What is your first impression about Muslims or Arabs ?

[da Sage]

It would be seriously better to not act as if Muslims and Arabs were aliens from Mars. It would be seriously better if you did not feel we needed your opinion about our culture. It would be seriously better if you did not talk down to me. I am not 5. It would be seriously better if you did not assume. You know what they say happens when you assume.

Seriously, Thanks.

I apologize for assuming you were someone you aren't. I was responding to you as an equal. If I thought you were 5, I would have responded quite differently. Frankly, if I had known you were of a different culture, I would have tried to be more respectful and careful in my conversation, than if I thought you grew up in Iowa or Hamburg.

Originally, I was answering Dipali's question, though. He wanted to know where we started out in our awareness about Muslims and Arabs, and I saw value in the conversation. I thought what he wrote about his parents' rules was a good thing to know about how people *sometimes* think and act in India. This was originally a conversation between outsiders, but I personally am happy to have your input.

I also understand it's frustrating to read very restricted views about your culture and/or religion. I feel the same way. On the other hand, some piece of information has to be first. Some bits of information stick in the head the first time you see it, and other parts take longer to stick. If reading about people's early ideas (and current ideas) annoys you, maybe you should avoid this thread.

I wonder if people in other countries imagine Americans as being in cool chase scenes all the time (you know, from our action movies)? My old next-door neighbor has been arrested for 3 car chases in the past 6 months. The kid runs from the police, every time. I assume he usually gets away, though. Sometimes life does imitate "art".

By the way, I like your icon.

 

[Awasef]

I apologize for assuming you were someone you aren't. I was responding to you as an equal.

Your equals must be very intellectually stunted.

 

[Awasef]

It would be seriously better to not act as if Muslims and Arabs were aliens from Mars. It would be seriously better if you did not feel we needed your opinion about our culture. It would be seriously better if you did not talk down to me. I am not 5. It would be seriously better if you did not assume. You know what they say happens when you assume.

Seriously, Thanks.

Summerdance,

The purpose of this thread is for all the bigots on this forum to spout their negative perceptions of Arabs and Muslims, and then congratulate themselves and each other for not demonizing them even further than they already have.

 

[da Sage]

Your equals must be very intellectually stunted.

Well played!

 

[Awasef]

Well played!

Naturally. You left yourself wide open for that one.


As for this being a thread of 'insiders' and 'outsiders' - I was not aware it was a Klan meeting.

 

[da Sage]

Summerdance,

The purpose of this thread is for all the bigots on this forum to spout their negative perceptions of Arabs and Muslims, and then congratulate themselves and each other for not demonizing them even further than they already have.

I'll admit that I'm a bigot, but please tell me which of my stated perceptions (from this thread) of either Arabs or Muslims was negative? I desperately need your assistance to sort positive from negative, my palsied intellect is not up to the task.

 

[da Sage]

I'll admit that I'm a bigot

But I will admit that I believe you're just as much a bigot as I am...possibly more so, as long as we're being honest.

 

[Awasef]

I'll admit that I'm a bigot, but please tell me which of my stated perceptions (from this thread) of either Arabs or Muslims was negative? I desperately need your assistance to sort positive from negative, my palsied intellect is not up to the task.

I can't point anything out to you while your sequined hood is blocking your vision.

 

[da Sage]

I can't point anything out to you while your sequined hood is blocking your vision.

Sorry, that doesn't make much sense to me.
I seriously (heh!) do try to be sensitive. And honest. But if you did see any of my descriptions as negative, I would like to know which one.

 

[PriscillaAdum]

I wonder if people in other countries imagine Americans as being in cool chase scenes all the time (you know, from our action movies)? My old next-door neighbor has been arrested for 3 car chases in the past 6 months. The kid runs from the police, every time. I assume he usually gets away, though. Sometimes life does imitate "art".

Err. No. "Cool" is not an adjective they'd use. Least, not around these parts.

Regards
Priscilla

 

[da Sage]

Naturally. You left yourself wide open for that one.


As for this being a thread of 'insiders' and 'outsiders' - I was not aware it was a Klan meeting.

If you consider me either Arab or Muslim, I would be honored. Otherwise, I think "outsider" would a correct description of my status.

 

[summerdance]

I also understand it's frustrating to read very restricted views about your culture and/or religion. I feel the same way. On the other hand, some piece of information has to be first. Some bits of information stick in the head the first time you see it, and other parts take longer to stick. If reading about people's early ideas (and current ideas) annoys you, maybe you should avoid this thread.

You just don't get it do you? The mere fact that you need to discuss Arabs (or any other culture, BTW) in this way is insulting. Where do you get off discussing us as if we were some sort of alien species?

Your arrogance knows no bounds, huh. Are you actually telling me which threads to read? Do you not see how condescending you're being?

Seriously!

 

[Shanazel]

Some of the preceding remarks have gone far beyond the bounds of civil intercourse. and have entered the realm of personal attacks. All persons making inflammatory and hurtful remarks should consider the rules of this forum governing civility. Please cease and desist with such comments immediately. Thank you.

Shanazel, OD moderator.

 

[summerdance]

Summerdance,

The purpose of this thread is for all the bigots on this forum to spout their negative perceptions of Arabs and Muslims, and then congratulate themselves and each other for not demonizing them even further than they already have.

I see that, Awasef. I know tone is hard to hear, in an online conversation, but this one is screaming condescension at me.

 

[Awasef]

Some of the preceding remarks have gone far beyond the bounds of civil intercourse. and have entered the realm of personal attacks. All persons making inflammatory and hurtful remarks should consider the rules of this forum governing civility. Please cease and desist with such comments immediately. Thank you.

Shanazel, OD moderator.

