Being Muslim in America

[Anonymous]

It is so hard to be minority in a country. Being a Muslim minority on top it is excruciating for these Americans. I read this article and felt a tug in my heart. Can you imagine how hard it must be to fear the same things we fear when we hear about any mass violence and also worse if the perpetrator happens to be a Muslim. I am sorry what this presidential election has done to the country. Will the wound heal anytime soon? SAD!

http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/17/politics/muslim-americans-2016/

CNN traveled last month to three growing Muslim communities -- in Minneapolis, Northern Virginia and Staten Island -- which represent the diversity and increasing political engagement of Muslims in the United States. The majority of people we spoke to said it is harder to be a Muslim American today than it was even after 9/11.

"I have never thought I would hear my young daughter say, 'Dad, people were asking me about my scarf in the school,' " said Hamse Warfa, a Somali refugee who immigrated to the US as a teenager and now lives in the Minneapolis suburbs. "After 9/11, there was no ring-leader, so to speak, who was championing, mainstreaming, hate."

XXX

At the ADAMS Center's Radiant Hearts Academy in Sterling, Virginia, where preschoolers to second graders are taught a curriculum centered on Islamic values, teachers and parents are grappling with how to explain the election to children.

"You can't really hide it, you know? If it's in the news and your parents are watching the news, it'll come up and the word 'Muslim' will come up," says Hurunnessa Fariad, the school's vice principal.

Originally from Uzbekistan, Fariad moved to the US when she was little and now has four daughters.
"You have to constantly tell your children, 'No, we're not going anywhere. We're here, you know, we haven't done anything wrong,'" she tells CNN. (Fariad doesn't want to share who she will vote for in November, only saying: "It's obvious.")

Sadia Naureen is a 16-year-old resident of Falls Church whose family is from Pakistan. Naureen says she has heard multiple stories about Muslims getting attacked and women choosing to take off their hijabs. She no longer feels safe walking alone.

Naureen blames Trump for making her fear for her safety.

"He should know that the stuff he's saying is really affecting people. It's not just words anymore to get votes -- it's going to change people's lives for the worse," Naureen tells CNN.

[Anonymous]

Are you Muslim?

[Anonymous]

What do the statistics say about hate crimes in northern VA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you Muslim?

No I am not. However, I do not equate Muslims to bad or White to good. I believe every religion or ethnicity has its share of good and evil and blaming a group on the whole for a lone wolf in that group is stupid and cruel.

[Anonymous]

Back on January 25, 1993 on route 123 http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/26/us/gunman-kills-2-near-cia-entrance.html

And so it began...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back on January 25, 1993 on route 123 http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/26/us/gunman-kills-2-near-cia-entrance.html

And so it began...

What are you saying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you Muslim?

No I am not. However, I do not equate Muslims to bad or White to good. I believe every religion or ethnicity has its share of good and evil and blaming a group on the whole for a lone wolf in that group is stupid and cruel.

I agree, OP. (And I am not Muslim either. Jewish.)

[Anonymous]

Yes, I have Muslim friends who don't tell their co-workers their religion because they're afraid of how they'll react.

[Anonymous]

If you live in a manner that is contrary to the established native culture, and choose to not assimilate effectively, don't be surprised when people react to that difference.

I drove through this small town in the middle of no where, got some food in a diner. The kids next table over could not stop staring at us and the parents were obviously curious too but did not want to intrude. Our kids just stared back. It was a bit uncomfortable. The waitress asked "where are ya'll from?" I replied back with no accent "Virginia" and ordered our lunch. You can just feel the barrier melt away. Now, I could say that I shouldn't have to prove myself, and I can protest loudly about the people who yell at me to go back to where I came from through the years. But the US has shown to me that its people are very generous and accepting to those who subscribe to the shared fundamental ideals, one of which is assimilation. E pluribus unum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have Muslim friends who don't tell their co-workers their religion because they're afraid of how they'll react.

Religion and politics are generally not good topics in the work place. As an atheist, I don't discuss my lack of religion even among close friends.

[Anonymous]

I'm am oncologist and Muslim (and a woman to boot). And yes, it's difficult. I have patients whose lives I've saved admit to me that I wasn't like those other "terrorist" types. I've heard conversations in the chemo room and it's awful, but I made an oath to care and I do my best to heal them even though they probably wouldn't if the shoe was on the other foot.

I try to live a kind life. I have friends of all types and my husband does too. Our kids are accepted in their community, but I think it's because northern VA is much more multicultural than it was when I was growing up here.

I don't fear for my children because I do not think hate will win out. I fear for the people who are so afraid of the world they are unwilling to engage it. It's crazy to see what fear can do to people. I've watched people die slowly and the regret in life isn't that they weren't more careful, it was that they were so afraid. The what different, but it was fear that was the biggest driver of regret. I think a lot of people will look back and see how fear made them behave and if they are lucky feel some regret and move forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have Muslim friends who don't tell their co-workers their religion because they're afraid of how they'll react.

Religion and politics are generally not good topics in the work place. As an atheist, I don't discuss my lack of religion even among close friends.

Yes, that makes sense but are you afraid to tell your co-workers that you're an atheist or are you just displaying good manners?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you live in a manner that is contrary to the established native culture, and choose to not assimilate effectively, don't be surprised when people react to that difference.

I drove through this small town in the middle of no where, got some food in a diner. The kids next table over could not stop staring at us and the parents were obviously curious too but did not want to intrude. Our kids just stared back. It was a bit uncomfortable. The waitress asked "where are ya'll from?" I replied back with no accent "Virginia" and ordered our lunch. You can just feel the barrier melt away. Now, I could say that I shouldn't have to prove myself, and I can protest loudly about the people who yell at me to go back to where I came from through the years. But the US has shown to me that its people are very generous and accepting to those who subscribe to the shared fundamental ideals, one of which is assimilation. E pluribus unum.

That's nice for you. Probably a bit harder for people who will never be considered "assimilated" due to the color of their skin or their appearance. Also, one of the great things about this country is that you can be a productive citizen without assimilating. Should Jews have to assimilate? Sikhs? Buddhists? Quakers? Or just Muslims? Your encouragement of "assimilation" sounds very much like the official French line, which is ostensibly religion-neutral but in fact privileges Christianity above all other religions. That may be fine for France but in this country, our Constitution protects the freedom to believe and behave differently.

If people want to stare at me because I look or dress differently, fine. I recognize that I may look or speak differently and that I stand out. But to be treated with hostility or threatened is a different matter entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have Muslim friends who don't tell their co-workers their religion because they're afraid of how they'll react.

Religion should not be discussed at the work place in any event. It is very private and no matter what you belive, it should not be brough up at the work environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have Muslim friends who don't tell their co-workers their religion because they're afraid of how they'll react.

Religion and politics are generally not good topics in the work place. As an atheist, I don't discuss my lack of religion even among close friends.

Yes, that makes sense but are you afraid to tell your co-workers that you're an atheist or are you just displaying good manners?

Tell your Muslim friends to acquire good manners and not to discussed their religion out of good manners. As to the fears, we all have our fears and we all dealing with them. If they can't handle it on their own, they can seek counseling.