Stopping Islamophobia

[FAH1223]

It is very unfortunate that we as a community usually wait until we are slapped in the face to address an issue. I was looking through past comments on the my school newspaper's website recently, and this sentiment of Islamophobia is all over campus. Obviously most of these people don't have the balls to take part in the dialogue in public that has been going on lately, but what can we do to address this issue on the grass roots level? (Yes, I'm talking to you skinnies)

The Muslim communities from what I have observed the last few years are really apathetic to most things that are happening in this country. We just expect civil rights groups and other activists to stand with us when something goes wrong when we haven't done anything to support their causes or stand with them in the first place (That Arizona immigration law comes to mind). There is also a lot of this "staying within the bubble" type thing and we can see it in our own Somali community.

The only community that is really immune to this is the African American community and thats because just about every AA family has at least one Muslim SOMEWHERE there. Especially the working class black community, because Muslims smile and laugh, grind, and work alongside them everyday. We can, should and better take notes from indigenous Muslim culture because there is no better inside information than those who have dealt with American history...the rules don't change. its the same tactics every time. In order to do this we must get over our own internal bigotry though, towards Muslims and non-Muslims alike..

[nomadicwarlord]

When it comes to college atmosphere, most Americans are aware of this issue. Its the ignorant ones that chose to ignore certain aspects/facts of the religion. Dialogue will definitely bridge the gap that exists. Islamophobia is fueled by imbeciles. Most of my American friends are aware of this issue and are equally disgusted by false coloring of Islam.

[ParadigmShift]

We can, should and better take notes from indigenous Muslim culture because there is no better inside information than those who have dealt with American history...the rules don't change. its the same tactics every time. In order to do this we must get over our own internal bigotry though, towards Muslims and non-Muslims alike..

[FAH1223]

^ Muslims have been in America ever since slaves were here.

[qoraxeey]

^ Muslims have been in America ever since slaves were here.

Kunta Kinte

[bareento]

Honestly speaking, the hatred muslims have for none muslims is one milion times bigger than the non-muslim hatred toward muslims!
All mid eastern/paki muslims I know r happy anytime there is a tornado/crisis/catastrophe/attac against the west.

Wallahi some were in cosmic jubiliation mood when New Orleans was under water!

Muslim society need REFORM

B.

[*Nobleman*]

Same exact thing here bro. Anti Islamic sentiment is at an all time high. I have thought of ways of tryna counter these feelings, but muslims are generally apathetic. The media is probably the biggest factor in increasing islamophobia.

trash papers can write blantant lies against muslims with no debate. i.e.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/200 ... -kill-Pope

now replace the story with the word jewish and that paper would be called anti semetic and would probably cease to exist.

muslims in general need to wake up. Even normal non muslims defend muslims and speak against the rise of islamphobia in britain.

[shaab_]

I blame crazy Arabs and Pakis mostly, something about their culture that ruined the name of Islam globally.

[union]

I blame crazy Arabs and Pakis mostly, something about their culture that ruined the name of Islam globally.

IMO we should shed the Arab names and blend in with the indigenous negro population of North America.

[eyes-only]

I don't think you can stop it....it's an irrational fear so the sufferer is the one who needs to get the treatment. All we as Muslims can do is try to avoid doing things that make people afraid of us and also try to prevent it affecting us negatively like any other form of discrimination. I don't see what a normal student or citizen can do to stop someone else's irrational fear of them.

[Berke]

Americans are stupid robots controlled from their television sets. They can be reprogrammed to think however their programmers - the media, hollywood, the government - want them to think. Attempt to change their attitude towards muslims is quite hopeless. Just don't become like them as some idiots on this site did.

[SultanOrder]

very sad about some of the pessimistic views I keep reading on here, just yesterday we had two young guys take the shahada after jumac salat and wallahi every one was so happy for them and giving them hugs and welcoming them to islam that they were crying because of all the emotions going through them, at the sametime we prayed salat janaza on an old man who died the night before, I saw his uncovered face.

The way I took it as was for every person that Allah takes the Muslims towards him he replaces it with younger and more muslims into the deen.

[shaamboo]

^ Muslims have been in America ever since slaves were here.

Not sure it its ND or SD they have a mosque that was build in 1920`s

[SultanOrder]

[youtube]3YJhqHmnlOM&[/youtube]

Great video I really agree with

[shaamboo]

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/09/24/30days.html

Let`s not forget that America can be a great place for muslim americans