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-- What it takes to be a Muslim these days..

What it takes to be a Muslim these days..

Today I got into this Metro rail going to meet one client in his office, compartment was not that crowded and stuff, than these two bearded Muslim guys entered with some packets (wearing that cap and long kurta payjamas).. suddenly everyone started staring at them and checked them out.. they sat nicely and were pretty normal..and than after like 5 stations they got out; and when I saw them leaving I quickly looked at their seats to check if they have taken their packets back along with them or have left it there.. both of them noticed me checking it out; they looked at me and looked down like in shame..

I felt bad for them, pity.

Re: What it takes to be a Muslim these days..

quote:

Originally posted by Purple Today I got into this Metro rail going to meet one client in his office, compartment was not that crowded and stuff, than these two bearded Muslim guys entered with some packets (wearing that cap and long kurta payjamas).. suddenly everyone started staring at them and checked them out.. they sat nicely and were pretty normal..and than after like 5 stations they got out; and when I saw them leaving I quickly looked at their seats to check if they have taken their packets back along with them or have left it there.. both of them noticed me checking it out; they looked at me and looked down like in shame.. I felt bad for them, pity.

Yeah that is sad. I just think it goes with the times though. I mean people are paranoid, especially after 9/11, Madrid, London, and the latest threats. Not that I cadone this behavior (the people looking weird at muslims) but I just think you need to realize that people are this way, not just in the United States, although I think that's where it's most prevalent. People are going to stare, and not that all muslims are terrorists, but after all of these terror attacks, threats...people are going to appoach them differently than someone else. And when they are in more traditional type outfitts, they will be looked upon as different or a potentional "terrorist" even if they aren't....and that is wrong. Like I said, it's the times we live in and there's nothing that will happen that will change this for a very long time. The world isn't like it used to be, but has it ever been a world of absolute peace? Doubt it...

I just think 9/11 was a paradigm shift...something that showed us that our continued globalization has it's consequences...and this comes with being an open society as we are. I mean I admit to looking at some muslims a bit differently, like at the place I work, but I don't think terrorist or anything, it's just something that a lot of people will do and not think about it. The same with indians in their traditional dress. I think what it could be is people just stare at others who are wearing different clothes or just look different (even handicap or mentally challenged peoples)....they do it with the amish too. That's what Lancaster really is...a tourist place that shows off the Amish and their lifestyle. So just because people stare, doesn't neccessarily mean they are being rude or paranoid. I will admit though that with muslim people's nowadays, they are more likely to have this stigma or to be viewed differently, when they really shouldn't be.

You reap what you sow.

Re: What it takes to be a Muslim these days..

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Originally posted by Purple I felt bad for them, pity.

I dont. If a comunity is going to live in self imposed exile and distance itself from normal society than why shouldnt we view them as aliens and be suspicious.

It is up to them to integrate. Remember "who came to who's society" and harboured the extreme element!!

Re: Re: What it takes to be a Muslim these days..

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Originally posted by sasslife I dont. If a comunity is going to live in self imposed exile and distance itself from normal society than why shouldnt we view them as aliens and be suspicious. It is up to them to integrate. Remember "who came to who's society" and harboured the extreme element!!

Yeah but integration shouldn't mean changing your customs..traditions or lifestyle (way of dress). Just because they are wearing different clothes or are muslim, doesn't mean they are terrorists. The idea of multi-culturalism is what has made places like the United States, the UK, and elsewhere...socities in which people feel free to practice whatever religion they want or wear whatever they want, void of persecution. I understand the reality that people will stare, but like I said in my other post, that is to be expected, esp in today's society. However, we shouldn't have everyone give up their lifestyles in order to just be like everyone else in the way of dress and religion.

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Originally posted by stevieboy32808 You reap what you sow.

same can be said with americans mate, have you ever travelled outside of your country? i've met american backpackers who've had to sew Canadian flags onto their backpack :/

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Originally posted by tathi same can be said with americans mate, have you ever travelled outside of your country? i've met american backpackers who've had to sew Canadian flags onto their backpack :/

No I haven't. Humor me for a minute. How does the rest of the world view the U.S. besides power hungry, country invading, fat people.

Re: What it takes to be a Muslim these days..

quote:

Originally posted by Purple Today I got into this Metro rail going to meet one client in his office, compartment was not that crowded and stuff, than these two bearded Muslim guys entered with some packets (wearing that cap and long kurta payjamas).. suddenly everyone started staring at them and checked them out.. they sat nicely and were pretty normal..and than after like 5 stations they got out; and when I saw them leaving I quickly looked at their seats to check if they have taken their packets back along with them or have left it there.. both of them noticed me checking it out; they looked at me and looked down like in shame.. I felt bad for them, pity.

Man, thanks for that man. I too think it's messed up.

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Originally posted by stevieboy32808 No I haven't. Humor me for a minute. How does the rest of the world view the U.S. besides power hungry, country invading, fat people.

Here in Brasília, Americans are known for their exotic fashion sense... and we're used to Europeans, mind you

Re: What it takes to be a Muslim these days..

