tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post6383969278998764141..comments2023-06-16T06:27:31.555-07:00Comments on qunfuz: "You Muslims!"qunfuzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07381648516025592849noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-64464826873877372672007-12-10T11:01:00.000-08:002007-12-10T11:01:00.000-08:00I just ran across your post through del.icio.us, a...I just ran across your post through del.icio.us, and I must say that it is well-written. This just shows how most of us Westerners are ignorant of Arabs, Muslims, and the East in general. Great post.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15327531613370110119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-47363957907915419182007-12-03T14:42:00.000-08:002007-12-03T14:42:00.000-08:00Nice post qunfuz, I got to your article from Reddi...Nice post qunfuz, I got to your article from Reddit via popurls.<BR/>In a world of many religions, stupidity seems to have the largest number of followers.<BR/>I can understand your frustration over this woman, because beyond her latent islamophobia she was most definitely an idiot and a rude one at that. I mean how rude and self-important do you have to be to treat a guest of your boyfriend's in that manner, especially a long time friend.<BR/>I think what this episode shows and what you should teach your children (well your daughter just got a good lesson) is that the world is full of rude idiots who feel they have to demonstrate their stupidity constantly. <BR/>The problem with these people (I apologize to all idiots that might be reading this for generalizing) is that you often can't help them, they are very intent on remaining stupid and ignorant; reasoning with an idiot is akin to patting a skunk, a very bad idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-10207352833245636702007-12-03T13:59:00.000-08:002007-12-03T13:59:00.000-08:00...but then I realize that by saying that... it co......but then I realize that by saying that... it could make me FUNDAMENTALISTIC as well. DAMN!Irving Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13728357199576427247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-54939785936542163972007-12-03T13:53:00.000-08:002007-12-03T13:53:00.000-08:00Thank you for your post.If all FUNDAMENTALISTS cou...Thank you for your post.<BR/><BR/>If all FUNDAMENTALISTS could just be whisked away by whichever deity they believe in by tomorrow, we - the remaining could have a great life, a peaceful one in which we all meet and greet and learn new things from each other.<BR/><BR/>I don't think religion is at fault in anything... but it most certainly is HUMANS... why can't people be more BALANCED in general?<BR/><BR/>Once again... Loved the post. While we don't believe in the same things, I definitely see myself learning great wisdom from the teachings of Islam, as well as many other beliefs.<BR/><BR/>Unity is Key.Irving Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13728357199576427247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-53278174222006810352007-12-03T12:59:00.000-08:002007-12-03T12:59:00.000-08:00To Ronpaulrev08,The rise of the evangelical Christ...To Ronpaulrev08,<BR/><BR/>The rise of the evangelical Christian movement in the US and their immense political influence mean that there are very powerful "Christians" in the US who view the War of Terror as a religious war. Bush himself was the first to refer to the War on Terror as a "crusade" (“war of the cross”) .<BR/><BR/>Many statements have been made by American Christians which are just as vicious, bigoted and ignorant as anything the Taliban might come up with:<BR/><BR/>"This is a religious war that Islam cannot -- and must not -- win," - John Hagee, Texas, evangelical preacher with a large following, leader of zionist christian movement.Bush on one occasion sent a message to Hagee thanking him for: "spreading the hope of God's love and the universal gift of freedom.")(source: Commondreams.org(<BR/><BR/>Hagee also called Israel's attacks on Lebanon last year "a miracle of God". <BR/><BR/>These are just some examples Remember also General Boykin’s statements about the Somali warlords: "I knew that my God was a real god and his was an idol".<BR/><BR/>If Muslims are to get their house in order, what of Christians such as these? I am not trying to point the finger at Christianity here, but am simply saying that it is hypocritical to lay blame for Middle East violence on problems stemming from Islamic culture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-48589819124989372222007-12-03T11:36:00.000-08:002007-12-03T11:36:00.000-08:00It must be hard dealing with these issues. But yo...It must be hard dealing with these issues. But you must be careful not to become that which you preach against:<BR/><BR/>"It doesn’t talk about the ‘Christian Crusade in Iraq,’ although many supporters of the invasion in America think of it in these terms"<BR/><BR/>Now who is prejudging people? I'm in America, (and do not support the war or affiliate with a religion) and have never heard anyone including strong supporters of the war refer to it in a religious way. If you claim this is actually the case, please cite your sources!