Any Muslim members here?

[Pixelsized]

I'm new to the boards but I've been lurking in the Ah for a few months now. In that time I've noticed many threads/debates related to Islam and Muslims.

I was wondering if there are any Muslim members on this board. Would you feel comfortable revealing your religious background to this board? I'd be interested to hear your views on the many topics that have appeared on the Ah threads.

Sincerely,
Pix

 

[Jailhouse]

I'm new to the boards but I've been lurking in the Ah for a few months now. In that time I've noticed many threads/debates related to Islam and Muslims.

I was wondering if there are any Muslim members on this board. Would you feel comfortable revealing your religious background to this board? I'd be interested to hear your views on the many topics that have appeared on the Ah threads.

Sincerely,
Pix

Any Muslim who raises their head here is likely to get it torn off by Confederate-flag-waving, camo-wearing, beer-swigging bigots. My advice to Muslims who visit Lit: Keep your spiritual orientation to yourself for your own sake.

 

[Pixelsized]

Any Muslim who raises their head here is likely to get it torn off by Confederate-flag-waving, camo-wearing, beer-swigging bigots. My advice to Muslims who visit Lit: Keep your spiritual orientation to yourself for your own sake.

I was hoping that that would not be the case. I've heard that the AH is more open minded and accepting than the GB. If there are so many threads relating to Islam then surely those interested in the issues would welcome fellow Muslim Lit members giving us their opinions and views. It would be a shame if Muslim members felt that they had to hide their faith for fear of being attacked.

 

[Jailhouse]

It would be a shame if Muslim members felt that they had to hide their faith for fear of being attacked.

Historically speaking, it wouldn't be the first time.

 

[Pixelsized]

Historically speaking, it wouldn't be the first time.

*Sigh* Guess, I shouldn't expect any replys to the thread then.

Well, thanks for letting me know.

 

[Jailhouse]

Hey, don't let the bigots make your decisions for you. Just be aware that deciding not to air your beliefs on Lit is not akin to hiding who you are. Lit is a corner of a speck of a microbe of the internet... and the internet is a corner of a speck of a microbe of the world at large. Do what your conscience and your prayers make you feel like you want to.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Any Muslim who raises their head here is likely to get it torn off by Confederate-flag-waving, camo-wearing, beer-swigging bigots. My advice to Muslims who visit Lit: Keep your spiritual orientation to yourself for your own sake.

This is nonsense, and a slur on AH.

 

[Jailhouse]

This is nonsense, and a slur on AH.

My mistake. I thought this was posted in the GB.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

My mistake. I thought this was posted in the GB.

Thank you for the correction. I'll leave it to GBers to say how far your comment applies to that forum.

 

[Liar]

There's a muslim woman who have posted here in the past. Haven't seen her around much lately though.

Other than that, I don't know. I don't ask people about their religion.


[In fact, I feel like calling her right now and let her loose on the "Status of women in Islam" thread. She'd rip the thread a new one.]

 

[shereads]

Any Muslim who raises their head here is likely to get it torn off by Confederate-flag-waving, camo-wearing, beer-swigging bigots. My advice to Muslims who visit Lit: Keep your spiritual orientation to yourself for your own sake.

That's just not true, Abdul.

Seriously, Jailhouse. We do have a few bigots here, but they hate everyone equally. Stop by the Saucy Burka Cafe any time. First non-alcoholic beer is on the house.

 

[SeaCat]

It shames me that anyone has to ask this question.

It shames me even more to see the first few reactions to the question.

It just goes to show that even among us here the intolerance and ignorance is still alive and well.

Cat

 

[TheEarl]

I don't recall anyone identifying themselves as Muslim on the AH, but I can't think of a single person here who would have a problem with it if someone did. I think it's just one of those quirks of demographics, we either don't have any or they've not thought their religion was something they wanted to mention.

Rest assured though, if anyone did start making shit because of someone's religion, they'd find a whole lot of pissed-off porn writers down their neck. We've got Wiccans, Christians, Jews, Pagans, American Indian religion people (sorry, I don't know the succinct term) and atheists all coexisting here just fine and that's just the denominations I can think of off the top of my head. I can't think a Muslim would be treated any differently.

The Earl

 

[oggbashan]

It worries me that some of the responses to this and other threads about Muslims reflect common views held in the US and UK.

That these views are nothing like the reality as experienced by the majority of Muslims is appalling.

Ignorance breeds hatred. There seems to be more ignorance than enlightenment and a determination to believe the worst.

Og

 

[sophia jane]

I don't recall anyone identifying themselves as Muslim on the AH, but I can't think of a single person here who would have a problem with it if someone did. I think it's just one of those quirks of demographics, we either don't have any or they've not thought their religion was something they wanted to mention.

Rest assured though, if anyone did start making shit because of someone's religion, they'd find a whole lot of pissed-off porn writers down their neck. We've got Wiccans, Christians, Jews, Pagans, American Indian religion people (sorry, I don't know the succinct term) and atheists all coexisting here just fine and that's just the denominations I can think of off the top of my head. I can't think a Muslim would be treated any differently.

The Earl

I think you're swell, Earl. And I agree with you, for the most part. There are some here who would make an issue of it because of close-mindedness, but they're a minority and would defintely get a sound tongue lashing for anything bigoted they'd have to say.

 

[oggbashan]

My closest Muslim friend is a committee member of the Chamber of Commerce of which I am the Vice-President.

She runs her own business and would be incensed if anyone suggested she was oppressed. If her husband, who runs another business, were to suggest that she should wear a veil at Chamber of Commerce meetings she would probably bounce one of HIS frying pans off his head.

