# I say "Islam" What's the first thing you think of? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2012, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515 "2012-02-02T06:08:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/61 "2012-02-02T17:24:52Z")
Second thing: Architecture, especially their use of blue. Mudéjar and Mozarab art is astonishing. We have this arch in Lima with mudéjar style ([day](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2244/2234929403_66576d03c0.jpg)[night](http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1148/1406839399_440e5f01cd.jpg)) ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/62 "2012-02-02T17:28:54Z")
I think of the enlightened period around the Crusades when Muslims were completely driving the advancement of science, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and art while everyone else was shoving red-hot pokers up each others’ rectums in the name of God. I also think of the beauty of the Arabic language (yes, I realize that not all Arabic speakers are Muslim). ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/63 "2012-02-02T17:49:34Z")
Mustaches. Now I can read the rest of the thread! ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/64 "2012-02-02T18:20:59Z")
The [mosque around the Kaaba](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kaaba_mirror_edit_jj.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Snow\_Pea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Snow\_Pea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snow_Pea)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/65 "2012-02-02T18:23:52Z")
Terrorism ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/66 "2012-02-02T18:28:46Z")
Controversy ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/67 "2012-02-02T19:03:50Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I suspect that some artistic license is being exercised in several of these “first thoughts.” I can see why you’d say this. For my part, however, my Islamic sterotype developed before I caught on that there was a lot of nuttiness in the ME. The killing and hate in the name of Allah is laid over my underlying mental images of what I described upthread. Which is not to say the evil doesn’t creep in shortly after I hear “Islam”, it’s just not the first thing that springs to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/68 "2012-02-02T19:29:52Z")
Mohammed. Mecca. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/69 "2012-02-02T19:38:43Z")
Very strict and oppressive religion. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/70 "2012-02-02T19:39:08Z")
A major religion. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/71 "2012-02-02T19:39:29Z")
A bunch of people who have been dragged kicking and screaming into the 11th Century, and who would gladly kill you because you don’t worship the same way they do. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/72 "2012-02-02T19:47:55Z")
The first thing I pictured in my mind was a bunch of Arab men. Then I realized they were going to the mosque. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/73 "2012-02-02T19:53:10Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > A woman in niqab/hijaab (although not burka, funnily enough). This exactly for me – I even thought “not burka” as well. After doing some research, I see that I was picturing a woman in hijab, not niqab (or burka). ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/74 "2012-02-02T20:05:03Z")
Actually I think the _very_ first thing that came to my mind was the green crescent symbol that they use to mark Islamic missionaries in Civ 4. ---
**Author:** ![florez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/75 "2012-02-02T20:09:59Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > A bunch of people who have been dragged kicking and screaming into the 11th Century, and who would gladly kill you because you don’t worship the same way they do. And now a word from texas good ole boys fur jeezus. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/76 "2012-02-02T20:19:40Z")
The Kaaba. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/77 "2012-02-02T20:22:31Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > This exactly for me – I even thought “not burka” as well. > > After doing some research, I see that I was picturing a woman in hijab, not niqab (or burka). My first thought, as well, though I would have said “burka” had I not read the thread, not knowing the names of the other garments. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/78 "2012-02-02T20:29:59Z")
> [@florez](#): > > And now a word from texas good ole boys fur jeezus. Speaking of “dragged”. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/79 "2012-02-02T20:55:25Z")
Mecca ---
**Author:** ![Niceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3be4f8/32.png) [@Niceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niceman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515/80 "2012-02-02T21:59:36Z")
> [@Snow\_Pea](#): > > Terrorism If u mean exploding people, bombing, something like that, Read this: > **[About Jihad - Acts of Terrorism - Not ISLAM](http://aboutjihad.com/terrorism/terrorism_maybe_not.php)** > > Allah's War Against Terrorism [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-islam-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/611515.md?page=5)