Islamophoibia in the US

[kristen_maroc 126]

I am so upset. Seeing this today made my stomach literally lurch.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Fsan_francisco&id=8769862#&cmp=fb-kgo-article-8769862

How do y'all deal with Islamophobia in the US?

[Pitaya 2,577]

I am so upset. Seeing this today made my stomach literally lurch.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Fsan_francisco&id=8769862#&cmp=fb-kgo-article-8769862

How do y'all deal with Islamophobia in the US?

Just like any other "phobia," i.e., gay, asian, black, white, green, catholic, jew, blue, christian, red, mexican, hindu, etc....ad nauseam....... The road to acceptance and understanding is through mindfulness, tolerance, education, and mindfulness. Change doesn't happen overnight, avoid spreading hateful actions and hateful words and hateful news.

http://www.tolerance.org/

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[Que Saudade 284]

I work in a major cancer institute here in Atlanta. I work with citizens of just about every country. It is one of the wonderful things about my career as a Cancer Molecular Biologist. My research is only perpetuated by my interactions with these wonderful and brilliant people I get to associate myself with. The ability to embrace all of the cultures around the world. I have a female friend who is Muslim. She is devoted to her religion. She prays at all of the prayer times. We have had wonderful conversations regarding the differences. She is one of the kindest people I know.

I guess the best way to defeat it is to get to know and understand someone who is genuine and realize there is nothing to be afraid of.

The conclusion that all Muslims are like the taliban (I refuse to capitalize) is like saying all whites are members of the KKK

It is very sad with the Bigotry I see in America. I even see it on posts here in VJ. I love my country and very proud to be an American. Meaning being the American that views America as the land of the free from religious persecution and being able to pursue your dreams as long as they don't hurt anyone else. Unfortunately, America has strayed from that process.

I don't believe in ANY war or conflict in the name of a God. Unfortunately, Jihad inherently defines what the holy war is and that force is OK.

I can't be a part of that either. Just as I can't be a part of christianity's war against whatever their current agenda is. Right now, the Anti-Gay movement is a big one. If you don't approve of a Gay Marriage, by all means don't get one. It doesn't threaten my sexuality nor my freedom here in America.

Lack of intolerance just threatens to further divide this great nation in what is already an extremely divided nation.

I am deeply saddened by what I see going on around me. I wish John Lennon was still alive.

Edited August 12, 2012 by Que Saudade

[GGG1975 9]

That's like asking how do we overcome racism? We don't. Until people are not raised to think that one group is better than the other then ignorance of all kind will continue. I have friends who are Korean and meeting their friends they were open that if they brought home a black man he would need to be rich or a doctor but a white man could be poor and they're parents would be ok. The sad part is they will continue the ignorance. And this is across many ethnic groups. Hispanics like to say there is no racism in South America but this isn't true. I have traveled all over South America and darker people are treated much differently then fair skin. I had a friend who was from Mexico and he was fine. Even straight men was overcome by his looks. But he told me that in Mexico he was treated differently based on his brown color. Color, religious difference I am afraid to say will be with us until the end. Especially in this world of economic problems and war, peace among the masses is not going to change. All we can do is live a life of looking at people as people and recognize when we also group people together.

I am not an expert but all is based on my own experience. I do wonder how my husband will react to America and how they might view us as a couple. I can only hope our experience is positive.

[Anh map 2,098]

Wherever there are people there is bigotry and racism. I have yet to find a corner of the globe that is without it.

Being in America often requires a thick skin. Extreme speech is protected.

Sadly, more people have been killed in the name of religion and some sort of god than for any other reason. It won't be stopping any time soon. Everyone feels that their path to salvation is the proper one.

[Danno 1,228]

Wherever there are people there is bigotry and racism. I have yet to find a corner of the globe that is without it.

Being in America often requires a thick skin. Extreme speech is protected.

Sadly, more people have been killed in the name of religion and some sort of god than for any other reason. It won't be stopping any time soon. Everyone feels that their path to salvation is the proper one.

When we see human traits present in humans everywhere why would we not assume it is a natural condition of the human type?

The idea that somehow we are going to "educate" people out off taking note of.... or a prejudiced view of racial- ethnic variances or religious differences

is as silly as supposing you can educate people into being honest or out of being jealous.

So I dismiss this idea that we were just one generation from "getting it right".

IN my view in the effort to "get it right" we are acting contrary to a higher principle which is to judge people and groups fairly.

Why would I condemn a person from country (or group) A for not liking those in group B if they have some logical foundation for it?

Why suppose you would want to live with a random gathering of 100 people from Ireland as well as you might from Haiti or Romania?

You might find two weeks with a party of Pentecostals unbearable, does coming to that conclusion make you evil..... or does what you do about it make you evil?

As to your last point-

Sadly, more people have been killed in the name of religion and some sort of god than for any other reason. It won't be stopping any time soon. Everyone feels that their path to salvation is the proper one.

I challenge you to prove this point. The numbers killed by the Communist in the last century alone out numbered many times over all religious wars combined.

The Muslim and Christian Crusades were child's play in comparison.

BUt then again, religion was often a fundamental element of Communist doctrine... or at least the war against it.

So if you include the conquest of State run Atheism in with religious deaths, we might agree.

Skulls of victims of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.

