The hated muslim (moral, beliefs, minority, grace, blood)

[fullyveiled muslimah]

Why do you guys think non-muslims dislike us so much? I'm not talking about just having some misunderstanding. I am talking about all out hatred for Islam. Islam is generally referred to as a threat to the world and dangerous. Why do you guys think this is the case? Why is there such a push to get rid of Islam altogether?

[Djamila]

It depends on the region. If we're talking about Bosnian Muslims and why we were the victims of genocide, it's because of history. Christian nationalists view us as the remnants of an Empire they despise, as domestic collaborators - a similar dynamic was behind the Armenian genocide.

If we're talking about America, I believe it's often just a continuation of fundamentalist Christian xenophobia, based in ignorance and a lack of genuine exposure to people who are different. Those who don't fit into this category, in my experience, often have indirect personal reasons to feel the way they do - ie Jewish nationalists, Armenian immigrants, etc.

But most of the hatred I've encountered, from people of all backgrounds, has been based in ignorance. A small minority (5% maybe?) hold their beliefs with enthusiasm and would turn away evidence contrary to what they believe. The rest would be just shocked and pleasantly surprised by a week-long holiday to Turkey or the United Arab Emirates.

[goraya15]

I was about to post a thread asking the same question.

Anyways, my personal opinion, although a lot of you might disagree, is that it is mostly the fault of the muslims that the world sees us as terrorists and blood-thirsty, ignorant tyrnats now. At every media outlet these days, all you can read about is the atrocious behaviour of muslims, especially in the middle east, and now from the west as well. How many other relgiious adherents in this day try to blow each other and everyone else up with suicide bombs and airplanes? It also doens't help that at every corner, we act as a mob, and not at all as the disciplined disciples that we read about who were under the Holy Prophet pbuh. Take the example of the cartoons about the Holy Prophet. Instead of strongly voicing our opinions to the newspaper and the world about how the cartoons made us feel, as well as teaching them about the true nature of the holy prophet pbuh, the muslims made a disgrace of themselves. They started riots, burned buildings, the whole 9 yards, so to speak. The factional riots that have almost regressed into civil war in Iraq are also not helping the image of a scholarly, pious muslim. Oh yea, the constant threats that the world receives from terrorist organizations that stupidly portray themselves as mujaddids, mujahideeds, martyrs , whatever, all for the glory of Islam and the Prophet. How can some people not start to hate us, if all they hear is that we are ready to kill each other, and them as well, for the sake of a tyrannical and bloody religion?

Now i kno that the vast majority of muslims are not like that, and most wouldn't dream of violence, but they are also partly to blame. Those Muslims should be out in force, protecting the name of the Holy Prophet pbuh and Islam from the the ravages of those so called muslims and the western world, not with the sword, but with the pen. Alast, at the very least, i don't see that happening.

Hatred can only happen in the absence of understanding. Without the knowledge of the true Islam and what it really means to be a Muslim, im afraid many people in the future will learn to hate, fear and despise Islam.

[Buttercup]

Originally Posted by fullyveiled muslimah

Why do you guys think non-muslims dislike us so much? I'm not talking about just having some misunderstanding. I am talking about all out hatred for Islam. Islam is generally referred to as a threat to the world and dangerous. Why do you guys think this is the case? Why is there such a push to get rid of Islam altogether?

Personally, I don't hate Muslims at all. But, then again I keep educated in general about current events and know that the average Muslim is a good, loving person, many do not have this view though.

I have to disagree with Mila about why some Americans dislike Muslims. It has it's start with Islamic extremists unfortunately and has very little to do with fundamentalistic Christianity. We see terrorists as Islamic extremists creating havoc around the world. Some people are unable because of ignorance to dislodge the sterotype between extremists and normal Muslims. It's sad but very true.

[YmirGF]

Contrary to popular belief I most certainly do not hate Islam or Muslims. I do however view most Muslims I have encountered in daily life and here on RF and elsewhere as being a fairly narrow minded and often quite arrogant although that arrogance is often sublimated. One thing in particular is that, as a rule, Muslims do not come to RF to learn or share ideas, but rather, to instruct and to point out error. Meanwhile, when anyone uses a psychological mirror and bounces similar criticisms back at Muslims/Islam there is a tendency to react obstinately and a tad rude rather quickly. Frankly, like fundamentalists of any stripe, Muslims are not especially tolerant folks... in general.

For example, in another thread FullyVeiled stated recently that if someone saw her walking down the street they would think a) there goes a "holy woman" or b) there goes a crazy lady. Oddly she didn't consider people like me who just look and think, "Hmmm. There is a person who has a deep seated need to demonstrate their moral superiority in an overt way." It simply wouldn’t enter my mind that I was looking at a supposedly "holy" woman or a "crazy" person. Methinks Muslims need to take a long careful look at themselves.

