# 327,151,193 Muslims **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 26, 2004, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736 "2004-11-26T11:03:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/21 "2004-11-26T13:09:41Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Bet I wasn’t the only one who thought the thread title referred to the number of Muslims expected to be living in Europe before the end of the century. And that’s just _England_. Or so the BNP seem to suggest. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/22 "2004-11-26T13:12:03Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Bet I wasn’t the only one who thought the thread title referred to the number of Muslims expected to be living in Europe before the end of the century. You’d have been right if my username were **Ryan\_Liam**. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/23 "2004-11-26T13:24:58Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > And that’s just _England_. > > Or so the BNP seem to suggest. > [@Elvis Costello](#): > > London is full of Arabs > We could be in Palestine > Overrun by a Chinese line > With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/24 "2004-11-26T13:32:51Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > > [@Elvis Costello](#): > > > > London is full of Arabs > > We could be in Palestine > > Overrun by a Chinese line > > With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne > > 😕 > [@The Clash](#): > > A nuclear error but I have no fear > Cos London is drowning and I live by the river > Now get this > London calling, yes I was there too > An’ you know what they said - well some of it was true! Hope that clears up the confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/25 "2004-11-26T13:39:44Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Now they’re forcing women to head their governments for them!? > > The horrors of the Muslim World never cease to shock me! You tell me about it. And they did it by occasion already for and during centuries before we got all that commotion surrounding heads of state like Benazir Bhutto. For those interested: An excellent study on this subject was done by Fatima Mernissi: _Sultanes oubliées, femmes chefs d’ Etat en Islam_ éditions Albin Michel S.A., Paris 1990. I don’t know if it is available in an English translation, but most probably it is. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/26 "2004-11-26T13:47:30Z")
> [@Desmostylus](#): > > Hope that clears up the confusion. > [@TS Eliot](#): > > The river sweats > Oil and tar > The barges drift > With the turning tide > Red sails > Wide > To leeward, swing on the heavy spar. > The barges wash > Drifting logs > Down Greenwich reach > Past the Isle of Dogs. > Weialala leia > Wallala leialala Just in case anyone missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Ithaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Ithaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ithaka)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/27 "2004-11-26T14:00:05Z")
Just to reiterate the point: > [@The Kinks](#): > > Dirty old river, must you keep rolling > Flowing into the night > People so busy, makes me feel dizzy > Taxi light shines so bright > But I don’t need no friends > As long as I gaze on waterloo sunset > I am in paradise PS I helped Ray Davies park his car last week 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/28 "2004-11-26T14:02:36Z")
> [@Ithaka](#): > > PS I helped Ray Davies park his car last week 🆒 For some reason (because of the smiley perhaps) I read that as “Ray Charles”. And I thought “they let him _drive_!?! And he’s dead!” ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/29 "2004-11-26T14:11:00Z")
aw, why did ya all have and go and become all lyrical and shit? > [@The Cure](#): > > “Standing on the beach > With a gun in my hand > Staring at the sea > Staring at the sand > Staring down the barrel > At the arab on the ground > I can see his open mouth > But I hear no sound > > I’m alive > I’m dead > I’m the stranger > Killing an arab” Considering the female football teams fielded by this high bastion of conservatism, [Saudi Arabia](http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/102904.html), I personally think the Arab chicks have become quite emancipated. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/30 "2004-11-26T14:20:40Z")
Paranoia rules. > [@Roger Waters](#): > > So we went for a spin in the country > To feel the wind in our hair > To feel the power of my engine > To feel the thrill of desire > > And then in the trees I heard a twig snap > Warning lights flashed on my map > I opened my eyes and to my surprise > > There were Arabs with knives > At the foot of the bed > Right at the foot of the bed > Oh my God how did they get in here? > I thought we were safe home in England ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/31 "2004-11-26T14:29:01Z")
This thread has taken a very strange turn indeed. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/32 "2004-11-26T14:37:12Z")
