<p>You say Islam has many extremists but why does it still remain the #1 fastest growing religion in the world??</p>
<p>I see no direct relation between how many militants a religion has and how fast it grows. Unless you are talking about an extremist sect, then by definition only extremists join it. </p>
<p>By the way, what does #1 fastest growing religion in the world means ?</p>
<p>Im not islamic-
I feel that religion is just as divisive as it is inclusive
I am very concerned that the fundamentalist aspects of the worlds religions are growing.( in US the fastest growing religion is Wicca)
I believe religion should be a private matter.</p>
<p>Murder on the other hand is murder-
I don’t believe that murder that is considered a hate crime- example when the victim is killed because they are white- wiccan- black-muslim-gay-rich…, is any more horrible than if they are just killed randomly.
THey are dead- and their murderers should be prosecuted and not allowed to bargain down their sentence if they are guilty.
THis whole thing with hate crimes being prosecuted more severely than other crimes IMO, resulted because too often in the courts crimes of armed robbery, assault, & murder for example, were allowed to be bargained down for lesser charges.
WHen something is labled a hate crime, then community sentiment revolts against allowing that.
But I dont understand why the crime is more horrific, if the victim is Black- Christian Scientist, or Mormon, and the perpatrator is not, than if both victim and assailant were of similar race/religion/background</p>
<p>whats the difference between terrorism and a hate crime?</p>
<p>Should rapes- since they are usually committed by a man or men against a woman or women be classified as a hate crime?</p>
<p>A close aquaintance was murdered in her home, one morning after taking her daughter to music lessons.
She was bound with duct tape- gagged and stabbed viciously multiple times.
How could this be anymore horrific if it was found that she was killed because of her race or religion?
I don’t think it could</p>
<p>I wish people would stop saying this is a war against Islam. </p>
<p>Rather, Islam militants are waging war against the rest of the world. </p>
<p>Actually they aren’t really warring, just specialize in killing defenseless innocent people. Strike in surprise then hide. But that’s beside the point.</p>
<p>The rest of the world is trying to protect itself, by hunting down terrorists.</p>
<p>Get this straight. Please !</p>
<p>If muslims renounce violence, the war against terror will stop, today. See, the west isn’t waging war against Islam. Never has.</p>
<p>EK, hate crimes got put on the books so it is ellegible for the death penalty, so it,like you said, can’t be bargained down.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Oh, believe me, I can imagine, I certainly don’t intend to trivialize your experiences. I’ve seen a lot of casual prejudice directed at Muslims - rude comments and staring, harassment, the car at the grocery store with the “Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out” bumper sticker…blech. The current sudden rise in anti-Semitism bothers me a lot - it’s the same kind of guilt by association crap that Muslims have to deal with, and it’s bad no matter who it’s directed at.</p>
<p>As far as this issue goes, from a personal perspective, it will be nice when I’m back on my hall at college, where the son of a prominent pro-Palestinian activist has lived happily and peaceably with Jewish kids who keep Israeli flags in their rooms for the last three years. :)</p>
<p>well I also have problems with the death penalty
I can understand that many myself included, have a problem with the criminal walking and breathing when those he- because it usually is a he, killed are not.
I along with others, have a problem with the money spent to house criminals who committed horrific ( sorry I just can’t think of another word), crimes, not to mention supplying legal- & medical care.
BUt i suppose I feel life in prison without parole, is more appropriate, than playing God and deciding if someone is going to live or die
I have a problem with that it seems to depend on what state you are in, what sentence you get.
I understand the emotion behind wanting something labled a hate crime.
BUt is the death penalty vengeance or a deterrent?
I don’t think it necessarily acts as a deterrent, and I think if it is vengeance, then we should admit it.</p>
<p>
When immigrants from decades ago came to America they did everything they could to seem like Americans and not retain the obvious characteristics of their prior culture. Women are free to wear whatever they wish, but please don’t expect other Americans not to think it is strange. Religion should be private and referred to on occasion. Women who wear scarfs are making sure everyone knows they are muslim all the time. When in Rome …</p>
<p>actually while for myself religion is private-I should have stressed that is my personal belief</p>
<p>I realize that part of many religions, are practices which make them identifiable as belong to that relgion
THe shaved upper lip of the Amish,the “underwear” and conservative clothing of the latter day saints,skullcaps of observant jews, red dot of Hindi women, uncut hair of Sikh men…
I don’t want to tell people that they can’t wear what their religion dictates that they wear, anymore than I want their relgion to dictate what * I wear*</p>
<p>I admit I feel a little strange around women who have barely their eyes peeking out while dressed in head to toe black robes, but we have freedom to practice religion in this country, isn’t that why many of us are here?</p>
<p>razorsharp, that is quite a breathtaking post. Since you clearly understand everyone’s motivations (as evidenced by your claiming to know why Muslim women wear scarves), are the Amish also just making sure everyone knows they’re Amish? How about the Hassidim? Are all these just retaining the “obvious characteristics of their prior culture”, and rejecting America? </p>
<p>How does one dress to “seem like Americans”? Are my Brooks Brothers okay, or should I wear Cherokee native dress?</p>
<p>And you say “religion should be private and referred to on occasion”. On which occasions do you think real Americans should be able to refer to religion? If President Bush asks God to bless America is he acting outside your American values, or is that acceptable? Is Pat Robertson beyond the pale? How about Billy Graham? How about all the Senators who quote their religious beliefs when debating abortion, gay marriage, or end-of-life issues?</p>
