We are Americans too, insist US Muslims (Huh?)

Times of India ^ | 9/3/06 | reuters

[voletti]

WASHINGTON: Ihsan Saadeddin is proud to be an American. But he's tired of having to prove it just because he's a Muslim too.

The Palestinian grocery store owner in Phoenix has called the United States home for 25 years and feels as American as the next guy. He met his wife in Arizona, sent his three children to public school and has a weakness for McDonald's.

But Saadeddin says the September 11 attacks were a tragic watershed which turned US Muslims from ordinary citizens into objects of suspicion and discrimination overnight.

He believes it is why he was questioned at the airport for 45 minutes last month and asked repeatedly if he supports terrorism.

"Being born in another country does not make me less American than the secretary of homeland security," Saadeddin said.

Estimates of the number of Muslim Americans vary between three and seven million, including Arabs, Iranians, South Asians, African Americans and many other communities.

News of domestic wiretapping, monitoring of mosques, immigration crackdowns, public support for racial profiling and bans on some Muslim scholars visiting the United States has made many Muslim Americans feel like targets of racism.

Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, speaks for many when he complains that officials including President George W. Bush use terms such as "Islamo-fascism" to describe the militant threat. They say such terms are inflammatory and liken their faith to dictatorships.

"This type of thing really hurts," said Elahi, an Iranian-born Shi'ite religious leader.

Outreach efforts

US officials deny they unfairly target Muslim Americans and say community leaders have better access to top US officials than ever before. Outreach efforts include townhall meetings with law enforcement officers and training courses for officials by community members.

"It's obvious that Muslim Americans face civil rights challenges now that they never faced before," said Daniel Sutherland, who heads the civil rights and civil liberties office at the Department of Homeland Security.

"As the government, we need to engage better with Muslim Americans. And we're trying hard within our department and you'll see it with state and local governments," he said.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Muslims in the United States could be facing some wrong discrimination, but being questioned at airports shouldn't be considered discrimination.

Discrimination: seeing some random Muslim on the street and labelling him a member of alqaeda.

Logic: A man with a Middle Eastern (southwestern Asian) accent, with a puffy overcoat on a hot, summer day walking in a place frequented by many people is pulled over and searched for explosives.

[hardworking]

OK, I'll admit it. What does 'bookmark' mean? Thanks.

[Jorge]

Apparently religious freedom only matters to some folks as long as it's THEIR religious freedoms we're talking about.

Exactly. And they are unwittingly falling into the trap of characterizing this as a religious war rather than a war against terrorists and religious fanactics.

This is precisely what Bin Laden and his instigators WANT.

[Chena]

I have heard so many Muslims being interviewed, and have read their views on the internet, who completely disprove what you are saying. Their "failure to communicate" may be nothing more than your, and others, "failure to listen". Yes, failure to listen. They have explained, time and time again, how they perceive their teachings, what morals they live by, how they in this modern day truly believe. They do not believe every word in the Koran to be "literal". Just as we do not always take everything in the Bible as being in a literal sense, neither do they.

The peace loving Muslims HAVE told us in plain English where they stand. Stop and listen. Always good advice when trying to learn truths. :)

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

There is a strong resemblence to the Japanese American situation in World War 2, and it is disgusting that so many freepers take this opposition to Muslims so far. As in World War 2 toward those of Japanese descent, it is understandable to put Muslims under suspicion. However, suspicion is not full-fledged accusation, which some Americans seem to do toward--in some cases--THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.

[Chena]

You're playing with the Koran in the way that some people love playing "Bible Bingo". I was affected just as much as anyone by 9/11. Our son went to war. Do not confuse me with someone who doesn't care, or doesn't understand the dangers of Islamic extremists/facists. My son fought along side of Muslims in the military. He protected them, and they protected him. They are ALL fighting the same enemy and dying in the fight. Some here on FR have come right out and said that they do NOT support any of our Muslim soldiers either. See what I mean? Hatred is blinding.....it's been proven time and again on this website.

[cripplecreek]

Then there's this nice fellah who gets sentenced to nearly 30 years and prison while claiming that kidnapping, rape, and false imprisonment are part of his "muslim behaviors".

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4960559,00.html

[ClearBlueSky]

And you have let your naive, wholesale TRUST of all of them suspend your judgement AND your sense of self-preservation.
Trust away- I can't stop you, and the next terrorists who are pretending to be harmless are certainly counting on you! I consider you disgraceful- are you going to change to avoid the label? Why should I?
I didn't anticipate an argument- that TRUST enabled the perpetrators of 9-11 is beyond argument.
But please, don't misinterpret my post.
It's ISLAM, as a belief system, that I hate. If the humans infected by it could purge their brains of it, I'd have little problem with them.

[hardworking]

Are any Christians out there upset if I call Christian Identity and similar sects, examples of "Christian Fascism"?