[Darnell 8,479]

I don't have to be Jewish to want to defeat ANY jihad. Just saying.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Back in college in my political science classes we learned that religion wasn't the problem necessarily when it came to matters of political violence or war. It was when religion turned political, or rather politicized, that it became a deadly combination. So simply most religion isn't bad but when religion politicizes is most often has bad consequences. There are countless past and present examples to support it.

As for how do I deal with Islamophobia in the States. I was worried about it too when dh was coming here but surprisingly we haven't encountered anything representing that, yet. Most encounters have been respectful and tolerant. Even within my own family who I knew certain members are dealing with their fears about it. They've been respectful and kind even so.

[RFQ 110]

I deal with it like this... one smile and kind act at a time.

A few hours from me a mosque was burned to the ground during this past week, presumably arson since arson was a part of the attack at the beginning of the month. A good number of people from across this great country came together to fundraise on behalf of rebuilding the mosque, and in less than a week they had exceeded the 250,000k goal they set.

Edited August 13, 2012 by RFQ

[SaharaSunset 165]

The idea that somehow we are going to "educate" people out off taking note of.... or a prejudiced view of racial- ethnic variances or religious differences

is as silly as supposing you can educate people into being honest or out of being jealous.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but I am gonna disagree with your notion that "educating" people out of being a bigot is silly. There is a vast canyon between noting difference & fear/hate. Your comparison of prejudice to "honesty and jealously" is strange because you absolutely can "educate" someone into being honest...and in a round about way - you can educate someone to not be jealous. Honestly is a learned behavior, taught to have value at a young age. Does that mean all people will be honest - no. But can you instil(educate) this value and create a generation more predisposed to be honest - yes. And Jealously is a result of unhappiness and insecurity, something that love and a "taught" healthy self perception can curb...not end...but curb. Both of your examples are mixed innate human tendencies and learned behavior...but bigotry is a purely learned behavior... 100%. Its "learned" in different ways, but its certainly not something that a better education wouldn't help. Education is the key!

Of course, certain people have natural tendencies that all the education in the world will not change. But what is bigotry if not a learned hatred based on either interpretation of values, or lack of knowledge and understanding. You can't tell me that if young children were actually taught something about nature of the Islam, that this would not curb the confusion, stereotypes and bigotry associated with the rampant ignorance about Islam in America?

Again, I don't think anyone thinks we will eliminate prejudice entirely. And I think its hard to teach old dogs new tricks... but if the next generation has a healthy knowledge about differences in faiths, and cultures, they will be much better equipped to chip away at bigotry. Not only because they understand other people - but in doing so, they will feel more confident in their personal beliefs, and less threatened by looming fear of the unknown.

Edited August 13, 2012 by SaharaSunset

[hawkeyez 45]

Ramadan Bombathon Day 23

173 Attacks

673 dead bodies

I am so upset. Seeing this today made my stomach literally lurch.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Fsan_francisco&id=8769862#&cmp=fb-kgo-article-8769862

How do y'all deal with Islamophobia in the US?

[sara..... 371]

The only way to fight this is to show people what we are one day at a time......we will never be able to completely get rid of the problem because the bad always is perceived as what we are it is louder than our actions of kindness as it is what makes the news......true Islam does not allow the throwing of acid in women's faces,honor killing and treating all people of all beliefs with disrespect.

The word jihad as been used by the terrorist and the news so much its to the point that people that are not Muslim can not understand that every Muslim faces a personal jihad daily...it means to win over our laziness when it come to prayer five times daily or to win over our want to over eat so many things we fight with in our self's ....... my personal jihad daily is to not overly react to people that seem to live for nothing other than to insult Muslims based on only what they read....

just my own opinion

sara

[Ban Hammer 13,558]

one post removed for linking to a known hate speech site, multiple violation of the vj tos:

Post Content intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against a broad demographic or group of people identified by a unifying trait or characteristic (discrimination). For instance, racist or sexist content may be considered hate speech.

Publish, post, upload, distribute, disseminate or offer to disseminate any inappropriate, offensive, defamatory, infringing, obscene or unlawful/illegal material, information or content.

[Ihavequestions 419]

The only way to fight this is to show people what we are one day at a time......we will never be able to completely get rid of the problem because the bad always is perceived as what we are it is louder than our actions of kindness as it is what makes the news......true Islam does not allow the throwing of acid in women's faces,honor killing and treating all people of all beliefs with disrespect.

The word jihad as been used by the terrorist and the news so much its to the point that people that are not Muslim can not understand that every Muslim faces a personal jihad daily...it means to win over our laziness when it come to prayer five times daily or to win over our want to over eat so many things we fight with in our self's ....... my personal jihad daily is to not overly react to people that seem to live for nothing other than to insult Muslims based on only what they read....

just my own opinion

sara

CLAPPING MY HANDS!

To those who aren't Muslim (and I'm not):

Indulge me and have a looksee and, while you're at it, listen closely:

That is Islam.

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

Well, thats stupid...youre way overgeneralizing. ignorance........

I dont have time but do you see me wearing a "tent"?---half the women in his family choose not to cover, mostly younger generation...most Muslim women would want to do it, even the ones from non-conservative countries. Only extremists do what you describe...most Muslims arent extremists. They are like anyone else if you took the time to get to know them.

Edited August 13, 2012 by ErikaAndHamit