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-84241979529179155312007-12-03T11:12:00.000-08:002007-12-03T11:12:00.000-08:00"I recognise this Islamophobic racism because I’ve..."I recognise this Islamophobic racism because I’ve met it so often."<BR/><BR/>Which race is Islam again?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-14181386713995275082007-12-03T08:59:00.000-08:002007-12-03T08:59:00.000-08:00Qunfuz,I like your post and agree with you but :-1...Qunfuz,<BR/><BR/>I like your post and agree with you but :-<BR/><BR/>1) It is M.K. "Gandhi" not Ghandhi.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>2) Widow burning (sati) is extremely rare.<BR/><BR/>Since India's independence (1947) there have been 40 cases of sati.<BR/><BR/>In one billion people. So please read the following article.<BR/><BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sati_(practice)#Recent_incidence<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>3) Caste system is dying.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Why ? because India is a democratic country and there are more people of backward caste than upper caste.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>India's constitution was written by Ambedkar(he is God / Gandhi for people of backward caste) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._R._Ambedkar<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>India's most populated state's (with highest representation in parliament) CM is a lady (Mayawati) from most backward caste.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>India's current chief justice, again a person from backward caste.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Leaders of almost all the regional parties in India are of backward caste.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>India's last two presidents were of backward caste (APJ Abdul Kalam is a Muslim of backward caste).<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>There is reservation in education and employment for people of backward caste.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>There is caste system but to large extent there is little discrimination.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>We have taken steps to root out such social evils.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>What about Islamic world ?<BR/><BR/>What are the steps you have taken ?<BR/><BR/>Where are the changes ?<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Islamic world can root out all the social evils just like India if all women and men will have power to choose their government.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>But then common people will get all the precious oil that few want only in their control.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>AnmolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-38814594573139411272007-12-03T08:37:00.000-08:002007-12-03T08:37:00.000-08:00Oh fer' cryin' out loud. You are likely as self-ce...Oh fer' cryin' out loud. You are likely as self-centered as that ignorant female.<BR/><BR/>It wasn't your ethnicity or religion or whatever that incited the empty-headed daffy dame to behave that way!!!<BR/><BR/>MANY females behave similarly towards everybody!!! Of course, being a male did not help since so many females view males as the enemy of all that is female.<BR/><BR/>Thou hast interpreted the freakish female's words based upon your own miniscule universe.<BR/><BR/>Try to interpret the female's words with a macro-view.... because, assuredly, the manner in which she interacted with you is the same or similar manner she interacts with almost all she meets.<BR/><BR/>Females are simple creature, operating at a child-like level in which emotions shove rational logical thought into the mud of their miserable lives.<BR/><BR/>I have interacted with females similar in mannerism with the foul female you encountered.<BR/><BR/>Experience has taught me that when dealing with the vast majority of brain-addled emotion-laden females it is usually best to just smile and nod and refrain from speaking to the little idiots.<BR/><BR/>Many cultures do not allow females to speak to males except for certain proscribed reasons and situations. Those are cultures based upon reality, in my opinion.<BR/><BR/>Let the clucking hens cackle amongst themselves!!!! When discussing affairs of real importance, it is best for the males to do it amongst themselves.<BR/><BR/>Learn a lesson from your event.<BR/><BR/>Smile, nod, then ignore the tripe the female babbled.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-57816658532013248112007-12-03T07:21:00.000-08:002007-12-03T07:21:00.000-08:00Very well said.I wish everyone else was spared the...Very well said.