Are Muslims being persecuted in your neighborhood?

warch · 07-01-2002, 04:39 PM

This topic emerged elsewhere... How are Muslims being treated where you are? Are they being persecuted for their beliefs, are they being racially profiled, are they unaffected? What have you witnessed?

07-01-2002, 04:57 PM

I think it's safe to say that pretty much everyone is more skeptical of those that look different than your typical American. I can feel it when I get on airplanes, for example - people are looking right at me, checking me out. This is doubly true of Muslims. It's not necessarily right, but that's the way it is.

That having been said, in my area (Northern Virginia), I know/regularly see a fair number of Muslims and they seem to be doing pretty alright. I haven't seen any outright discrimination against them, nor have I run into many people that have anything against Islam and its followers. There are a few people here and there, but they generally don't have anything against the people - they just find the religion to be bogus. This is somewhat akin to myself loving Christians but finding their religion to be silly and fake. I say "somewhat" because it's also quite different.

All in all, I think Northern Virginia is a pretty Muslim-friendly place.

verbatim · 07-01-2002, 10:08 PM

I just had to room with 2 Muslims for 12 days (at GYLC, if anybody cares) and I must say, Muslims rule. I mean, Christians are all anal about their religon, but Muslims are all about being holy. The one guy showed me a trick with your watch to tell where Mecca is and what direction to pray in.

But seriously, they are so cool. I cant imagine anyone persecuting a Muslims because they practice it correctly. They are nice, calm, collected, and spiritual. Frankly, people should model themselves after Muslims and stop being such assholes to each other.

elSicomoro · 07-01-2002, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dhamsaic
I think it's safe to say that pretty much everyone is more skeptical of those that look different than your typical American. I can feel it when I get on airplanes, for example - people are looking right at me, checking me out.

They're digging your hair.

elSicomoro · 07-01-2002, 11:05 PM

We don't have Muslims in our immediate area (lots of Catholics here), but there is a growing minority community in Bensalem Township (Indian, Pakistani, and Hispanic...now there's a neat combo!), so we'll see.

We have a large number of Muslims in Philadelphia, although IIRC from recent stats, most in the city are African-Americans. From my personal experience, I would say they "fit in" better than Arab Muslims. As a whole though, because we have so many Muslims here, I would say the attitude towards them is generally positive, although you have the stupid stares and crack remarks...I usually see at least one or two a day in Center City.

warch · 07-02-2002, 11:21 AM

In Minneapolis we have a large Somali refugee population that is actively growing, families still being reunited. Most of them live around the University area, which has some public housing, lots of rentals. There has been a lot of tension. First with the picking up of Moussaoui, and then with the closing of several money wiring places in the neighborhoods. The tension is thick, more so after Black Hawk Down, and the Somalis are very conspicuous, veiled, black, broken or no English. But there is a strong tradition of refugee transition here, and the Univ area is fairly international so that does work in their favor.

There is a Somali mosque two blocks from my house, in a renovated storefront. There was a bit of vandalism right after 9/11, but has been calmer since. There is a palpable separation on the street.

From my view into the public schools here, there is a lot of tension, violence bubbling between the Somali immigrants (and Ethiopian) and established Black communities. Culture clash. A lot of fights in High School. The schools have done a lot to support or at least be sensitive to devout Muslims. One high school has an arrangement with a Lutheran Church across the street, close to 100 students go there for prayers throughout the day. Most of the Muslim students dont take coed gym, dance, sing, pledge, etc.

But the socialization is interesting. This year apparently the first Somali prom king and queen were crowned. I wonder how that was received by the elders? Worlds colliding with a lot of mixed messages. I overheard an unescorted group of five teen Somali girls, (I assumed pious in their traditional modest dress) talking like Long Shore men- actually cat calling at some young man sitting on a porch, lifting their skirts to the knee to reveal platform shoes. Interesting. The first wave of Somali kids are starting to enter college here. Like most immigrant kids, displaying obvious westernization in clothing and interests. I find it fascinating.

One more interesting image: I went to a Twins Game last week- (Beat the White Sox) - and I wish I had a camera. I went to get popcorn and was struck by the image of a young Somali woman, about 18, working at the concession stand. She was in full robe, big smile, Twins cap perched on top of her veil- this wasnt the issued vendor cap, it was her Twins cap. It would have been IOD worthy.

