience. This includes neighborhoods, gangsters, and people following me at night.

I'm sure I miss some, but there are so much more I can feeling comfortable dealing with.

I only dislike religious people when they think they are better than me.

I don't like or not like people based on their race, religion etc.. I base it on what type of person they are... you can't just lump people together

[J&N* 68]

Do not "generalize" don't put all Muslims, or Christians, or Jews or any group of people in one box. There are people like Bin Laden that is awful and hated, but I don't base my feelings for all Muslim based on him, he doesn't represent everyone in that group. There are Muslims I like and some I don't, not because they're Muslims, but because they are people with personalities I don't "like".

There are so many people in this world all with different beliefs and opinions, if I disagree with each of them, I'll hate everyone I know!

That's why white people persecuted black people in the past, because they were "different"