<BR/><BR/>I wish everyone else was spared the idiocy you described, but as you probably already know, we all have to endure stuff like this, whether we're Muslim or not. Whatever you are, you're going to run into an ignoramus like this ex-girlfriend misinterpreting your culture.Robert Vollmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08275044623767553681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-70877857858274185272007-12-03T07:02:00.000-08:002007-12-03T07:02:00.000-08:00sorry - I meant to the SECOND last anonymous. So m...sorry - I meant to the SECOND last anonymous. So many anonymouses today I'm becoming confused!qunfuzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07381648516025592849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-7581298264557924782007-12-03T07:01:00.000-08:002007-12-03T07:01:00.000-08:00To the last anonymous – 50 years ago almost all po...To the last anonymous – 50 years ago almost all politics in the Muslim world – government and opposition – was secular, and almost all practising Muslims were most influenced by Sufi traditions which were mystical, humane and tolerant. Today a great deal of politics is expressed in Islamic language, and many – but by no means the majority – religious Muslims are influenced by Wahhabi-style literalism. I don’t suppose you have a coherent explanation for this, as your approach lacks analysis and context, and is, frankly, propagandistic.<BR/><BR/>Don’t bother saying that people like me are the only hope for the Muslims. One thing for sure is that I have no desire to be your ‘good nigger’.qunfuzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07381648516025592849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-86067039378256717862007-12-03T06:48:00.000-08:002007-12-03T06:48:00.000-08:00I can imagine you feel disgusted by the female fri...I can imagine you feel disgusted by the female friend of your friend. Let's say the good thing about this so-called 'educated person' is that she's showing her true colours, at least.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand I can reflect on my own feelings as a caucasian westerner. I don't know any muslim people in my social circle, but the fear is in me too.. The fear of not knowing what kind of person you are facing in this most unfortunate of times... What are you thinking? When I meet you, and I don't know you yet, YOU might be the hypocrite muslim fundamentalist showing a friendly face but wishing destruction of all things western.<BR/><BR/>Yes people react to others based on outer looks, that's natural, it won't change. But between muslim and western culture it's all messed up now. You might meet me on the street and notice I won't look in your direction and surely avoid looking you in the eyes; you know, it's a tension. I just don't know what kind of persons you are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-55268550063187418282007-12-03T06:03:00.000-08:002007-12-03T06:03:00.000-08:00I’ve had more comments in one day than I’ve had in...I’ve had more comments in one day than I’ve had in the last three months. Where are you all coming from? I presume somebody has posted my ‘You Muslims’ post on another website. (Oh, it’s from reddit. Thanks for telling me, anonymous.)<BR/><BR/>Anyway, thank you all for coming and commenting. No time to respond to every point, but:<BR/><BR/>The Anonymous who says that I don’t dare criticise Islamic extremists because I’m scared I’ll be killed, and that people like me in general can’t speak because of fear of violence, is obviously ignorant of the debates that go on between Muslims all the time in English, Arabic and other languages. If you read elsewhere on this blog you’ll find me criticising Islamic extremism. See, for instance, The Horns of Satan http://qunfuz.blogspot.com/2006/12/horns-of-satan.html and Osama bin Laden http://qunfuz.blogspot.com/2007/10/osama-bin-laden.html . My blog is meant for Muslims as well as non-Muslims, and some posts specifically address the current problems in Islam. The best example is A Ramadan Reflection http://qunfuz.blogspot.com/2007/09/ramadan-reflection.html .<BR/><BR/>Dirk Flinthart – great piece. Thanks for the link.<BR/><BR/>Ryan – I agree. We’re human before we’re anything else. I certainly didn’t mean to suggest that all Westerners are racists. I’m a Westerner myself!<BR/><BR/>Anonymous – thanks for info from Policy Exchange. I will indeed use it when I get round to writing that post. And hold off on that disgust; it’s not good for your heart. I think the atrocities committed by Wahhabi-nihilists in the West are criminal, pointless and immoral. I’ve said as much in my post on bin Laden (see above). Of course, these attacks are pinpricks compared to the violence done by Western governments in non-Western countries.<BR/><BR/>Ido – You’re right. Such generalising can target us all. I sometimes have to remind friends that some of the most active and most principled anti-Zionists are Jewish Israelis.