Afraid of backlash against Muslims

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an Iranian American Muslim living in the US for the past 35 years, this is the first time I'm personally feeling hate against all Muslims in general. I definitely didn't feel like this after 9/11. I think it has to do with the fact that 2 potential Presidential candidates are spewing hate against Muslims and the fact that one of them may be president next year. This is terrifying to me. Somehow the way that they are verbalizing this type of hate on national TV day in day out will give it credibility and give the impression that it's OK to be a racist...because hey our leaders are doing it.

When did Muslim become it's own race?

[Anonymous]

Me, too. One of the kindest, most devout, most generous people I know is Muslim. So worried on her behalf....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an Iranian American Muslim living in the US for the past 35 years, this is the first time I'm personally feeling hate against all Muslims in general. I definitely didn't feel like this after 9/11. I think it has to do with the fact that 2 potential Presidential candidates are spewing hate against Muslims and the fact that one of them may be president next year. This is terrifying to me. Somehow the way that they are verbalizing this type of hate on national TV day in day out will give it credibility and give the impression that it's OK to be a racist...because hey our leaders are doing it.

When did Muslim become it's own race?

When Jews became a race.

[Anonymous]

Just know in the US, there is a strong culture of hate... it cycles through the different groups. The US did the same thing to the Jews during the Holocaust. Just know that for as many people that hate and are not supportive, there are many of us who are. I'd love for them to bring as many refugees to the US as they can. I know if I was in that situation, I'd be doing what those families are doing to try to save my children and would want someone to give me an opportunity at a good life. It is truly sad we claim we live in such a wonderful country that is only wonderful on the surface. Please don't assume everyone supports the crazies out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an Iranian American Muslim living in the US for the past 35 years, this is the first time I'm personally feeling hate against all Muslims in general. I definitely didn't feel like this after 9/11. I think it has to do with the fact that 2 potential Presidential candidates are spewing hate against Muslims and the fact that one of them may be president next year. This is terrifying to me. Somehow the way that they are verbalizing this type of hate on national TV day in day out will give it credibility and give the impression that it's OK to be a racist...because hey our leaders are doing it.

When did Muslim become it's own race?

When Jews became a race.

Both are a religion and culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Me, too. Married to an Arab Muslim and have Muslim kids. It's unbelievable. A Sikh man was just brutally attacked in Chicago, with the assailant calling him a terrorist. Mosques are being vandalized left and right. Two American citizens were temporarily banned from boarding their flight because some other passenger was terrified they were speaking Arabic to one another. Hate crimes against Muslims (or perceived Muslims) have increased by 50% since all those Pam Geller campaigns came out a couple of years ago. I bet it's through the roof now with the disgusting rhetoric from most Republican presidential candidates.

George Bush, as much as I didn't like him, stressed over and over that Islam is not the enemy. It is a message that has much more power, unfortunately, coming from a white Christian man, than from a black suspected Muslim one.

Although I find the behavior you're describing deplorable, I don't find it unbelievable. People here are terrified because of these extremist psychos- who happen to be Muslims. It will pass, but I frankly wish people were more upset with the lack of response and assistance from the middle east, rather than blaming understandably frightened Americans for their fears and behaviors.

The middle eastern countries could be leading all efforts to contain ISIS and these "frightened Americans" would STILL be doing stupid stuff like this. If you don't possess the basic knowledge that a sikh is not a muslim, chances are you don't have the knowledge to understand what is happening overseas so it wouldn't make a difference. It's quite easy to differentiate a sikh from a muslim (one useful hint is that muslims in America don't wear turbans, except in video games)

Basic knowledge of the difference between Sikh and Muslim isn't really the issue when you're dealing with a violent and indiscriminate assault on an innocent human being.

[Anonymous]

You dont have to be afraid of it, because sadly it's already happening. I am disgusted, disgusted with our country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is due to Isis and its increasingly barbaric and archaic violence against innocents that keeps escalating. The series of beheadings followed by throwing those poor gay men off buildings and posting on youtube tipped the balance for me and many others. That and the islamic world's horrific attitude towards the human rights of women and religious minorities.

Unfortunately that mentality is front and center and there is no strong public example coming from that part of the world that their values are compatible to religious liberty, human rights and freedom of thought and lifestyle.

