Is it okay to be a Muslim American?

[Joebum]

who died for our country?

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pic Powell refers to

http://www.newyorker.com/images/2008/09/29/p465/080929_slideshowplaton16_p465.jpg

Thought http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-tribune-endorsementoct18,0,3250801.story (this) was interesting also.

I'm a white middle class Christian American, born a republican, but I'm scared by all the hate and fearmongering, bigotry, and divide in our nation and what I see on this site sometimes. I'll be the 1st to say my perspective is not THE perspective.

Hopefully we can all find enough to humility to genuinely listen to others who are different from us (because i was raised that IS the American way- unity amidst our diversity and diversity is welcomed and appreciated even if it makes you uncomfortable).

[Magnus]

I've said it before, and i'll say it again:
I don't have a problem with someone who is Muslim. I look at it the same as any religion. However, i have a problem with someone who thinks people should live and die by the religion they choose, and anyone who doesn't follow that path is either inferior, or should die.

Radicals are horrible in any religion.

[Joebum]

so would you say only religious radicals are dangerous, or every kind of radical?

[DaisyDoesDallas]

On a slight off topic discussion, why does everyone have to be an african american, muslim american, why can't we just be freaking americans??? :confused:

[Magnus]

so would you say only religious radicals are dangerous, or every kind of radical?
Could you load that question anymore, please?
Anyone CAN be dangerous. If they belong to a group that has proven themselves to be dangerous, take the right precautions.
I believe we need to define the word dangerous though before you try to load anymore questions: When i'm implying dangerous, i mean to the national security of our country, and to the safety of our elected government officials in the line of duty.
On a slight off topic discussion, why does everyone have to be an african american, muslim american, why can't we just be freaking americans??? :confused:

They do it because that want to be equal, but different. Makes sense, doesn't it?

[jones4stangs]

http://www.muslimsforamerica.us/assets/boxphotos/LauraBush2008.jpg

http://www.muslimsforamerica.us/newsroom/newsphotos/Oct07_LauaBush.jpg

[Magnus]

That woman is fucking insane.

[FATHERFORD]

On a slight off topic discussion, why does everyone have to be an african american, muslim american, why can't we just be freaking americans??? :confused:


We have a guy at my work that is an African American...and is white...

He put African American as his race and they made him change to Caucasian here at my work.

[JP135]

...why can't we just be freaking americans??? :confused:

Teddy Roosevelt said the same thing.

[jones4stangs]

On a slight off topic discussion, why does everyone have to be an african american, muslim american, why can't we just be freaking americans??? :confused:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority_group

Sociologist Louis Wirth defined a minority group as "a group of people who, because of their physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination."[2] This definition includes both objective and subjective criteria: membership of a minority group is objectively ascribed by society, based on an individual's physical or behavioral characteristics; it is also subjectively applied by its members, who may use their status as the basis of group identity or solidarity. In any case, minority group status is categorical in nature: an individual who exhibits the physical or behavioral characteristics of a given minority group will be accorded the status of that group and be subject to the same treatment as other members of that group.

In short, when the "majority" stops treating people different than themselves, then there will cease to be a "minority". The burden lies with the “majority”.

[Joebum]

yeah, I agree. usually when people say, "why can't we all just be americans" means why can't we all just acclimate to white, middle class culture. that's why racism exists, its not just about skin color but also cultural differences. there is a black culture, white culture, hispanic culture, etc. and because the usa is home to immigrants and always has been since our own tragic killings of the native american population.

i think calling america a melting pot is not only a myth, but hegemonic. more aptly put, we are a mixed salad where other cultures besides our own have a place...why? because we are america. to force others to assimilate to our culture is no different then any middle eastern, islamic country that seems to be so abhorred on this site.

[AL P]

yeah, I agree. usually when people say, "why can't we all just be americans" means why can't we all just acclimate to white, middle class culture. that's why racism exists, its not just about skin color but also cultural differences. there is a black culture, white culture, hispanic culture, etc. and because the usa is home to immigrants and always has been since our own tragic killings of the native american population.

i think calling america a melting pot is not only a myth, but hegemonic. more aptly put, we are a mixed salad where other cultures besides our own have a place...why? because we are america. to force others to assimilate to our culture is no different then any middle eastern, islamic country that seems to be so abhorred on this site.

