Learning to accept Muslims as a Baha'i.

[vodkafan]

Vodkafan, I disagree that the majority of Muslims want to "take over everything." I'll just leave it at that, though, because I'm too tired to get into a debate at the moment. I didn't sleep well last night, and had to get up at 6 AM. MORE CAFFEINE!

I thought that you would misinterpret that statement. I will have to go into detail to qualify it. What I meant was, as a group, when muslims are given access to something they start to see it as theirs alone.
I work in a large UK company which bends over backwards to treat everyone fairly. They give muslims time off work to go pray, which they would not even get in their own countries!
At work we have an area which is called the "quiet room". It is supposed to be for all employees who want some quiet time to themselves. Muslims started to pray in this area . They put a carpet down over 90% of the space. (They insist that everyone follows their rules and takes off shoes to go on this carpet). They have more or less forced everyone else out of this room and see it as "their space." There is only me, and another white guy, and a Sikh man who goes in there for our own purposes (I like to read, the other white guy sleeps, the Sikh guy prays, deliberately facing the opposite way to the muslims) Muslims have done their utmost to drive us out , including take out all the chairs (we bought them back in).
Their approach is often passive-aggressive. For instance one man in particular (who acts a sort of mullah at work and leads the prayers) would come shake my hand and say he wanted to welcome me . I tell him that this is not a mosque it's the company Quiet Room, it is for everyone. Other times he will give me the muslim greeting Aslaam a Lakum and expects me to give the relevant answer back. I just say "what's up?" Or " I am not a muslim, what's wrong with hello?"
I know that my continued presence in that room is an annoyance to them. But I continue to go in there because it is my right and I don't see why I should lose it.

Another example:
We had two showers at work in the male washrooms for the use of everyone. The company thoughtfully put two shower heads on each one, one in the normal position overhead and one at knee height so that muslims could wash their feet. A handle on the pipe in between so that water flow could be diverted to either head.
The muslims started locking this valve in the lower position and then removing the handle so that anybody who wanted a normal shower could not have one. Often both the showers would be out of action for normal use because of this. These handles were replaced and removed so many times that the company closed both the showers for a time and then built a purpose built muslim footwash. While this was being built, at prayer time the muslims washed their feet in the washroom sinks and spat in the sinks, despite there being notices up prohibiting this.
They just ignore them. They really do not give a shit about anyone else or about anyone elses rules.

Everything I have written above is absolutely true. I have seen it with my own eyes over 10 years.