Perhaps it is a PR issue from the muslim world? Maybe if there was more horror at the idea of sharia law, oppression of women, persecution of gays, Christians, religious minorities, etc coming from public leaders in that part of the world there wouldn't be as much fear of Islam.

Also, whenever US muslims go on TV to speak up, their approach is always "this is not Islam". However Isis and radical imans say over and over that they ARE Islam. I think those muslims would be better off acknowledging this in some way, perhaps labeling them as an animalistic cult of Islam instead of just saying they have nothing to do with Islam. When there are pew polls coming out of that part of the world saying that muslims support things like stoning women and suicide bombings by vast numbers, it is hard to separate the two for many people.

They are Islam like the Westboro Baptist Church is Chrisitianity. Westboro swear they are Christians. Do we take them at their word? They are the same type of wacky outlier as ISIS is to Islam.

Westboro baptist is a small cult of Christianity. However, they are small, mostly related, not sponsored by a state, and not endorsed by any national or religious leaders. They do not preach in multiple churches. They do not blow people up, behead innocents, stone women, or throw gay people off roof. When they come out to protest, scores of Christians counterprotest, publicly decry their beliefs and drown them out. If you took a survey of any random sample of Christians, you would not find 60, 70, 80% support for their beliefs and what they preach.

The hate of Isis is led by many Imans. Taught in madrasas to young children. Sponsored or encouraged by many governments in that area. Violent sharia law that is imcompatible with freedom and liberty is endorsed by vast majority of those in that part of the world. Violent death for gays or those suspected of being gay. Persecution of those who have different religions. Persecution and oppression of women and girls.

The support for radical islam in that part of the world is probably equal to the hatred of Westboro baptist in this part of the world.

My heart is saddened by OP and others like her. But to blame Donald Trump alone is not getting at the issue of what is causing this fear of muslims. He is just the voice to the fear that many feel.

I love this - bigotry by ISIS and its adherents against Westerners and apostate Muslims justifies Western bigotry against all Muslims. I thought we were better because we had a constitution which separates religion and state but, no, we just descend into the muck like everyone else.

There have been well-known terrorist acts committed by Western Christians (the Sikh temple, the killing of abortion doctors to name a couple) yet we see those people as aberrations. No one suggests that Christianity is to blame.

[Anonymous]

While I fear for the future of our country and for the welfare of my Muslim friends, one good thing that has come out of this is that more people are learning about how we abandoned the European Jews to the Holocaust because of similar bigotry against refugees.

For those who are interested, the Holocaust Museum has come out against this bigotry. http://www.ushmm.org/information/press/press-releases/museum-statement-on-syrian-refugees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Me, too. Married to an Arab Muslim and have Muslim kids. It's unbelievable. A Sikh man was just brutally attacked in Chicago, with the assailant calling him a terrorist. Mosques are being vandalized left and right. Two American citizens were temporarily banned from boarding their flight because some other passenger was terrified they were speaking Arabic to one another. Hate crimes against Muslims (or perceived Muslims) have increased by 50% since all those Pam Geller campaigns came out a couple of years ago. I bet it's through the roof now with the disgusting rhetoric from most Republican presidential candidates.

George Bush, as much as I didn't like him, stressed over and over that Islam is not the enemy. It is a message that has much more power, unfortunately, coming from a white Christian man, than from a black suspected Muslim one.

Although I find the behavior you're describing deplorable, I don't find it unbelievable. People here are terrified because of these extremist psychos- who happen to be Muslims. It will pass, but I frankly wish people were more upset with the lack of response and assistance from the middle east, rather than blaming understandably frightened Americans for their fears and behaviors.

The middle eastern countries could be leading all efforts to contain ISIS and these "frightened Americans" would STILL be doing stupid stuff like this. If you don't possess the basic knowledge that a sikh is not a muslim, chances are you don't have the knowledge to understand what is happening overseas so it wouldn't make a difference. It's quite easy to differentiate a sikh from a muslim (one useful hint is that muslims in America don't wear turbans, except in video games)

Basic knowledge of the difference between Sikh and Muslim isn't really the issue when you're dealing with a violent and indiscriminate assault on an innocent human being.

That is the kind of ignorant thinking that is behind sikhs being attacking because people think they are muslim. Basic knowledge is essential, sorry.

