Serious answers only: What is your view on Muslims?

Question

I am a 23 year old muslim women who lives in South Africa, I sometimes feel that the world has the wrong view of Islam & all muslims get blamed for the wrong of a group of people, I donot agree with George Bush's methods & i personally think he is the biggest terriorist in the world but i donot blame thee American people for his evil actions, so why is it that all muslims are blamed for the actions of one group. The rest of us are normal people who want to practice our religion in peace just like the rest of you. Although i am lucky i live in SA where people understand & respect different beliefs , for other muslims in other countries its sad because people dont understand, they just judge Islam by what they see on TV, No one takes time out to research Islam & discover what an amazing religion it is or all the positive things Islam has contributed to the world over centuries. I am not asking for you to reply with hatred, i am asking for an honest civilised & intelligent reply .

Answer 1

As with any conflict. It has to do with fear, lack of empathy and not wanting to learn more about or neighbours, coworkers and acquaintances. I work with 2 Muslim people. I have learned much about their culture and religion. Not all of it as a far fetched as people tend to believe. Taking the time to find the truth about someone, and their culture and beliefs is a way to set your fears aside. I feel my life has been enriched by having known them. Then again I am not American and where I come from we don't buy his (GWB) crap anyway.

Answer 2

No, I think you are all terrorists. Just kidding. Where I teach there is a fairly large and representative Muslim community. Quite a few of a our students are Muslim. The only thing I notice different about them is their dress( most if not all of the girls wear a scarf to cover their hair). Other than that there is no noticeable difference. Their family lives are much the same as everyone elses except during holidays such as Ramadan. It is unfortunate that some Americans paint all Muslims with the same brush. Stereotyping keeps us from truly knowing each other. It is interesting that you say South Africa is so tolerant of different people and beliefs. It wasn't always that way.

Answer 3

Everybody has a right to practice their religion as they see fit. Most muslims are not terrorist. It is the extremeist in the groups that make it look bad for the rest of the Muslim community.
With that said. Don't come into the United State and take a job which requires you sell pork. Then refuse to sell the pork because it's against your religion. Don't come into the United States and take a job as a pharmasist then refuse to sell birth control because it's against your religion. Don't expect the us to do without because you don't believe. If it interfers with your religion then you should have never accepted the job.
I also find it interesting that many people muslims have not denounced Ben Ladin or his actions. Wouldnt' it be easier to denounce the monster instead of trying to defend the religion?

Answer 4

To the many nationalist, and handful of patriot, answerers:
I must take this opportunity to explain that I feel that the terrorists are definitely and indisputably evil. Targeting civilians is definitely a fall below even our own wanton neglect of them, and is one way the Extreme Fundamentalist Islamo-Fascists show themselves to be an even more evil group of terrorists than certain other terrorists stateside whom we won't discuss now.
I must also define "Muslim" as the kind of person who posted this question, or the kind person my first Arabic teacher was, or any of the other peaceful, tolerant and usually very sweet people I know who, to my former surprise, call themselves Muslims.
The others are the "Fundamentalist Islamic Extremists", or any other of the many phrases that effectively distinguish them from just any "other terrorists".

To the poster:
Well, among religions, I find most Muslims to be tolerant, interesting, cultured, respectable people in general. I find some of their absolute prohibitions arbitrary, and think they can and do cause natural repercussions in certain areas...for example, the very institution of marriage is weakened when people, men especially, try to get around the absolute prohibition on premarital sex by entering, all too often deliberately, into loveless sham marriages.
Of course, I see that as a problem with religions and prohibitions in general. Muslims are generally very pleasant people, despite some cultural things that may seem really weird to us.
But anyway, these are very base, knee-jerk psychological responses on our part, but common nonetheless throughout the world.
It's not a bad thing -- it's good for those of us who can get past the uncomfortable clashes and learn to grow through them.

If there is one all-powerful God with a thousand and one names, then isn't that what HE would want us to do?

Answer 5

So far as the burqua is not a hinderance to one's ability to perform with ease it is OK. But I will prefer to associate with an open faced woman than with a burqua clad, (not necessarily for making ogling easy) for the simple reason that when face to face you can see the expressions and the body language also. That will make you that much more sure about the intentions of the other side. If a woman prefers to stay indoors only and not do outdoor work, then I feel that burqua veiling is alright while going to shop or meeting unsolicited visitors. I hope my answer has a good reasoning.