Well if you cunts would stop hijacking we could go back to dealing with the ragheads and their evil, women bashing , FREEDOM hating, jealous ways :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/33 "2004-11-26T14:43:10Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > This is the number of Muslims living under the rule of _democratically elected women_ in the past five years. > > I hope that surprises some of you. > > I use these figures to illustrate that when people on these boards use the terms “the Muslim world” or “the entire Islamic community”, they don’t actually seem to know what, or where, the fuck they’re talking about. > > That despite certain bad attitudes towards women in _parts_ of “the Muslim world”, 34,123,622 _more people than the entire population of the United States_, have recently seen fit to vote for a female leader. And this isn’t the first time - in the 1980s, Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan was, together with Eugenia Charles of Dominica, and Margaret Thatcher of the UK, one of the first democratically elected female leaders in history. > > Yet again we get an assertion, in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5538782), in addition to incorrect and some inaccurate and rather racist statements (against Arabs), to the tune of:Now don’t get me wrong. I am **not** denying that there are dreadful, potentially threatening, and growing problems in parts of “the Muslim world”. Some of these problems - such as FGM - are cultural, and are often shared by non-Muslims in the same region. Some of them are indeed religious, such as Islamist terrorism. Some of them are down to a _particular sect_ of Islam, such as the horrific treatment of women in Saudi Arabia. > > However, I do wish people would stop pinning _everything bad that ever happens_ (such as the inter-ethnic conflict in Darfur) amongst these 1.2 billion people around the globe, on their religion. > > I have been accused of being “trendy” for defending Muslims in general (as opposed to murderous terrorist fanatics), or “PC” when I have attempted to counter ingorant, anti-Islamic prejudice, but I have no axe to grind. I have no great love for any religion whatsoever, particularly not fundamentalist or fanatical versions thereof. I am, however, thoroughly pissed off with the demonization of “the Muslim world” as a homogenous entity, and with this hopefully eye-opening fact, trying in one little way to redress the balance of the Islamophobia that is a shame to these boards. > > If you’re going to condemn an entire group of people, then specify which entire group you’re condemning. If you mean “Arabs” then say “Arabs”, and let your statements stand and fall on their merits or demerits. But if you think that Bin Laden’s vile schemes deserve an apology from, or somehow tarnish, someone living quietly and peacefully in Sumatra, or Malaysia, or Brunei, then you’re fucking bonkers. > > [Khaleda Zia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khaleda_Zia), Prime Minister, [Bangladesh](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bg.html), 1991 - 1996, 2001-present day. Population 141,340,476 of which 83% Muslim: 117,312,595. > [Megawati Sukarnoputri](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megawati), President, [Indonesia](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/id.html), 2001 until 2004. Population 238,452,952 of which 88% Muslim: 209,838,598. Yes, in Indonesia. But the portion’s were looking at, in the Arab world, some 250 Million people deserve as much freedom as the ones in East Asia are somewhat enjoying. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/34 "2004-11-26T14:46:19Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > You’d have been right if my username were **Ryan\_Liam**. 😉 :rolleyes: Fucktard. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/35 "2004-11-26T14:48:43Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > Yes, in Indonesia. But the portion’s were looking at, in the Arab world, some 250 Million people deserve as much freedom as the ones in East Asia are somewhat enjoying. Does Bangladesh count as East Asia? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/36 "2004-11-26T14:52:41Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > :rolleyes: > > Fucktard. Yeah you wouldn’t want people making judgements on you, would you ya little fuck? ---
**Author:** ![Ithaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Ithaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ithaka)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/37 "2004-11-26T14:52:48Z")
> [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > Yes, in Indonesia. But the portion’s were looking at, in the Arab world, some 250 Million people deserve as much freedom as the ones in East Asia are somewhat enjoying. Errr, isn’t that the point of the OP - pointing out that people use Muslim when they mean Arab. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/38 "2004-11-26T14:55:22Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > Yeah you wouldn’t want people making judgements on you, would you ya little fuck? No I wouldn’t fucktard 🙂 I didn’t tarnish all Muslims with the same brush 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/39 "2004-11-26T14:56:29Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Does Bangladesh count as East Asia? of course 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736/40 "2004-11-26T14:58:54Z")
Luckily I don’t need any brush to tarnish you **R\_L** you’ve done a fine job of that yourself. Kudos. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/327-151-193-muslims/276736.md?page=3)