[Anonymous]

It's scary how some of you understand/sympathize with Americans attacking Muslims or those they think are Muslims. Oh because we are all so scared, it's not nice but it kind of makes sense.

Sick.

[Anonymous]

I am not justifying anything. I don't want the trumps of the world to win. But if you are asking why his message is catching on, this is why. People are afraid. Like it or not, Isis and sharia law are unfortunately the face of Islam right now, especially among people who live in communities where the only muslims they see are the ones blowing up people, buildings and airplanes in the name of allah.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is due to Isis and its increasingly barbaric and archaic violence against innocents that keeps escalating. The series of beheadings followed by throwing those poor gay men off buildings and posting on youtube tipped the balance for me and many others. That and the islamic world's horrific attitude towards the human rights of women and religious minorities.

Unfortunately that mentality is front and center and there is no strong public example coming from that part of the world that their values are compatible to religious liberty, human rights and freedom of thought and lifestyle.

Perhaps it is a PR issue from the muslim world? Maybe if there was more horror at the idea of sharia law, oppression of women, persecution of gays, Christians, religious minorities, etc coming from public leaders in that part of the world there wouldn't be as much fear of Islam.

Also, whenever US muslims go on TV to speak up, their approach is always "this is not Islam". However Isis and radical imans say over and over that they ARE Islam. I think those muslims would be better off acknowledging this in some way, perhaps labeling them as an animalistic cult of Islam instead of just saying they have nothing to do with Islam. When there are pew polls coming out of that part of the world saying that muslims support things like stoning women and suicide bombings by vast numbers, it is hard to separate the two for many people.

They are Islam like the Westboro Baptist Church is Chrisitianity. Westboro swear they are Christians. Do we take them at their word? They are the same type of wacky outlier as ISIS is to Islam.

Westboro baptist is a small cult of Christianity. However, they are small, mostly related, not sponsored by a state, and not endorsed by any national or religious leaders. They do not preach in multiple churches. They do not blow people up, behead innocents, stone women, or throw gay people off roof. When they come out to protest, scores of Christians counterprotest, publicly decry their beliefs and drown them out. If you took a survey of any random sample of Christians, you would not find 60, 70, 80% support for their beliefs and what they preach.

The hate of Isis is led by many Imans. Taught in madrasas to young children. Sponsored or encouraged by many governments in that area. Violent sharia law that is imcompatible with freedom and liberty is endorsed by vast majority of those in that part of the world. Violent death for gays or those suspected of being gay. Persecution of those who have different religions. Persecution and oppression of women and girls.

The support for radical islam in that part of the world is probably equal to the hatred of Westboro baptist in this part of the world.

My heart is saddened by OP and others like her. But to blame Donald Trump alone is not getting at the issue of what is causing this fear of muslims. He is just the voice to the fear that many feel.

I love this - bigotry by ISIS and its adherents against Westerners and apostate Muslims justifies Western bigotry against all Muslims. I thought we were better because we had a constitution which separates religion and state but, no, we just descend into the muck like everyone else.

There have been well-known terrorist acts committed by Western Christians (the Sikh temple, the killing of abortion doctors to name a couple) yet we see those people as aberrations. No one suggests that Christianity is to blame.

[Anonymous]

http://www.hangthebankers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Hermann-Goering.jpg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.hangthebankers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Hermann-Goering.jpg

Sorry, here's the quotation from the Nuremberg trials by Hermann Goering:

"Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on
a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of
it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people
don't want war neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in
Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the
country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to
drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist
dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no
voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders.
That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked,
and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the
country to danger. It works the same in any country."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an Iranian American Muslim living in the US for the past 35 years, this is the first time I'm personally feeling hate against all Muslims in general. I definitely didn't feel like this after 9/11. I think it has to do with the fact that 2 potential Presidential candidates are spewing hate against Muslims and the fact that one of them may be president next year. This is terrifying to me. Somehow the way that they are verbalizing this type of hate on national TV day in day out will give it credibility and give the impression that it's OK to be a racist...because hey our leaders are doing it.

What are you doing to calm the fears? Are you denouncing not only the terrorist acts of radical Muslims but also the Muslim teachings they use to motivate and rally their members?