Answer 6

Muslims there are so many different kinds or gropes of Muslims it is a very confounding and disturbing religion at times!
I do not understand being a Catholic Irishman from family lineage how the pontiff can read a simple texts about history and observation of the Muslims faith and be immediately attacked and threatened with his life?
The words were not his but of a long dead king in the 17th century They said: Islam was a inherently dangerous and violent religion...and what did they do?... they proved his point!
I agree with you on the other i do not approve with all his actions but in some regards i do there are people with in the religion of Islam that want to kill me... why? I have done nothing to them i do not even know them!
So i support my president to protect me from them or i will defend my self whichever is needed!
Yes it's true that there are bad apples in every barrel but what are the moderates doing about the ones in there barrel?
I do not hate you "i don't know you" how can i hate that which i do not understand?
I believe in Jesus and have ben berated by a group of Muslims for it... it happened on Christmas at a Quick stop gas station I simply told the teller "Merry Christmas" I do not deal well with religious intolerance because i do not practice it in my life!

Answer 7

I have never read the Koran, I know very few muslim people. I DO know that I have been waiting to hear condemnation of the acts by these terrorists and I haven't heard any. Where is the outcry from the Muslim population in general? When I hear a NON response, it leads me to believe that most Muslims are in agreement with the tactics used by these radicals. How can I have a positive opinion of people who appear to only want to see me, my family and any others who do not agree with them dead? If you want acceptance from the world, then EVERYTIME these acts are committed speak out against them, loud and clear. The silence seems to speak volumes.

Answer 8

When a Christian group does something bad or evil, Christians denounce their actions and stand against them. We make it very public and very clear.

Typically, in the media, you don't see Muslims standing against the actions of "a few groups". There is always a "yeah, but..."

It's the occupation of Palestine

It's the cartoons of Mohammad

It's the way the US is fighting the war or terror (Which was started by "a group" of Muslims..)

It's because it's un Islamic..

There are so many excuses that Muslims use to justify terror, murder, and barbaric acts.

I won't paint with a broad brush because there are Muslims I have worked with in Bosnia and here in Iraq who I have a great respect for and have trust in. Of course, they all publically denounce terror and demand that these terrorists leave the rest of the Muslim world at peace.

The acts of these terrorists may just be by "a group", but it's a seemingly LARGE number of people getting support from an even larger community.

There is no doubt in my mind that you are a good person. There are many like you. The problem is that you guys are in just "a group" of people.

Answer 9

I do not wish to hurt your feelings but I have researched the Muslim faith and I do not like what I read under Jihad in the Qu'ran. Most of the Qu'ran is a good book modeled in part on Babylonian and Hebrew law. Mohammed liked the Hebrew Talmud very much and took many aspects of its teachings for the Qu'ran. He shouldn't have added the part on Jihad. This is very provocative and tells Muslims that the Muslim faith should be spread around the world even by warfare. Young men of the Muslim faith should become involved in Jihad and if they are killed during their quest then they will go to heaven where 72 virgins await their every wish. Muslims must help other Muslims in their war to change the world to the Islamic faith. I can go on for another hour on why I am not in favor of the Muslim faith. The teachings of a holy book should not mention killing to convert others to the faith. Americans are not terrorists. Before the destruction of the twin towers in New York most Americans didn't even know what a Muslim was. Neither did I; however, I studied and I did not like what I learned. I personally have no religion but I believe in God as the supreme power and I do not believe God gave one faith the right to try to convert everyone to that faith.

Answer 10

I totally agree. People do judge Muslims as a whole on the actions of a very tiny minority. I am really, really disturbed by some of the answers above me. Really disturbed. One person didn't understand your question, and another branded all Muslims as bad, because he assumed all terrorists are Muslim.
How wrong.
Terrorists have been around for a looong time. Irish terrorists in London in the 19th century, Communist terrorists in Germany in the 1970s. And now the current trend of terrorists appear to be Muslim. It is unfortunate, but one can't brand the whole religion as bad, due to some bad seeds with in their ranks. Every religion, group, race etc. has a small number dysfunctional members.
And don't get me started on the Iraqi War. I don't think George Bush is a terrorist, but he sure is an idiot.
And no one understands the reasons behind the conflict. It is not just, "Oh, they don't believe in what we do..." It is slightly more complicated than that. Which makes me realise, that very few people understand the world around us. Very scary.
Nothing wrong at all with Muslims. One of my best friends is Muslim.
Oh, and for the record. I am Christian. And thank God, I am not American.

Answer 11

Honestly, I don't know that much. I have only seen the views of others displayed in the media, so of course, most of it isn't good. They only good point I have seen came from a man in New York (forgot his name) who was on the news and said that all muslims aren't like the one's portrayed in the news. He was actively doing things with his group to dispell those beleifs. I was impressed.