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Soggy_Portlander's comments:
on Islam in the Northwest
Have I asked why I can't go to Mecca? Because there is complete intollerance of any religion besides Islam there. Yes, I am quite aware of this. Doesn't change the fact that individual muslims can be completely tolerant, while the goverment(s) act differently.
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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on Islam in the Northwest
The lack of a "perceived" response from mainstream Islam is common complaint. A lot of that is attributable to the fact that there is not a "central hierarchy" for Islam in the way it exists in other religions. At the same time, there is no shortage of outrage and condemnation of Islamic Terrorists, but you actually have to pay attention to find it. Trying exposing yourself to more media organizations based in the Muslim world and you will find it for yourself.
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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on Islam in the Northwest
Of course no non-Mulsim can go to Mecca or Medinah. Not my country. The only mosques I have gone to have been more historical, like the one next to the Citadel in Cairo, or the one by Khan Al Khalilli bazaar. Haven't tried to go to any others
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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on Islam in the Northwest
You can also get threats from having a nativity scene in the US. Some Saudi's, as well as some people in other Muslim nations, also get really worked up about Valentine's Day, happens ever year.
I spend a lot of my time in Muslim countries, and have met and gotten to know hundreds of Muslims in the past 10 years. I have yet to feel threatened, preached upon, or at all rejected. Quite the contrary, the Muslims I have known have always been gracious and welcoming. Your view of the Muslim world is quite typical for Americans though, and that is unfortunate.
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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on Islam in the Northwest
“Immediately, the greeter led Abraham to the side of the foyer and frisked him"
What church did this occur in? I cannot even fathom that this happened in any mainstream church.
Your first story doesn't surprise me in the least, Muslims are pretty much like anyone else. But some random greeter takes it upon themselves to lead someone aside, and then frisk them? Pretty hard to swallow.
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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on Islam in the Northwest
I would agree with your point about how religions should take responsibility, but after that, you lose me.
Your projected sense of enlightenment seems so humorous (actually sad) because your view of the world, and people, is so simplistic. Putting labels, as well as signing up people for these group think philosophies, might make your view of the world all neat and simple, but that isn’t reality.
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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on Islam in the Northwest
Hey DavCam, you have provided a great example of the monolithic thinking that creates societal divides, whether between Christians and non-believers, or Muslims and non-Muslims. The truth isn’t that simple. I am a catholic, hence a Christian, but I don’t “listen to right wing Christian hate radio and read the bible”, and neither do most of the other people have I known. Your quick conclusion that this is how things are and this is who to blame is not only naïve, it is also just goes to perpetuate the basic problem.
The same can also be said in regards to how we view Muslims, which tends to be incredibly ignorant, mainly because it is so monolithic. Muslim society is just not as simple as we Americans tend to view it. While I live in Portland, I have worked exclusively in Saudi Arabia since 2004 and Egypt for 2 years preceding that. Saudi society does have a very similar divide between conservatives and progressives as we do, it just happens to be relative to the environment in Saudi Arabia (meaning both groups are admittedly more conservatives than the US, but a very real and recognizable divide does exist). The divide in Saudi Arabia also seems to correlate directly to the level of education and income, although, as everywhere, there are exceptions.
My general point is that we are not making constructive contributions to finding soluionts to the problem, when we just resort to generalities, assumptions and trying to assign blame in such simplistic measures. Life, and the world, is just much more complicated than what some would like to acknowledge.
posted 2 years, 5 months ago
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