Indians were killing the shit out of each other long before we got here. From an evolution standpoint, it's not anyone's fault they couldn't invent the wheel but their own. Let's not kid ourselves, they have come out with a pretty sweet deal, IE autonomy within the borders of the Unites States. The Choctaw nation rakes in about a few hundred million a year. You won't hear many of the self loathing whitey haters want to talk about that though.

I also don't recall anyone being "forced" to do any sort of assimilation. I'm not sure why you would think that. Generally if you want to be successful in this country you are going to have to but that is a side effect of a capitalist society.

[Joebum]

I just don't agree with you that the effects that have been made beneficial for the native americans is a good reason for the slaughter of them. certainly no jew would argue that the holocaust was a good thing just because some jews places of wealth and power.


"I also don't recall anyone being "forced" to do any sort of assimilation. Generally if you want to be successful in this country you are going to have to but that is a side effect of a capitalist society."

That's exactly my point, to succeed you must assimilate. who doesn't want to succeed? self defeating argument. That's not capitalism, but hegemonic society. capitalism actually runs off of diversity, does it not?

[FSON]

I was told by a Saudi student in my department in college:

We are going to convert the U.S. Mohamedism, or you will die.
We plan to make the world Muslim, if need be, by force.
But when you are converted, you will not be equal to Arabs.
Arabs will always be superior to other Muslims.
Your Christianity is a false religion.
We Muslims know that your Christ did not die on the cross. He was looking out from behind the corner of a building, laughing, when someone else died on the cross in his place. Christ is just a minor prophet in the Muslim religion.
The U.S. is not very smart. All the technological knowledge you have was stolen from the Germans at the end of World War II.

It went on. I was dumb founded as he shot these statements at me. About 30 minutes after we parted and all those statements stopped running through my head, I thought, Hell No A$$holes!

[sonic93]

I was told by a Saudi student in my department in college:

We are going to convert the U.S. Mohamedism, or you will die.
We plan to make the world Muslim, if need be, by force.
But when you are converted, you will not be equal to Arabs.
Arabs will always be superior to other Muslims.
Your Christianity is a false religion.
We Muslims know that your Christ did not die on the cross. He was looking out from behind the corner of a building, laughing, when someone else died on the cross in his place. Christ is just a minor prophet in the Muslim religion.
The U.S. is not very smart. All the technological knowledge you have was stolen from the Germans at the end of World War II.

It went on. I was dumb founded as he shot these statements at me. About 30 minutes after we parted and all those statements stopped running through my head, I thought, Hell No A$$holes!

Sounds like someone could benefit from a visit from Homeland Security. Maybe hangout on that tropical paradise known as Gitmo.

"We are going to convert the U.S. Mohamedism, or you will die.
We plan to make the world Muslim, if need be, by force."

If that is not a terroristic threat I don't know what it is. Notice the use of the world "We" that is why regular US Citizens do not like "them". Had he just said "I" it would not be so bad. Or wait, would it

[Sean88gt]

On a slight off topic discussion, why does everyone have to be an african american, muslim american, why can't we just be freaking americans??? :confused:
Thank Clinton for that. It was all about political correctness and not wanting to 'offend' anyone.

I don't remember reading anywhere that it is our right to not be offended.

[FSON]

Thank Clinton for that. It was all about political correctness and not wanting to 'offend' anyone.

I don't remember reading anywhere that it is our right to not be offended.
Exactly.
We're all equal so us "white" people should be call European Americans.

Is it my problem "you" have trouble with your skin color?
I treat you as an equal and your skin color insecurity only gets in the way. Get over that non existent problem, now.

[Sean88gt]

Exactly.
We're all equal so us "white" people should be call European Americans.

Is it my problem "you" have trouble with your skin color?
I treat you as an equal and your skin color insecurity only gets in the way. Get over that non existent problem, now.
Which takes it simply to this: Being offended is the problem of the party that takes the offense. Leave the offense alone and do your thing.

[FSON]

Leave the offense alone and do your thing.
No offense, just explain this a little further.