Learning to accept Muslims as a Baha'i.

[Mister Agenda]

Zan, you might want to check the refugee situation in your area if you want to meet a Muslim. They settle refugees in the oddest places. There's been a community of Somali Bantu refugees here in Columbia, SC since 2004. The US took like, 12,000 of them, they're all over (Columbus, Portland, Sioux Falls, NY, TX, etc.). And that's just one oppressed minority in one war-torn country.

[zanOTK]

Dear Zan, you have my apology sir. I did indeed have no right to criticize your friendship. The day I wrote that post I was just in a mood to go hunting whale and thought I would throw a harpoon and see where it landed and if it would hit something soft and vital.

Apology accepted, gratefully so.

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Zan, you might want to check the refugee situation in your area if you want to meet a Muslim. They settle refugees in the oddest places. There's been a community of Somali Bantu refugees here in Columbia, SC since 2004. The US took like, 12,000 of them, they're all over (Columbus, Portland, Sioux Falls, NY, TX, etc.). And that's just one oppressed minority in one war-torn country.

To my knowledge, there are no Muslim refugees in Arkansas. There is a small Sunni (well, I assume they're Sunni. They're Arabs, not Iranians, so I'm guessing they're probably Sunni) community in Little Rock, though, and I've been trying to find their mosque so I can ask them if it's alright if I observe one of their prayer services. I see them walking around every now and then, but I don't want to just run up to them and start asking questions. They're just trying to live their life like everyone else, ya know? And not everyone likes to be interrupted while out with their family.

[vodkafan]

Good luck with that. I work in a big warehouse of about 400 people and about 100 are muslims. I used to debate things with some of them I am friends with but not for a long time now. After 10 years working alongside them I just lost interest . Although as I say, some of them are my friends, as a group when they get together I dislike what they do and how they want to take over everything and have things all their own way. I could give examples. I am not being racist. This is just based on 10 years of working day to day with them. I see them at prayer every day. It's no big deal, really.

[zanOTK]

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!

[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.