# Those who think Muslims aren't Americans **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 8, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188 "2010-01-08T18:54:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 10
**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:** [January 11, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/181 "2010-01-11T17:27:35Z")
I’m all in favor of the airports giving passengers bacon to eat before boarding. Nothing to do with terrorists, though - I’m just a fan of free bacon. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/182 "2010-01-11T17:33:57Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > The “foot thing” is in fact prevalent throughout the whole of Asia\*. Not just south Asia (predominantly Hindus and Muslims, and some Buddhists) but also east and south-east Asia (secular, Taoist, Confucianist, Buddhist, and some Muslims). > > The “foot thing” is one of those taboos that is incomprehensible to people who have no knowledge of, nor empathy for, cultural foibles that are alien to themselves, but actually mean a shitload to the people whose cultures embrace such taboos. > > I saw a beggar the last time I was in China who had tied a shoe to his head. The implication was: “I am now as low as it is possible to go. Please give me your pity.” > > In Thailand (mostly Buddhist), for another example, you shouldn’t touch anything with your foot, or even step over anything important - including property - and never ever point your foot at anything to indicate it, unless you mean to be dreadfully insulting. > > Conversely, there are many things that are taboo to us in the west that are completely benign to people in the east, but we would never know what they are if we’re ignorant. Like, you can flip the bird to many people in the world and they will have no idea that you mean offense. Or fly a swastika flag, or have swastikas tattooed on you for religious reasons. > > **Silverstreak Wonder** , of course, appears quite knowledgeable, so there’s no worry about any misunderstandings there. > > \*Which currently is the majority of humanity, but don’t let that stop your opinions. This reminds me of the aftermath of the Show Thrower in Iraq. I read some Major New Source report on it (one of the wire services, or CNN or something). They kept stressing that, in Iraqi culture, throwing a shoe at someone was _deeply_ insulting. Now, I know what they were trying to get at - the whole foot stigma thing - but it made it sound like this was some quaint cultural quirk, that throwing a shoe at someone was an insult. As opposed to American culture, where it’s a sign of love and affection. Or, in this case, like how no other culture would find stepping on their holy book offensive. No Christian would get worked up if I intentionally stepped on a bible, and my Jewish parents wouldn’t care at all if I strapped my feet up and went Torah-skating. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/183 "2010-01-11T18:10:40Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > Or, in this case, like how no other culture would find stepping on their holy book offensive. No Christian would get worked up if I intentionally stepped on a bible, and my Jewish parents wouldn’t care at all if I strapped my feet up and went Torah-skating. This brought to mind the image of loggers in the Paul Bunyan story strapping slabs of bacon to their feet and skating across a large, hot griddle to grease it for pancakes. I guess they weren’t Jewish loggers. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/184 "2010-01-11T19:10:58Z")
Ahahaha, thanks for an amusing read. Though I’m a little incredulous that anyone is still taking this (painfully obvious) troll seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/185 "2010-01-11T19:15:58Z")
He just popped up to throw some fresh excrement in the “profiling Muslims e-mail” GD thread. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/186 "2010-01-11T22:10:50Z")
> [@anu-la1979](#): > > Look, as a South Asian and as someone who can be reasonably mistaken for being a Muslim what with my funky fresh ethnic name and hirsute terroristy looks, I don’t step on books either. And I’m a Hindu, which is about as far away from Islam as you can get. My South Asian Christian friends also have the same hangup about stepping on books. Not just the Koran, our our particular religious texts, but books in general. It would have earned me a smack from my parents or relatives. Hey, I thought i was the only one who grew up with that hangup! My parents would do the same to me. Even to this day now, when I step on ANY book or magazine/paper I feel slightly guilty for it. Just one of those things ingrained into me being raised by my parents and their/(my?) belief systems. Also, yay! Another Hindu on the boards, I got so tired of being the only one in the Religion poll! WoOt! -A Southern American (by way of Virginia) here ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/187 "2010-01-11T22:34:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He just popped up to throw some fresh excrement in the “profiling Muslims e-mail” GD thread. More SW excrement in the evolution thread in GD too. I just left there shaking my head in awe over the comments and came to the pit for a breath of fresh air, and now he’s in here spreading his foolishness. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/188 "2010-01-11T23:53:38Z")
> [@ToeJam](#): > > Hey, I thought i was the only one who grew up with that hangup! > My parents would do the same to me. Even to this day now, when I step on ANY book or magazine/paper I feel slightly guilty for it. Just one of those things ingrained into me being raised by my parents and their/(my?) belief systems. > > Also, yay! Another Hindu on the boards, I got so tired of being the only one in the Religion poll! WoOt! > > -A Southern American (by way of Virginia) here I also have the same hangup for the same reason, and often, after having accidentally stepped on books or paper or such, find myself beginning instinctively to reach to touch my hand to the books and then my eyes, before my mind can kick in and say “Wait, there’s no need. This is silly.” Even though I’ve long since abandoned any actual religious belief, some parentally instilled habits die hard, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/189 "2010-01-12T04:17:02Z")
I’m from Spain and I’d step on printed materials only if I’d tripped. I don’t care if it’s a Koran, a Bible, the collected works of Terry Pratchett or a comercial handout someone has dropped on the street. I don’t think I’m a Muslim, mind you… ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/190 "2010-01-12T05:15:48Z")
Must not feed trolls, must not feed trolls, oh dammit!!! I wouldn’t step on a Koran, Bible or any other holy text as I respect peoples’ right to any religion and stepping on the book would be IMO a gross insult. As I am somewhat of an agnostic I should not care, but I am somewhat of an agnostic. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/191 "2010-01-12T07:07:36Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > You’ve obviously never seen a Thai Tantric Full Body massage -as in- the woman uses all of her naked body- joints, feet, neck, and head, hollows, curves and caves to engulf the man in a full sensual massage. Skin to skin with oils and unguents. oooo I’ll be in my bunk. 😉 > [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m all in favor of the airports giving passengers bacon to eat before boarding. > > Nothing to do with terrorists, though - I’m just a fan of free bacon. I can get behind this idea. Never have enough bacon, especially free. > [@DanBlather](#): > > This brought to mind the image of loggers in the Paul Bunyan story strapping slabs of bacon to their feet and skating across a large, hot griddle to grease it for pancakes. I guess they weren’t Jewish loggers. That was a good laugh after reading way too much idiocy in this thread. 😃 > [@Nava](#): > > … the collected works of Terry Pratchett … Well no, you definitely don’t want to step on anything **important**! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/192 "2010-01-13T14:58:43Z")
> [@Silverstreak\_Wonder](#): > > By the way how many people who did get on a plane with a gun and did harm with it were NRA members? I am not a member by the way. But I still suspect it was zero. Timothy McVeigh’s bomb was too big to fit on a plane. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188/193 "2010-01-13T15:58:30Z")
> [@Oldeb](#): > > Screw you guys! I’m going to start my own airline! With bacon! And hookers! And booze! > You know what? Forget the airline. And the hookers. And the bacon. No hookers or bacon? Infidel!!! > [@devilsknew](#): > > [snip] Skin to skin with oils and unguents. Mmm… oily llama massage… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-think-muslims-arent-americans/524188.md?page=9)