What an odd thing to say, considering that **Ramira **actually did contribute some personal perspective relevant to the OP, and then had to put up with a whole crapload of off-topic attacks.
Not a Muslim, but I’m Indian and apparently look enough like one to have been threatened several times after 9/11 (including by a person who I thought was a friend). As a lapsed Hindu, I am fortunate to not wear or display anything that marks me as “other” beyond my skin and hair color; most people around here assume I’m Hispanic. If I was a Sikh, I’d probably be terrified right now, since they seem to be identified as Muslims even more often than actual Muslims are.
I live in one of the more urban areas in Florida, so on a day-to-day basis I generally haven’t dealt with any more racist or xenophobic stuff than being mistaken for a drug dealer by cops (and even that doesn’t happen now that I’m a respectable professional sliding into a distinguished early middle age).
But after another 9/11-type attack, I probably wouldn’t leave the house for a week. And not because I was afraid of terrorists.
Yeah, a whole crapload that were way off topic, no relevance at all to a topic she introduced.
I’ve known David since I was 7 or so. He’s Jewish by descent, somewhere between atheist and agnostic, and looks extremely Middle Eastern. He gets it from his dad. Dad had jet black hair and olive skin. After 9/11, David was threatened several times on the street. He decided to shave his beard and wear a huge star of David all the time. Next time I talk to him, I’ll ask if he’s having similar problems lately.
After the attacks in Paris, the local news radio station had several local Muslim leaders speak. They all condemned the attacks. It was clear that their secondary reason in doing so was to hopefully prevent violence against Muslims.
If I were Muslim, I know I’d be worried.
And you both were told to take the off-topic elsewhere and knock it off in here. But you just couldn’t help yourself. Warning issued for ignoring moderator instructions and being a jerk.
Back to the topic: A recent Economist article discussed how the map of “unemployment in France by département” is very similar to the map of “support for the National Front party” (led by Marine le Pen, this is a nationalistic, anti-immigration party that is now positioned somewhere between mainstream conservatism and neo-Nazism).
So, perhaps part of the answer to the OP is that, if any innocent French Muslims are in danger of reprisals, they’re more likely to be in the parts of France with high unemployment: the Mediterranean coastal areas, and much of the “rustbelt” near the border with Belgium.
In fact the French news has reported on actions by stupid bigots already on 17 nov.
There is no if in this, it what level.
Beni adam, beni adam.
I’m not sure that’s entirely accurate. The Front national may be a far-right party by European standards, but (today) it doesn’t seem to take any positions that are outside the mainstream of Republican policy. Obviously under the elder Le Pen it had much more reactionary views but those seem to have been moderated.
This should not be taken in any way as an endorsement of FN policies.
For Muslim Dopers in western countries, if you feel threatened, do you feel more threatened by non-Muslims, or by other Muslims?
Regards,
Shodan
By the time I clicked (and Google Translated it to English), it was up to 25. In just 8.5 hours.
OK, merci.
To me I am very clearly Hispanic. To most people, even inside my own country, I am ambiguous enough to confuse strangers. I was asked in the Middle East if I was Indian, and in Europe if I was Muslim (which confused me, Islam is a religion, not an ethnicity ).
I summer in Europe nearly every year, and I have been looked at funny a few times when I had my hair covered (too windy) and their face changes when I remove the scarf and speak native English.
It has been very disconcerting.
Here in the UK I’d like to see a movement to encourage non-believing “muslims” to publically come out and declare that they no longer follow the beliefs of the background they came from … I picture large gatherings of such people, supported by prominent celebrities. A considerable percentage of British muslims no more believe in God than I do. The way for muslims to “feel safe” (from non-Muslims, that is) is for them to cease supporting a religion that spawns violence … the path out of Islam is the path to sanity. ISIS is a fruit of Mohammed’s teachings, an exaggeration of his documented tactics. As a lifelong atheist I’d like to live to see the extinction of the Islamic religion along with all other authoritarian idiocies. I recently had a very interesting conversation with a Saudi-born woman who, during a row with her husband, declared she did not believe in Islam and never had done … he divorced her of course. She told me that a lot of Saudi women feel the same, that even as children they are aware of what is really going on, namely male domination and control. Here in the UK muslims who openly declare their lack of faith in Islam will be admired and treated with respect by the majority of the population.
You’re saying that law-abiding people who happen to be devout Muslims should not feel safe from non-Muslims, in your country?
If they give up their religion they will feel even safer … and gain our (i.e. the non-religious majority) respect.
Legally, in the UK, we have the right to “abuse and ridicule any religion and the practices thereof” … as long as by doing so we don’t provoke disturbance.
I lived near a Mosque … every so often a crowd of young males would erupt from its doors onto the streets chanting their stuff.
The way to keep safe if people want to be devout is not to wind up the local people.
I think that all “devout” people of any faith need to be given a good talking to.
Amusing
Impossible to tell in this the difference between such thinking and the oppressive approach imposed on past religious Minorities - the Catholics, the Jews, etc. as suspect, dangerous Not-Right-Belief/Unbelief status.
It appears no lessons are ever learned, just new excuses and reasons invented.
Yes.
A scarf on the head and things change, with the same visage.
I am a devout atheist, and I don’t know what you are on about. Why should anyone give up their religion for my comfort? My philosophy is “stay out of my way and I won’t mind your worshipping whatever it is you do”.
You’re forgetting a very important thing here: even if all those who are Muslims where you live give up Islam, the bigots will still treat them badly.
You have the right to take a shit in your kitchen sink, too, and I suspect it would be just as productive as… whatever it is you propose.