Posted on 08/26/2006 9:55:51 AM PDT by quidnunc
If only the Muslims in Europe — with their hearts focused on the Islamic world and their carry-on liquids poised for destruction in the West — could behave like the well-educated, secular and Americanizing Muslims in the United States, no one would have to worry.
So runs the comforting media narrative that has developed around the approximately 6 million Muslims in the United States, who are often portrayed as well-assimilated and willing to leave their religion and culture behind in pursuit of American values and lifestyle. But over the past two years, I have traveled the country, visiting mosques, interviewing Muslim leaders and speaking to Muslim youths in universities and Islamic centers from New York to Michigan to California — and I have encountered a different truth. I found few signs of London-style radicalism among Muslims in the United States. At the same time, the real story of American Muslims is one of accelerating alienation from the mainstream of U.S. life, with Muslims in this country choosing their Islamic identity over their American one.
A new generation of American Muslims — living in the shadow of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — is becoming more religious. They are more likely to take comfort in their own communities, and less likely to embrace the nation's fabled melting pot of shared values and common culture.
-snip-
Despite contemporary public opinion — or perhaps because of it — Muslim Americans consider Islam their defining characteristic, beyond any national identity. In this way, their experience in the United States resembles that of their co-religionists in Europe, where mosques are also growing, Islamic schools are being built, and practicing the faith is the center of life, particularly for the young generation. …
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"Being ambassadors of Islam is daring behavior when you consider that American Muslims live in a country where so many people are ignorant of -- if not hostile to -- their faith. In a Gallup poll this year, when U.S. respondents were asked what they admire about the Muslim world, the most common response was "nothing" (33 percent); the second most common was "I don't know" (22 percent)."
So, apparently all Americans have to learn about Islam. Do the Muslims have to learn about the Catholic culture or Jewish identity, or will they want to learn?
"My biggest fear is that I might assimilate to the American lifestyle so much that my modesty goes out the window."
What a canard against American women. This lady needs to learn about the Western culture rather than a culture portrayed by the media. She needs to adopt a diverse multicultural respect which Americans find lacking in Islam.
"U.S. foreign policy persists in dividing Muslim and Western societies, making it harder still for Americans to realize that there is a difference between their Muslim neighbor and the plotter in London or the kidnapper in Baghdad."
This nails it: It's all Bush's fault.
What is striking to me is that they equate assimilation with giving up their religious views. The vast majority of Americans could care less whether they wear headscarves or frequently pray to the Arabian moon god, only that they be good citizens, obey and uphold our laws, and accept that our social compact requires religious tolerance. More we cannot demand, less we cannot tolerate.
"America's Muslims Aren't as Assimilated as You Think"?
The five pillars of Islam..... murder, bestiality, terrorism, cowardice and abuse of women and children.
Know islam, no peace
No islam, know peace
That was my initial reaction upon reading the title and first sentence, but after having read the article more closely, it seems that the overall messages that we're supposed to take away from it are pretty much in line with the Washington Post's worldview - namely that Americans are intolerant, hateful people who misunderstand the vast majority of peaceful Islamic peoples, and if it weren't for America's hostile policy towards and oppression of all of the world's friendly Muslim countries, and America's hateful support of the Zionist occupiers, and Americans' hateful discrimination against Muslims, and Americans' disgusting infidel ways, we could all get along well, but since changes won't happen until Islam eventually takes over in America, Muslims need to avoid assimilating (it's America's fault that they're not assimilating after all)... It is rubbish to its core...
We never for a minute thought they had or would assimilate. Their culture is so ingrained, so imbedded, so indoctrinated from birth there is no way they ever will assimilate into the USA.
Plus they murder their family members if they even try to assimilate.
In your dreams.
Leni
I never thought they were.
Careful, the muslim appeasers and apologist will jump down your throat for uttering such words.
I'm not sure in the US they'll ever get there.....except in those cities that ban guns.
Right, good points. What doesn't seem to be recognized, is that Muslims of whatever sect can safely practice their religion in any way they choose (as long as they abide by the law). One would think that a religious Muslim would recognize and appreciate this freedom and value the country that enabled this to be their daily reality.
I think the problem is that some of these so-called religious Muslims take this freedom, but resent the fact that other religions in the US have the same freedoms. They resent the temple down the street, they resent the church down the block and are quite vocal about their condemnation of Western religious institutions and Western culture in general. They pride themselves and are encouraged to be separate and apart, to disdain those around them and the very country that gives them sanctuary.
Why do we still accept immigrants (legal) from Muslim countries? This is pure nonsense. We are inviting in trouble and sorrow and death into our country.
"... the multiculturalists among us ..."
Ditto! Exactly my thoughts. But of course, it's all part of Cultural Marxism, even if the useful idiots don't recognize it as such.
The next step in this progressive alienation is obvious: Leave the U.S.A. and go to live in a "Muslim nation."
Some Freeper recently posted this "schedule" of Islamization of the earth. I thought it was an excellent analysis of the mortal dangers posed by Muslim "critical mass." ------------ The following is a description (slightly modified) from Dr. Peter Hammond's book: Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat. www.frontline.org.za/books_videos/sti.htm As long as the Muslim population remains around 1% of any given country they will be regarded as a peace-loving minority and not as a threat to anyone. In fact, they may be featured in articles and films, stereotyped for their colorful uniqueness. At 2% and 3% they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs [Europe, Australia, USA and Japan]. Six percent of US prison inmates are Muslim. Like any other minority, they won’t integrate, but work to build their own separate community. From 5% on they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population. South Africa's Muslim population is 2%, but they control 35% of the businesses, a large percentage of the banks and have five Cabinet seats while Christians (77% of the population) have none. They will push for the introduction of halaal (clean by Islamic standards) food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims. They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature it on their shelves (along with threats for failure to comply). At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves under Sharia; Islamic Law. The ultimate goal of Islam is not to convert the world, but to establish Sharia law over the entire world. When Muslims reach 10% of the population, they will increase lawlessness as a means of complaint about their conditions. (Ei: car-burnings in France last October.) Any non-Muslim action that offends Islam will result in uprisings and threats. After reaching 20% expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings and church and synagogue burning (India, Mindanao, Philippines). At 40% you will find widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks and ongoing militia warfare [Indonesia]. From 60% you may expect unfettered persecution of non-believers and other religions, sporadic ethnic cleansing (genocide), use of Sharia Law as a weapon and Jizya (infidel tax). (Sudan, Kosovo, Lebanon and Egypt). After 80% expect State run ethnic cleansing and genocide [Western Papua (New Guinea), Iran, Biafra, Turkey and North Nigeria]. 100% will usher in the peace of "Dar-es-Salaam" - House of Peace - as in Saudi Arabia, Libya and Yemen.
I'm not suprised. Did you read the article? The last paragraph says it all!
It is too soon to say where the growing alienation of American Muslims will lead, but it seems clear that the factors contributing to it will endure. U.S. foreign policy persists in dividing Muslim and Western societies, making it harder still for Americans to realize that there is a difference between their Muslim neighbor and the plotter in London or the kidnapper in Baghdad.
Don't you see? It's all Bush's fault!
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