<BR/><BR/>Anonymous Christian – thanks for this wonderful comment and the beautiful quotation from Corinthians. Talking can only be a positive thing. I understand that in both the US and the UK there is politically correct bureaucratic pressure to stop people wishing each other Merry Christmas so that religious minorities will not be upset. This strikes me as silly. I wish my Christian colleagues a Merry Christmas, and I feel very happy when they wish me a Happy Eid.<BR/><BR/>Mike – you’re not rambling at all.<BR/><BR/>Dave – If you read my post on the hijab, you’ll see that I don’t agree with you that the Qur’an says women should be covered up. In the New Testament St Paul says that you shall not suffer a witch to live, but I don’t assume that all Christians support witch burnings.<BR/><BR/>Bushroot – you’re absolutely right. Ignorance serves a political/ economic agenda.<BR/><BR/>Henning – I’m afraid I don’t have time to respond to all of your points here, but I invite you to read more widely on my blog, where you will find treatment of many of these issues. In brief, I don’t believe in a literalist reading of religious text. I am not alone in this. Very many Muslims feel the same. Secondly, if the Qur’an is read with an eye to its historical context, it is clear than ‘unbeliever’ does not mean Christian or Jew, and certainly not atheist in the modern sense. (the prophet’s father was called Abdullah – slave of God – showing that the pagans of Mecca already believed in God), and that the unbelievers that the Qur’an talks about fighting were the specific group that had persecuted the early Muslim community. Muslims have at times persecuted non-Muslims in the name of religion, and at other times they have been very tolerant. And with regards to israel, the conflict is not religious, although it has sometimes looked like that over the last decade. And, respectfully, to say that Muslims have attacked Israel and not vice versa is innacurate, and reveals ingestion of too much bad media. Read the great israeli historians Avi Schlaim or Ilan Pappe on this.qunfuzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07381648516025592849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-80493298995766304772007-12-03T06:02:00.000-08:002007-12-03T06:02:00.000-08:00I sympathize with your position. In my business I...I sympathize with your position. In my business I have worked with an international, multi-racial, multifaith clientele for 40 years, and have many aquaintances and a few friends that are members of groups that most westerners have never even heard of, including a number of Muslims.<BR/><BR/>More than a few of my friends, however, have told me stories, some pretty horrific, of being targeted by Muslim extremists. Filipinos, Indonesians, Indians, Iranians, Christian Palestinians, and Lebanese, and several others have told me of relatives murdered and other evils done specifically in the name of Islam and Jihad. <BR/><BR/>So yes, you are reasonable, yes you are civilized (whatever that means), but you provide cover to your co religionists who are not. <BR/><BR/>Not your fault, of course, that others do evil in the name of your religion.<BR/><BR/>However, the idea that your religion justifies my murder, the enslavement of my wife and female relatives, and the rapine of my property, and the fact that these writings are used today to justify these kinds of acts places you in an unfortunate position.<BR/><BR/>The fact that other, reasonable, educated "westernised" Muslims have used their position to funnel money and other aid to murderers in other countries, and to bring the ideology of hate to the west, gives us cause to suspect you and your motives. Nothing personal.<BR/><BR/>One of my friends, who is Pakistani, told me after 9/11 that he and his family expected to be killed or burned out of their apartment; in his country an attack by Christians (or Hindus) would have resulted in wholesale pogroms.<BR/><BR/>I don't have a solution. Islam claims to be a religion of the sword, noting the Saudi flag, and historically has expanded primarily through murder and war. Even where Islam was brought by traders, such as Indonesia and the Philllipines, Islam was attractive to criminals and other violent people--I read that western prison systems have been systematically targeted for coversion by foreign Muslim activists.<BR/><BR/>The best solution will come from you and people like you. Make your violent co-religionists stop hurting other people. I will make the point that as far a I know, the only places that successfully resisted Muslim expansionism did so by eradicating all Muslims in their communities. I would hate to see that happen in the United States, as we have seen how it works in Europe, but frankly, Jihad equals genocide, and we have seen how that works in the Muslim countries, too, in the Sudan, in Armenia, Ionia, the Phillipines, and of course, historically throughout what is now the Umma, which, again, was primarily conquered by the sword. Stop trying to explain to us that Islam is a religion of peace; we have noticed otherwise, and have also seen that the people who tell us that often send money to foreign killers. We have learned the meaning of Hudna, Taqqiya, and Dhimmi.