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Originally posted by Purple I felt bad for them, pity.

try to be a Christian on this board.

not quite the same, of course, but something to think about.

quote:

No I haven't. Humor me for a minute. How does the rest of the world view the U.S. besides power hungry, country invading, fat people.

The stereotypical Americans that you meet abroad are loud, opinionated, obnoxious and have an overly strong sense of entitlement wherever they go that has made them insensetive to other cultures and their customs: "that Chinaman can't even speak American! how inconsiderate of him! i'll just have to speak louder until he understands me!" (exagerated for dramatic effect, but no shit some of them have this mentality)

Of coruse this is a generalisation, and unfair to many Americans who are nothing like this (you've got your dregs in every culture that ruin it for the rest of them) nevertheless there's an unwritten law for many people i've met from many different countries to avoid groups of Americans like the plague; Americans travelling on their own or in pairs are an exception to the rule because they're generally much more friendly and open minded. This law also applies to groups of Israelis who've just gotten out of the army, big groups of Drunken pommie hooligans especially in Eastern Europe, and Aussies also have a bad reputation in Europe.

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Originally posted by tathi same can be said with americans mate, have you ever travelled outside of your country? i've met american backpackers who've had to sew Canadian flags onto their backpack :/

I met three in Thailand and a couple in Africa carrying sporting the Canadian flag. I knew why but i asked never the less. The response i recieved was "we just came from canada".
One chap was a bit more honest and responded something along the lines of "I want to meet other people.. as soon as people know im from the states they dont like me"...

hahah

^^^^ It's a really odd experience to see how people's behaviour toward you changes when they find out you're Canadian rather then American. I've lived it many times in many places. The best was in Liverpool.... my family had been travelling all evening, it was about 23:45 and we couldn't find a hotel/inn with rooms available for the life of us (we had actually started looking whilst in Stirling and managed to cross the entire island stopping in every town along the way including Manchester and couldn't find a room... well other then some nasty shithole in Manchester that my old man couldn't bring himself to stay at). So, we stopped into a pub to ask if anyone knows of any Inns in the area. Not a single person was able to recommend anyplace, until one woman asked what part of the States we were from. When I told her we were from Toronto, Canada the shift in attitude was immediately apparent. One gentleman got on the phone, called his brother-in-law who owned an Inn, the brother-in-law offered up a suite for us, then the gentleman drove out to the inn so we wouldn't get lost and there was a tray of sandwiches and deserts waiting for us in our room. It absolutely astounded me that where we were from made such a difference.

Now, all of that said, I've noticed that people normally assume one is from the US if they speak English and have a North American accent. They will continue to assume this unless they are told otherwise or notice something that indicates the person is Canadian. Which makes me question.... do Americans really behave that badly? If one cannot distinguish an American from a Canadian based on behaviour then certainly their behaviour cannot differ significantly enough to warrant such wildly different reactions. Subsequently, I have concluded that it is more people's perceptions of Americans that leads to their poor reception abroad then the actions of the Americans themselves and the loud annoying Yankies people cite are really more of a justification then a reason.

quote:

Originally posted by tathi The stereotypical Americans that you meet abroad are loud, opinionated, obnoxious and have an overly strong sense of entitlement wherever they go that has made them insensetive to other cultures and their customs: "that Chinaman can't even speak American! how inconsiderate of him! i'll just have to speak louder until he understands me!" (exagerated for dramatic effect, but no shit some of them have this mentality) Of coruse this is a generalisation, and unfair to many Americans who are nothing like this (you've got your dregs in every culture that ruin it for the rest of them) nevertheless there's an unwritten law for many people i've met from many different countries to avoid groups of Americans like the plague; Americans travelling on their own or in pairs are an exception to the rule because they're generally much more friendly and open minded. This law also applies to groups of Israelis who've just gotten out of the army, big groups of Drunken pommie hooligans especially in Eastern Europe, and Aussies also have a bad reputation in Europe.

You must see this! The responses in this thread reminded me of a Daily Show clip: http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewi...l?videoId=12697

I like Muslims, I have met them; been to their house; seen their hospitality; they are nice people..this world today have seen Muslims in a very very wrong way .. and that whats hurts me most. I sometimes wish I was born Muslim.

I live in a predominantly muslim neighbourhood and the average conversations I hear on the street are in languages I don't even speak.I do most of my shopping in turkish or arab stores.

Am I bothered by that?

Heck no. I love diversity and I get pissed off at my friends who don't like coming into town because it's too "risky" ... what a load of bs! Most of the crime that takes places in this town ( it's real bad to be honest ) takes place in the outskirts!

Freaking idiotic people and their closed mindsets.




Now in regards to the whole american image around the world, people need to realize how ungreedy and generous they are!
The US is the highest donor BY FAR to the WFP! ( 2006 contributions to the WFP ).
I could find more examples of their generosity till you'd pass out but everyone wants to stay with a fixed mindset that it's an evil country. Keep in mind I'm not saying it's perfect far from it

quote:

Originally posted by Moral Hazard ^^^^ It's a really odd experience to see how people's behaviour toward you changes when they find out you're Canadian rather then American.

I wonder what kind of response I'd get since I'm American and Muslim.

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