<p>You people misunderstand hassidim alot. Hassidim are a type of orhtodox jews. They value joy in torah unike the orthodox litvaks. They are modernized in the necessay parts of life. The clothing they wear is traditional and not mandated by law and its a white shirt black pants and then a special black robe. The hat denotes the hassidic sect that they are from. They are moderenized to the fullest extent. Muslims are not. there religion preaches hate</p>
<p>i also wanted to add that when i say muslims are not modernized i do not mean every single one, but i mean the leadership and especially muslim and islamic countries. American muslims are to an extent more favorable to the west then other ones are, but not by much. The best example i can give is israeli arabs. They are loyal to their government and they keep silent on paletinian-arab - israelis issues however when push comes to shove they will support the palestinian arabs. There are two excellent books on this topics written by a yale proffessor on the middle east, Bernard Lewis. The first is called What Went Wrong and the second is The Crisis of Islam. Both offer a picture of not the islamic people per se, but their institutions. The first is more of a history with the turks and how they were able to modernize. The second is a more modern look at it, but ofcourse with history because without history you cannot understand the current nature of this conflict.</p>
<p>
Yes, the truth usually is breathtaking. I avoid political correctness when I can. It doesn’t sound like you do.</p>
<p>Let’s look at it from another perspective. Let’s take a typical American blonde woman (whoever that may be) shopping in the local mall wearing her jeans or Nike sweatsuit and let’s assume she decides she wants to be a permanent citizen of India. She feels living in India for the rest of her life is her destiny and she will not be fulfilled if she cannot live in India. Sure enough, her dream is fulfilled and she is now a citizen of India. She walks around in India wearing her Nike sweatsuit, shirt, short shorts, etc. Do you really think that Indian women wearing Saris and sporting red dots on their foreheads will refrain from giving the formerly American but newly Indian woman strange looks? Do you really think they won’t make comments about her strange form of dress? And how about that platinum blond hair? I am willing to bet she might hear a few “Yankee Go Home” comments as well. Certainly she is free to wear whatever American dress she wishes in her new country, but to expect everyone else in the country to pretend she fits in like any other Indian woman is plain silly.</p>
<p>Muslims are forgetting that this country isn’t ruled by their childish Sharia ‘laws’. Hmm, don’t want to use the word laws to give an ounce of legitimacy to their inane garbage.</p>
<p>Yes americans never dress as suggested by their religion:</p>
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<p><a href=“http://stanosheck.com/Modesty.html[/url]”>http://stanosheck.com/Modesty.html</a></p>
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<p>So to say its Muslims that cover their heads to make a statement is ignoring the many Jews, Christians, Mormans, etc that do as well</p>
<p>It’s a scarf. A SCARF.</p>
<p>Why is someone else’s article of clothing vitally important to your welfare?</p>
<p>“You people misunderstand hassidim alot. Hassidim are a type of orhtodox jews. They value joy in torah unike the orthodox litvaks. They are modernized in the necessay parts of life. The clothing they wear is traditional and not mandated by law and its a white shirt black pants and then a special black robe. The hat denotes the hassidic sect that they are from. They are moderenized to the fullest extent. Muslims are not. there religion preaches hate”</p>
<p>now, I agree with the part about jews, they have every right to wear they want, and it’s something they follow fromtheir religion, be it something they have to do or they do by choice, but saying the Muslims have no right to do it is just plain racist…</p>
<p>“i also wanted to add that when i say muslims are not modernized i do not mean every single one, but i mean the leadership and especially muslim and islamic countries.”</p>
<p>There is no current Islamic country because there is no current Islamic government, not even saudi Arabia has an Islaimic government, they have a monarchy and base many of their laws on Islam, but they also violate many of Islam’s laws, like forcing someone to wear the scarf or not allowing women to do certain things as just a few examples…</p>
<p>“Let’s look at it from another perspective. Let’s take a typical American blonde woman (whoever that may be) shopping in the local mall wearing her jeans or Nike sweatsuit and let’s assume she decides she wants to be a permanent citizen of India. She feels living in India for the rest of her life is her destiny and she will not be fulfilled if she cannot live in India. Sure enough, her dream is fulfilled and she is now a citizen of India. She walks around in India wearing her Nike sweatsuit, shirt, short shorts, etc. Do you really think that Indian women wearing Saris and sporting red dots on their foreheads will refrain from giving the formerly American but newly Indian woman strange looks? Do you really think they won’t make comments about her strange form of dress? And how about that platinum blond hair? I am willing to bet she might hear a few “Yankee Go Home” comments as well. Certainly she is free to wear whatever American dress she wishes in her new country, but to expect everyone else in the country to pretend she fits in like any other Indian woman is plain silly.”</p>
<p>see, what many people don’t understand is the beauty of America is the fact that we don’t have one specific image, we’re a land FULL OF IMMIGRANTS… unless you are native american, you are an immigrant… so it is ok to wear a scarf in America, and at least expect to be accepted, becuase america is full of all kinds of people and there are some people who need to accept that… and after all this crap on the news bout how America is the land of the free, and we have freedom of speech and religion, there are people like you who say to fit in in America you have to conform to a certain image, thats preacing the exact opposite ideals of what the United states was built…</p>
<p>“Muslims are forgetting that this country isn’t ruled by their childish Sharia ‘laws’. Hmm, don’t want to use the word laws to give an ounce of legitimacy to their inane garbage.”</p>
<p>what makes you think that??</p>