<BR/><BR/>I have spent the last five years studying the words of the terrorists, and have reluctantly come to the conclusion that it is more likely than not to come down to a them-or-us scenario.<BR/><BR/>People like you can make a difference. God help you if you don't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-35763863148621901052007-12-03T05:42:00.000-08:002007-12-03T05:42:00.000-08:00Hi,I totally agree with you that it is unfair and ...Hi,<BR/><BR/>I totally agree with you that it is unfair and prejudiced to think you know what a person thinks about certain topics just because of their religion.<BR/>I don't think that there is something wrong with muslims. Most of them are law-obeying, nice and peaceful persons, that would never even think about using violence in the name of islam. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the problem that we face today is that most of them are muslims-in-name only (like many christians are, by the way). What do I mean by that?<BR/>Nearly all muslims in the world believe, that the quran is the perfect word of god (again, please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm certainly not an expert on this subject). The problem is, if you believe this, every command in the quran is a mandate for you (or otherwise you can't be a "real" muslim). Sure, there are a lot of nice things in the quran (like in 109:6 "You shall have your religion and I shall have my religion."), but they are nearly all from the early times when mohammed was in mecca and are (in the "mainstream-islam" understanding) overruled by the never revelations like 9:5 "So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush". You can't deny that the quran commands muslims to fight against unbelievers until they submit to islamic rule or convert.<BR/>My problem is that many muslims seem to be quite happy to attack western states and especially israel, but fail to condem those commandments from their holy text. Simply stating that "Islam is peace" won't cut it, because the quran, the hadiths and arabic history clearly show this to be wrong.<BR/>So I think the term "islamophobia" is wrong, because a phobia is an irrational fear, but the fear of islamic ideology is very real to me. We are really lucky that most muslims like you choose not to follow their religion in the way mohammed (or allah) intended them to. But as long as you are saying that you believe in the word of the quran without condeming all the "slay the infidels"-stuff, there is very little hope for fighting the fear of islam.<BR/>I certainly would like to hear how you feel about that issue, because I've always wondered how todays muslims in western states live with this (for me) clear contradiction between their actions and the words of the quran.<BR/>If you want to learn more about the points I've made concerning the quran, please refer to the excellent <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=muhammadsquran" REL="nofollow">Idiots guide to islam</A> on youtube. I'd like to hear your opinion about that too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-41305906368434956912007-12-03T05:34:00.000-08:002007-12-03T05:34:00.000-08:00you know maybe muslims living in the west should d...you know maybe muslims living in the west should do something positive to engage the community they live in, stop this victim mentallity.<BR/><BR/>I do have to add that my interaction with them have not been positive :(<BR/><BR/>they lacked respect for their community that has accepted them and the country that have given them a new opportunity.<BR/><BR/>so far they've only incited hatred by preaching fundamentalism (calling Australian women pieces of meat on national TV, and that it was justified to rape them).<BR/><BR/>not a good start...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-60742731514450919952007-12-03T05:31:00.000-08:002007-12-03T05:31:00.000-08:00RE: William Bennett's comment"Christians get the s...RE: William Bennett's comment<BR/><BR/><BR/>"Christians get the same sort of attitude nowadays. Have dinner at someone's house, and you get a lecture about how creationism is scientifically wrong, global warming is real, and the red states should be set on fire and all their residents gassed."<BR/><BR/><BR/>Really? I mean, I agree with all of these statements, except the red-state thing (I live in Iowa), but I have never seen anyone dress down a Christian for the inadequacies of their politics. Now, republicans...yes, and it's completely justified. Because for the past 13 years or so, very few moderate republicans found it expedient (or even desirable) to separate themselves from radical republicans. So, you know, it's the bed you have to sleep in...Erin Madsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00959158859640237071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-85938556463737254262007-12-03T04:53:00.000-08:002007-12-03T04:53:00.000-08:00Well done, if everyone shared your logical intelli...Well done, if everyone shared your logical intelligence I very much doubt the world would be in it's current state.