America's Muslims Aren't as Assimilated as You Think

Washington Post ^ | 8/27/06 | Geneive Abdo

[thehumanlynx]

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.

[Nachum]

But they are right on schedule:

Frightening to contemplate.

It will be a race then, between the illegals destroying our sovereignty and the Muslims taking over. Wonderful.

[txhurl]

I'm getting too old to do much more than sit on my porch and pop 'em when they pass by.

Contemplating tagline snag...

[oneolcop]

All we can do is the best we can with what we have.

I try to convince my kids that this is the real deal. On some levels they get it, and on others, not.

[thehumanlynx]

my issue is more with allowing separate readers to post. Even though it is posted once, not everyone reads it who would find it interesting. There are some, not you, who are militant in pointing out a repost of a story and make a huge deal out of it. I thought you were one of them. Now I see your intent. thanks.

[D1X1E]

American Muslims live in a country where so many people are ignorant of -- if not hostile to -- their faith.

Ignorant of? No, it's been made abundantly clear. Hostile to? Yes, with good reason.

[backtothestreets]

I'm not Mormon, nor do, or have I ever lived in Utah, but I've no problem with Utah being a Mormon state.

Until the Taft led Supreme Court ruling of 1925 extended the First Amendment religion clause to encompass states, not just Congress as written, many states had official religions, as they had since the founding of the country.

Had that ruling not been made, it is likely we would still have prayer in public schools today, religious displays would be allowed in courthouses and on public property, and other religions would not be beating us over the head with their religions.

[Gritty]

Islam is not so much a religion as it is a dangerous death cult with overarching political aims, and should be treated as such. It should be prohibited in this country, just like Communism was (back when this country still had some non-PC b@lls)!

[Bombard]

Unlike Europe if some American muslims go the radical route people in this country are armed and will hit back.

[CedarDave]

His Paki roommate didn't know anything about it. The apt was full of explosives as I recall.

They just love it when they can get a fair-skinned Anglo to do something like this. They can point out that "See, it's just crazies. Not us".

I read a story on a thread earlier today where, prior to this latest scare, there were a bunch of Muslims traveling together on a plane and they would pull a prank by talking in Arabic, getting up while in flight, change seats, head for the restroom or exchange cell phones in front of the other passengers. One observer of their story said they were laughing at how upset the passengers got and one lady started praying out loud. These days, that can get yourself beaten pretty badly if the other passengers perceive a threat.

[Finny]

Any woman in a burka (all but the eyes covered) in the United States is spitting in the eye of every American warrior who ever fought for freedom. That would include my dad. I hate the burkas in the U.S. They don't belong here in any form or for any reason. They symbolize cowardly men and cowardly values. If a man would have his woman wear a burka in the U.S., he should be deported; if a woman wants to wear a burka in the U.S., she should be deported. Burkas are as disrepectful to my culture and my country as a bikini-clad woman in the streets of Saudi Arabia or the Vatican.

[caresistance]

Separatist communities in southern Utah. Colorado city, Warren Jeffs.

[Beckwith]

It will be a race then, between the illegals destroying our sovereignty and the Muslims taking over. Wonderful

You forgot the liberals eating away at our innards.

[truth_seeker]

"Separatist communities in southern Utah. Colorado city, Warren Jeffs."

1. I would consider them lawbreaking communities.

2. Colorado City is is Arizona.

3. Those people in Colorado City, Hildale (Utah) are NOT mainstream Mormons.

4. The real LDS church gave up polygamy in 1890.

You probably knew one or more of those facts.

[caresistance]

Agree with your points, knew #2, but was being expedient. Problem is that these enclaves seem to be proliferating whether they are Muslim or not.

[William Terrell]

‘I have a right to be a Muslim, and I don’t have to assimilate.’

This is why all Muslims must be deported to a Muslim country. If American law doesn't allow that, then American law must change. Simply follow the logical path of this attitude to it's end. If we let it get that far, we are dead as a country.

If we destroy our country because of this, it will be final and absolute proof that God does not advocate mushy hearts.

But the lesson will be too late. If we let it be too late, we have gotten what we deserved.

[Vision]

"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Qur'an should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth"

--Omar Ahmed, Chairman of the Board of CAIR (Council of American Islamic Relations), San Ramon Valley Herald, July 1998

[SoCal_Republican]

The executive director of my engineering department used to put on a good front, but I realized his true nature when my non-muslim friends intercepted some of his hateful e-mails. I remember about a week after 9/11 he sent an e-mail that showed the new NYC skyline, but all the buildings had been converted into Muslim/Arabic style design (minarets, golden domes, etc). The email also included a pic of George Bush (photoshopped) with a long beard and Muslim garb. Another e-mail had a power point show that discussed how George Bush was attacking Iraq in order to jack up the price of oil and how he clearly was getting rich from all this (yeah, I know, lies, but theses guys don't care) - no telling where that power point was being presented. He never knew we had this (and other )intel on him. About a year ago there was a scandal in the department for guys fudging numbers to look good. Two guys got fired - one was him, and the other was a manager under him (also Muslim). Sometimes these things work themselves out.