[Judgement Day]

Originally Posted by YmirGF

Contrary to popular belief I most certainly do not hate Islam or Muslims. I do however view most Muslims I have encountered in daily life and here on RF and elsewhere as being a fairly narrow minded and often quite arrogant although that arrogance is often sublimated. One thing in particular is that, as a rule, Muslims do not come to RF to learn or share ideas, but rather, to instruct and to point out error. Meanwhile, when anyone uses a psychological mirror and bounces similar criticisms back at Muslims/Islam there is a tendency to react obstinately and a tad rude rather quickly. Frankly, like fundamentalists of any stripe, Muslims are not especially tolerant folks... in general.

For example, in another thread FullyVeiled stated recently in another thread that if someone saw her walking down the street they would think a) there goes a "holy woman" or b) there goes a crazy lady. Oddly she didn't consider people like me who just look and think, "Hmmm. There is a person who has a deep seated need to demonstrate their moral superiority in an overt way." It simply wouldn’t enter my mind that I was looking at a supposedly "holy" woman or a "crazy" person. Methinks Muslims need to take a long careful look at themselves.

I disagree with you Paul. I tend to see that you are trying to put this whole idea of yours onto the majority of Muslims. I fail to see how you can judge Muslims are narrow minded when you can only see the flaw in Muslims in particular. Muslims are not narrow minded in general, look at the achievements, have you heard about the recent Nobel Prize receiver which is a Muslim named Muhammad Yunus who turned beggars into businessmen, who lended money to the poor without picking up any interest in return, who gave hope to children to continue their education. I am sad to see you see Muslims only on the bad side of the coin.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by fullyveiled muslimah

Why do you guys think non-muslims dislike us so much? I'm not talking about just having some misunderstanding. I am talking about all out hatred for Islam. Islam is generally referred to as a threat to the world and dangerous. Why do you guys think this is the case? Why is there such a push to get rid of Islam altogether?

I think part of the problem, at least in America, are the bimbo talk show hosts who have stereotyped Muslims as backwards fanatics who hate the West.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by YmirGF

Contrary to popular belief I most certainly do not hate Islam or Muslims. I do however view most Muslims I have encountered in daily life and here on RF and elsewhere as being a fairly narrow minded and often quite arrogant although that arrogance is often sublimated. One thing in particular is that, as a rule, Muslims do not come to RF to learn or share ideas, but rather, to instruct and to point out error. Meanwhile, when anyone uses a psychological mirror and bounces similar criticisms back at Muslims/Islam there is a tendency to react obstinately and a tad rude rather quickly. Frankly, like fundamentalists of any stripe, Muslims are not especially tolerant folks... in general.

For example, in another thread FullyVeiled stated recently in another thread that if someone saw her walking down the street they would think a) there goes a "holy woman" or b) there goes a crazy lady. Oddly she didn't consider people like me who just look and think, "Hmmm. There is a person who has a deep seated need to demonstrate their moral superiority in an overt way." It simply wouldn’t enter my mind that I was looking at a supposedly "holy" woman or a "crazy" person. Methinks Muslims need to take a long careful look at themselves.

I have to disagree, Paul. I think many of the Muslims on RF are anything but narrow minded. You might point to a blind spot that someone has and say, "See, this Muslim is narrow minded." But before you do that you should consider your own blind spots, because each and everyone of us has our own blind spots. The existence of a few blind spots does not make someone narrow minded.

I have a huge respect for the learnedness of many of the Muslims on this forum, and I'm rather surprised you don't see it yourself.

[Djamila]

Originally Posted by Buttercup

I have to disagree with Mila about why some Americans dislike Muslims. It has it's start with Islamic extremists unfortunately and has very little to do with fundamentalistic Christianity. We see terrorists as Islamic extremists creating havoc around the world. Some people are unable because of ignorance to dislodge the sterotype between extremists and normal Muslims. It's sad but very true.

I agree - but I fault the Americans themselves for their views of Muslims. We all live in the same world. Why don't people in Thailand view Muslims so unfavorably? Why not in Spain? Both of these countries have had their share of problems with Islamic extremism but the same ideas expressed in the United States don't really exist.

The American media, I believe, is designed to scare people. Almost every story is about something new to be feared - whether it's the hottest Christmas toy or Muslims.

[jacquie4000]

I do not hate Muslims at all. I can not account for all parts of the Muslim world, I was married to a Muslim for 7 years. He was from Egypt. I must say though that they are quite the stubborn bread of men. I think alot of them do not wish to interact with us, that is a problem. When they tend to say something it is their way, and nothing you say is going to change their mind. This in itself is fine everyone is welcome to their own opinion. But for the most part they do not want to hear your opinion because what they have to say is right. That is what I found difficult. Plus alot of things in their religion and culture are so much different then ours. For the most part all of his freinds felt american women in general were sluts. This made me very mad. But at the same time I admired the way he took care of his family back home and how much family and religion meant to him. I truely believe if they can not adapt to the people and culture in america they do not belong here they should go back home. I have no problem that they are in america but they also need to respect our way of life. Like I said I just know of the Egyptian men I met and how they were. In public they can be quite funny and charming. But from what I have seen when they marry american women they treat them like dirt. I only knew a few that stayed faithfull and were nice to their american wife. Sorry I am sure their are many who are good and faithfull, but I have not seen it here.