Speaking for myself, a loud NO. In fact, scream it from the rafters because such nonsense is an insult to Christianity and I feel a DUTY to make it clear that I abhor their ideas and find them disgusting! THERE, try and get THAT kind of statement from some 'peace-loving' Muslims about THEIR religious fanatics!

[rawcatslyentist]

>"we are suppossed to have respect for other to practice their person beliefs...without showing hatred and intolerance for them.">"

What if their personal "beliefs" are showing hatred and intolerance? Seems to sum up about half of the queeranus! The other half is permission and commandments to commit MURDER, molest children, Beat women, and enslave non slimeys!

Ya just gotta respect those values, or otherwise the brain deadites on DU will call you a beegot!

I may be an intolerant bigot, but I'm not gonna be a willing sacrifice to satanallah!

[sgtbono2002]

True. Methinks these people doth protest too much.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

And how often were you called Nazi by people who knew you were of German extraction?

[fabriclady]

"I couldn't care less what any Muslims have to say. Period, end of discussion."

I am in agreement 100%.
I went to KFC late this afternoon, a young woman was walking across the parking lot, dress in a plain black, floor length dress with the white wrap on her head. The wrap covered her mouth.

Why should she be permitted to cover her mouth? She would be very hard to identify.
She looked like a sweet kind woman...I bet all the bombers looked kind and some sweet.
With the face partially covered, how do we know who this is and what are they up to.
If they want to live in America, let them dress like us. And its about time they start acting like us...meaning, stop the killing.

[Chena]

I think that their muslim brothers put them between the rock and hard place, not any American. I also think that the muslim community is extremely selfish and has no concept of shame, well to any other people that is. How can any one group not be ashamed for making the entire flying public be forced to waste their time and money just to save their standing in life. Why should the rest of the world be forced to lose valuable time, resources and their self respect for muslims? Sorry, no pity from me for their whiny way of life and their desire to train their children to love death instead of life. I know the enemy and until they change their ways, I paint them all the same. America has been very tolerant of them, unfortunately their muslim brothers do not care if the peaceful ones you are concerned for have to pay a price for killing innocent people.

You're truly ill! ROFL! You are actually accusing American Muslims of being selfish because some sick, demented terrorists who used the name of Islam to justify their attacks on America and elsewhere?! I suppose you think all of our American Muslim neighbors got some secret memo from the terrorists. Forget that Muslims died in the attacks of 9/11 and terrorist attacks elsewhere in the world.

If some white, Christian extremists blow up a bunch of people am I, as a Christian, who had NOTHING to do with them or their beliefs, supposed to be held accountable for their murderous actions?! Should I be ashamed of myself for being a Christian because of these sick, evil, demented people?

IMO, your mindset is bordering on being just as sick and demented as those terrorists we're fighting against.

[Chena]

Exactly. And they are unwittingly falling into the trap of characterizing this as a religious war rather than a war against terrorists and religious fanactics. This is precisely what Bin Laden and his instigators WANT.

You're right about that. This is not a religious war, and those who are attempting to make it so, have lost all perspective and, I might add, their souls. If they are Christians at all, they should be repenting right about now.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

What are the tenants of Christian Identity that you are against (if you are up to it, could you give a brief synopsis of the group)?

[Chena]

There is a strong resemblence to the Japanese American situation in World War 2, and it is disgusting that so many freepers take this opposition to Muslims so far. As in World War 2 toward those of Japanese descent, it is understandable to put Muslims under suspicion. However, suspicion is not full-fledged accusation, which some Americans seem to do toward--in some cases--THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.

I agree. Also, if anyone wanted to dig up dirt on Christians, and prove that Christians are NOT peaceloving people, they could get a mountain of filth from some comments being made here on FR.

[endthematrix]

"he complains that officials including President George W. Bush "

Try voicing complaints about the real perpetrators of your discontent: Islamic terrorists. The silence is deafening.

[JillValentine]

I will always oppose Islamic fascists, terrorists, and extremists. I have no problem with Muslims who are willing to live in peace with their neighbors and yes, I do recognize that they exist.

"Sorry, but you have allowed your hatred for Islamic facists/extremists/terrorists to cloud your better judgement"

But according to you, according to your own words, hating terrorists is wrong. Is anyone who doesn't love Osama a bigot now?

Someone who hates all Muslims is wrong, but someone who thinks it's wrong to hate a terrorist is a lot worse.

A little tip. Calling people bigots and saying that arguing with them would be like arguing with a liberal isn't going to get people on your side. Your stereotyping of conservatives is no different from the way an extremist would stereotype all Muslims. You sound pretty liberal yourself, since liberals are always promoting nasty stereotypes about conservatives.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

You, nor any other human creature, have the right to judge who is and isn't a Christian. That stated, a lot of nominal Christians on FR (who could be or could not be Christians) do express definitely nonChristian statements at times.