07-01-2002, 04:39 PM	#1
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	Are Muslims being persecuted in your neighborhood? This topic emerged elsewhere... How are Muslims being treated where you are? Are they being persecuted for their beliefs, are they being racially profiled, are they unaffected? What have you witnessed?

07-01-2002, 04:57 PM	#2
dave Guest Posts: n/a	I think it's safe to say that pretty much <b>everyone</b> is more skeptical of those that look different than your typical American. I can feel it when I get on airplanes, for example - people are looking right at me, checking me out. This is doubly true of Muslims. It's not necessarily <b>right</b>, but that's the way it is. That having been said, in <b>my</b> area (Northern Virginia), I know/regularly see a fair number of Muslims and they seem to be doing pretty alright. I haven't seen any outright discrimination against them, nor have I run into many people that have anything against Islam and its followers. There are a few people here and there, but they generally don't have anything against the people - they just find the religion to be bogus. This is somewhat akin to myself loving Christians but finding their religion to be silly and fake. I say "somewhat" because it's also quite different. All in all, I think Northern Virginia is a pretty Muslim-friendly place.

07-01-2002, 10:08 PM	#3
verbatim Vice-President of Resentment Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Pennsultucky Posts: 199	I just had to room with 2 Muslims for 12 days (at GYLC, if anybody cares) and I must say, Muslims rule. I mean, Christians are all anal about their religon, but Muslims are all about being holy. The one guy showed me a trick with your watch to tell where Mecca is and what direction to pray in. But seriously, they are so cool. I cant imagine anyone persecuting a Muslims because they practice it correctly. They are nice, calm, collected, and spiritual. Frankly, people should model themselves after Muslims and stop being such assholes to each other. __________________ <-- I'm with stupid

07-01-2002, 11:05 PM	#5
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	We don't have Muslims in our immediate area (lots of Catholics here), but there is a growing minority community in Bensalem Township (Indian, Pakistani, and Hispanic...now there's a neat combo!), so we'll see. We have a large number of Muslims in Philadelphia, although IIRC from recent stats, most in the city are African-Americans. From my personal experience, I would say they "fit in" better than Arab Muslims. As a whole though, because we have so many Muslims here, I would say the attitude towards them is generally positive, although you have the stupid stares and crack remarks...I usually see at least one or two a day in Center City. Last edited by elSicomoro; 07-01-2002 at 11:07 PM.

07-02-2002, 11:21 AM	#6
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	In Minneapolis we have a large Somali refugee population that is actively growing, families still being reunited. Most of them live around the University area, which has some public housing, lots of rentals. There has been a lot of tension. First with the picking up of Moussaoui, and then with the closing of several money wiring places in the neighborhoods. The tension is thick, more so after Black Hawk Down, and the Somalis are very conspicuous, veiled, black, broken or no English. But there is a strong tradition of refugee transition here, and the Univ area is fairly international so that does work in their favor. There is a Somali mosque two blocks from my house, in a renovated storefront. There was a bit of vandalism right after 9/11, but has been calmer since. There is a palpable separation on the street. From my view into the public schools here, there is a lot of tension, violence bubbling between the Somali immigrants (and Ethiopian) and established Black communities. Culture clash. A lot of fights in High School. The schools have done a lot to support or at least be sensitive to devout Muslims. One high school has an arrangement with a Lutheran Church across the street, close to 100 students go there for prayers throughout the day. Most of the Muslim students dont take coed gym, dance, sing, pledge, etc. But the socialization is interesting. This year apparently the first Somali prom king and queen were crowned. I wonder how that was received by the elders? Worlds colliding with a lot of mixed messages. I overheard an unescorted group of five teen Somali girls, (I assumed pious in their traditional modest dress) talking like Long Shore men- actually cat calling at some young man sitting on a porch, lifting their skirts to the knee to reveal platform shoes. Interesting. The first wave of Somali kids are starting to enter college here. Like most immigrant kids, displaying obvious westernization in clothing and interests. I find it fascinating. One more interesting image: I went to a Twins Game last week- (Beat the White Sox) - and I wish I had a camera. I went to get popcorn and was struck by the image of a young Somali woman, about 18, working at the concession stand. She was in full robe, big smile, Twins cap perched on top of her veil- this wasnt the issued vendor cap, it was her Twins cap. It would have been IOD worthy.

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