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-36673696981525446022007-12-03T04:49:00.000-08:002007-12-03T04:49:00.000-08:00"but its SELF INFLICTED punishment."If Muslim A bl..."but its SELF INFLICTED punishment."<BR/><BR/>If Muslim A blows up location X, it has nothing to do with Muslim B, yet Muslim B will bare the brunt of the following prejudice. How is that self-inflicted?Matt Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14734381275903355365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-51396804721369087522007-12-03T04:48:00.000-08:002007-12-03T04:48:00.000-08:00Interesting article. It is indeed a sad state of a...Interesting article. It is indeed a sad state of affairs when a large, vaguely connected group of people is demonised for the actions of a handful of members of that group. This has happened many times throughout history, and it is unfortunate that Muslims are the current target in the West.<BR/><BR/>By the way, you've been linked from reddit (http://reddit.com/info/61z5s/comments/)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-50519531021547207722007-12-03T04:43:00.000-08:002007-12-03T04:43:00.000-08:00Thank you for writing this. I have to say, it's re...Thank you for writing this. I have to say, it's really a piece that's made me think. I am a white middle-American male, atheist, who considers himself at least sophisticated enough to have a productive conversation with someone from a different background, but I found myself reflecting, while I read your depiction of this 'girlfriend', and finding a similar wish in myself to jump to conclusions and win some ethical/cultural argument, rather than have an actual dialog. So, again, thank you. It has got me thinking.Erin Madsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00959158859640237071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-14679825483554734812007-12-03T03:59:00.000-08:002007-12-03T03:59:00.000-08:00Dead on analysis. While I would love to blame Fox ...Dead on analysis. While I would love to blame Fox News and [at best] complacent media, the problem is the heart of Western racism. The last century was fortified by the stratification of people from the "developing" nations. There was and still is a concerted effort to maintain the political and social hegemony. This can only be done through the ignorance of your friend's [thankfully] ex-girlfriend.glrBushroothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12637222246169257587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-88228261617619503412007-12-03T03:55:00.000-08:002007-12-03T03:55:00.000-08:00Salam,Since when a discussion involves listening t...Salam,<BR/><BR/>Since when a discussion involves listening to others ?<BR/>That's probably a muslim barbarian ideology, we westerner know better ;)<BR/><BR/>Just a wee thank you for your post. I'm going to visit Iran, and from what I read, the tradition of muslim hospitality there is something that has moved and impressed all visitors. Even the onces as atheist as I am ;)<BR/><BR/>Have a nice dayUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14932301301343146950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33889889.post-57338713218704164212007-12-03T03:35:00.000-08:002007-12-03T03:35:00.000-08:00oyxgsIt's interesting that you talk about this lik...oyxgsIt's interesting that you talk about this like it's a form of racism when, of course, it isn't racism (by the sounds of it, it has nothing to do with you being arabic and everything to do with your religion). <BR/><BR/>Asking a child questions about a faith that they know nothing about is of course inappropriate, but no more so that bringing up a child religious in the first place.<BR/><BR/>As for her assumptions ... most holy books contain some pretty awful things. And while you pick and choose the bits you find acceptable, other members of the same faith as you do not do so and choose to believe it all, even the bits about killing enemies and being rewarded for it.<BR/><BR/>Your book says women should be covered up and that you should pray 5 times a day. Do you agree with these? Those are basic tenets of your chosen religion. Is there anything wrong with assuming someone who claims membership of your religion believes these things? Of course not.<BR/><BR/>Your friend’s ex-girlfriend lacks tact, yes. And she made incorrect assumptions about you, yes. But when you profess membership of a religion you can't expect everyone else to give a damn about your personal interpretation of whichever bits of that religion you've chosen to cherry-pick and which you've arbitrarily chosen to disregard.<BR/><BR/>Is this specific to islam? Of course not. Same applies to christianity, hindi, judaism ....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com