Could you please clarify which remarks you are referring to? Presumably not the offensive post that started this thread, and the ones that followed before eliciting a justified reaction from the Arab and Muslim members of this board? It is a little hypocritical to step in this late and preach about inflammatory and hurtful remarks after it was allowed to carry on to this point. I don't think you realize that the first few posts on this thread qualify as very personal attacks and went 'beyond the bounds of civil intercourse' or you would have gallantly stepped in earlier.

 

[da Sage]

You just don't get it do you? The mere fact that you need to discuss Arabs (or any other culture, BTW) is insulting. Where do you get off discussing us as if we were some some alien species?

Your arrogance knows no bounds, huh. Are you actually telling me which threads to read? Do you not see how condescending you're being?

Seriously!

Actually, I'm reminded of when gypsy told me that I might want to set up the ignore button so that I didn't have to see her posts anymore. I hadn't complained about her making posts, but she saw fit to suggest that I not read her posts anyway. So I am doing exactly what gypsy did, so can you be mad at both of us the same?

You seem upset about me (and other people like me) discussing what we think about Arabs, but it doesn't make sense to expect us not to, when most of us enjoy dance from your part of the world. If we showed no interest in the culture, you could legitimately be angry at us for taking your art and ignoring the rest. We can't win.

I am pretty sure there are other "outsiders" here who would like to discuss Arab culture, but are afraid to because they will offend somebody.

I have occasionally stayed away from threads on this forum and others that I thought would annoy me. I occasionally skip newspaper articles that I should read, because I know they will upset me. I am sorry I offended you by suggesting that you might want to do what I sometimes do.

Would you prefer that I not address you at all? I think maybe that is what you want.

 

[kayshier]

I have quite a few things to say about this thread.

This thread was ill-conceived and most definitely in poor taste.

it seems to me, that the trend of this thread was for people to spew what they felt were their negative images of Arabs, Muslims, and Islam, and then tell themselves that they are above that now, thanks to all their maturity and wonderful things that they have been exposed to, i suppose in part by this forum.

It is insulting. I wish people would think before they post.

Dipali how would you feel if people told you that hindus are racist because of the caste system? that they treat the darkest of peoples (untouchables) as some sort of animal lower than a dog?

that hindus, kill their female children at birth because they are not worth anything to the parents in arranged marriages?

would you feel good about that? that the above opinions are notions that are common among people especially through western media...in the same way that Arabs, Africans and people in the diaspora have been villified.

I mean really? how insensitive can one get in starting a thread like this. I honestly cannot see what the motivation was in starting it, or even if there was no bad intention in doing so. Any explanation you give at this point....i can't say that i'd be convinced.

I mean we have had flare ups in here about the palestinian situation, accusations have been spread..
even the very definition of what an Arab, or a Muslim is..with someone recently saying an "Islam" as a person rather than a religion... anyways...that's besides the point.

this thread can be easily miscontrued to be one full of bigotry. I am dissapointed that so many failed to see this and decided to participate in such nonsense.

honestly the moderators should just lock and delete this thread.

that's my say.

thank you.

 

[Awasef]

I have quite a few things to say about this thread.

This thread was ill-conceived and most definitely in poor taste.

it seems to me, that the trend of this thread was for people to spew what they felt were their negative images of Arabs, Muslims, and Islam, and then tell themselves that they are above that now, thanks to all their maturity and wonderful things that they have been exposed to, i suppose in part by this forum.

It is insulting. I wish people would think before they post.

Dipali how would you feel if people told you that hindus are racist because of the caste system? that they treat the darkest of peoples (untouchables) as some sort of animal lower than a dog?

that hindus, kill their female children at birth because they are not worth anything to the parents in arranged marriages?

would you feel good about that? that the above opinions are notions that are common among people especially through western media...in the same way that Arabs, Africans and people in the diaspora have been villified.

I mean really? how insensitive can one get in starting a thread like this. I honestly cannot see what the motivation was in starting it, or even if there was no bad intention in doing so. Any explanation you give at this point....i can't say that i'd be convinced.

I mean we have had flare ups in here about the palestinian situation, accusations have been spread..
even the very definition of what an Arab, or a Muslim is..with someone recently saying an "Islam" as a person rather than a religion... anyways...that's besides the point.

this thread can be easily miscontrued to be one full of bigotry. I am dissapointed that so many failed to see this and decided to participate in such nonsense.

honestly the moderators should just lock and delete this thread.

that's my say.

thank you.

:clap:

 

[gypsy8522]

Actually, I'm reminded of when gypsy told me that I might want to set up the ignore button so that I didn't have to see her posts anymore. I hadn't complained about her making posts, but she saw fit to suggest that I not read her posts anyway. So I am doing exactly what gypsy did, so can you be mad at both of us the same?

Now where did THAT come from? Gypsy did it, oh, I see! If gypsy jumped off a bridge, does that mean you'd have to do it too?

It is quite clear that gypsy does not want to take part in this discussion, so perhaps you should just get off gypsy's case already!

 

[khanjar]

People, please

I see what is happening here, how this thread can be seen to be offensive, offensive to those whom are of the people in question. Perhaps the question was not a good question to ask given the response here, but everyone, whether they be Muslim, Arabic, Christian or Western and any other faith or culture have to understand, there are many misconceptions out there, people have been educated by their past, the words they use and the understandings they have, maybe it is not their fault.

The other thing is language, this site is the English language, to many, this language is not their first language and understandably, more diplomatic words might not be available, allowances should be made.

Here, a website where Islam meets Christian, Arab meets the west, we have something in common, the subject of this website, so maybe we can move towards better understanding in other things. If something offends, please say so, but not attack, for none of us will learn anything if we just hurl insults at each other.

Here we have an unique opportunity to communicate with others of different countries, cultures and faiths, here we can learn to understand each other and dispel the myths and misconceptions of the past.

(See signature below)