She is possibly not typical of Muslims but she is closer to typical for the Muslims in our community. Their women are not sequestered, cloistered, hidden away. They are as visible and vocal as any other women in our town - which means they are heard frequently - moaning about the same things.

Except on special occasions they dress exactly the same as anyone else.

There are a few local Muslim women who wear a scarf on their head. It doesn't seem to inhibit their participation in local life.

Og

 

[Jailhouse]

That's just not true, Abdul.

Seriously, Jailhouse. We do have a few bigots here, but they hate everyone equally. Stop by the Saucy Burka Cafe any time. First non-alcoholic beer is on the house.

As I just said: I thought this was posted on the GB. I only make one public apology per mistake.

Around the AH? No idea. On the GB? I stand by my words.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

My closest Muslim friend is a committee member of the Chamber of Commerce of which I am the Vice-President.

She runs her own business and would be incensed if anyone suggested she was oppressed. If her husband, who runs another business, were to suggest that she should wear a veil at Chamber of Commerce meetings she would probably bounce one of HIS frying pans off his head.

She is possibly not typical of Muslims but she is closer to typical for the Muslims in our community. Their women are not sequestered, cloistered, hidden away. They are as visible and vocal as any other women in our town - which means they are heard frequently - moaning about the same things.

Except on special occasions they dress exactly the same as anyone else.

There are a few local Muslim women who wear a scarf on their head. It doesn't seem to inhibit their participation in local life.

Og

I'll try to not drag the other thread into this one, mostly.

It gives cause for optimism that Islam is sufficiently "elastic" to allow practicing Muslims to live like your friends.

OK, now I will drag some of the other in: In many Islamic nations this option is not open.

 

[Pure]

i must say i agree with the persons who say this isn't a very congenial environment for a Muslim to come out in. that, notwithstanding the presence of many fair minded people.

i did post a muslim woman's view of the headscarf and no one took it very seriously; they were condescending. westerners always have the glib, "you're brainwashed" comeback.

i think the only muslim that would be *generally* tolerated (i.e. NOT verbally grilled) would be an extreme radical ready to condemn 90% of those of her faith, and all muslim-run governments. e.g. someone like that Somali MP lady, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, in Holland who's essentially outside her community and at war with its authorities.
as many have observed these are the only generally acceptable muslims for western critics.

so i think most muslims, including somewhat liberal ones, would feel in danger of being 'called to account' for a list of things like Roxanne has. sort of like a Catholic who reveals himself, and a bunch of us free thinkers say, "well, what about the inquisition?" "What about that pope that made Galileo recant?"

 

[fairysong]

Again, welcome to the AH.

Just wanted to say that I do know of one Muslim here on Lit. She is one of the most open minded and open hearted person I've had the pleasure of getting to know. She usually stays out of the political threads and the debate threads but if you have questions and want to discuss religion with her she is more than willing to do so.

I'll leave her a pm letting her know you'd like to talk with her if you like. I don't think she is here that often these days but she does check in now and then.

 

[TheEarl]

Come to think of it, I only know one Muslim personally IRL. Guess it doesn't help that the city I live in is white and middle-class to a tee. The fact that I only know the one doesn't mean that Muslims stay away from me, or are afraid to 'come out', just that it's a quirk of demographics.

Odd, I can't say I'd ever thought about that before. <goes off to count how many Jews he knows>

The Earl

 

[oggbashan]

Come to think of it, I only know one Muslim personally IRL. Guess it doesn't help that the city I live in is white and middle-class to a tee. The fact that I only know the one doesn't mean that Muslims stay away from me, or are afraid to 'come out', just that it's a quirk of demographics.

Odd, I can't say I'd ever thought about that before. <goes off to count how many Jews he knows>

The Earl

My local community has a small number of Muslims but my eldest daughter teaches in an inner London school with a large minority of Muslim pupils. She (and we) are also involved with supporting an Eritrean refugee family now resident in London. All three daughters have Muslim friends.

I have employed Muslims and worked with them for many years.

The nearby city has a number of Muslim university students and I was peripherly involved in helping with their planning application to turn a local house into a Mosque for the students.

My political activities bring me into contact with most local community groups including faith groups. The only group I have ever had difficulty working with was fundamentalist Christian who would not talk to other Christians and certainly not to other faiths.

My father worked with representatives of many Commonwealth countries and invited delegates home for meals and to stay. Feeding a mixed group of Muslims, Hindus, Jews and Christians could be a culinary challenge. We learned that the usual safe food for most faiths was rice and fish...

Og

 

[Liar]

i think the only muslim that would be *generally* tolerated (i.e. NOT verbally grilled) would be an extreme radical ready to condemn 90% of those of her faith, and all muslim-run governments. e.g. someone like that Somali MP lady, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, in Holland who's essentially outside her community and at war with its authorities.

And she's not a muslim, she's an atheist of muslim descent.

 

[Pixelsized]

There's a muslim woman who have posted here in the past. Haven't seen her around much lately though.

Other than that, I don't know. I don't ask people about their religion.


[In fact, I feel like calling her right now and let her loose on the "Status of women in Islam" thread. She'd rip the thread a new one.]

I don't really ask people either but with the other threads and debates going on I was very curious to see if we had Muslim Lit members and what their take on the subjects were.

Think I'd have liked to have meet this lady you speak off.

 

[Pixelsized]

It shames me that anyone has to ask this question.

It shames me even more to see the first few reactions to the question.

It just goes to show that even among us here the intolerance and ignorance is still alive and well.

Cat

I admit I am ignorant of Islam and don't know much about the religion at all. The reason I asked is because I thought it would be more educational to actually talk to a Muslim to understand their religion better instead of debating in the other threads.

I meant no disrespect to the board members here(just in case someone thinks I did).