That's Not My Idea of What It Means to Be an AMERICAN

Amen!

http://simplyjunehaskell.blogspot.com/

I'm sorry, but I just don't buy your justification for propagating the feelings of prejudice in you comment.

You make it sound like all those who ascribe to the Islam faith are awaiting a "murderous message" and therefor we should not be friends with them or socialize with them and should be watching them carefully just in case. The Pillars of Islam on which Muslims base their faith is designed to promote peace, and across this wide world of ours, the vast majority of Muslims (I'll just pull a number out of my hat and say, 97%) fight and would even give their lives against the extremism which twists the meaning of their true faith.

Any rift between cultures is only widened by shutting down dialog, and distancing ourselves from each other because of fear and the lack of willingness to take the time to find out what makes each other tick.

The only way these prejudices will ever be broken down is to have the courage to be a friend, to have a conversation, and to get to know each other as people, not as stereotypes. As a devout Christian, I would suspect that would be the way my God would have me act.

97% of those seeking to kill us are Muslims?! wow.... That is about as factual as me saying 97% of Christians want to take Jerusalem back in a final holy crusade. You are one of those people who are uninformed and live in fear of their own making. Your statements are prejudice and worse yet, you seem to justify your ignorance with righteous indignation.

In any society there are extremists like you who thankful, tend to be in the minority. We have thousands of muslims who are loyal American citizens, serving in our armed forces fighting. Muslims who as we speak are risking their lives to protect other americans.

With respect, you are not working at it at all. Shame on you.

http://simplyjunehaskell.blogspot.com/

Your thesis and quiet scolding leaves me in a quandry. On the one hand we aim to be a generous and inclusive society on the other we have had our kindness and gentleness used against us as those who sought to kill us used our laws of inclusion to come here, move freely, join our armed forces (Major Hassan) and kill us.

I had a Muslim neighbor, a lovely hospitable gentleman. My friend had a Muslim neighbor who, while in her home, told my friend that they could be friends but if her God required it, she would slit my friend's throat. Was she crazy? Was she a good example of what a Muslim is? I don't know, but I dissuaded my friend from having coffee with her again. She did not need to provide her access should her God send a murderous message. You may criticize me for that. Feel free. I did not hold my male neighbor responsible for what the other woman said, but it reminded me to be aware.

I do not condone the crowd dissing those boys. I also do not condone those who stubbornly refuse to act upon the fact that 97% of those seeking to kill us are Muslims, usually speaking Arabic. Our willingness to love and accept others has turned us into moving targets. We have to find the balance between refusing to understand there are those Muslims who see us as infidels and who do want to kill us, and profiling every Muslim as worthy of ridicule and suspicion. Obviously that balance eludes us. With respect, the fact we are working at it is what makes us truly American.

Well written.

It's sad to think what the children of those people making insults learned that day.

Thanks

Julie 

http://www.kidfocused.com ( http://kidfocused.com/ )

That's unfortunate. I did read the whole article, which would have seen if you'd continued reading because I referenced it a couple times.

I was not using the term "new niggers" directed offensively towards the boys, but as a way for you to see that the discrimination that Arab and Muslim citizens are experiencing is not new at all.

I was not speaking from my voice/perspective when I used the term "new niggers" but from the perspective of the old man who spit when they walked by or whoever it was that yelled out "OSAMA!"

I suggest you keep reading the comment because my whole point is that this discrimination/behavior you witnessed is not new or very different from what every person of color has experienced since America's birth. My point was THIS IS AMERICA.

You are very quick to judge the ideals of what is spoken about in this article based upon society from over 200 years in the past.

The ideals and statements for equality which those who founded America in the late 1700s were truly different at the time than what the mainsteam was. And in the 236 years since the Independance from England was declared, it has been a progression of thinking in the social concious away from prejudice in this country is more imbued in our social concious than racism has been.

It is a struggle, of course. Because change requires thought and action. The same kind of thought and action which is evident in the majority of the history of this country. Have there been mistakes? Yes. Have there been dark days marked by prejudice? Of course. But it is what is done in response to those things that has made us grow. I will not judge the intent for equality by our founding fathers upon the society of today. I will judge them upon their desires for change, and the desire to make a difference in THEIR time and in THEIR society in THEIR age. And I applaud them for that.

And I applaud every person who has taken steps in 236 years towards abolishing hate and prejudice and racism in this country.

Now, you tell me which is more prejudiced or racist...

"That person has different color skin, has a different culture, has a different religion than I do. I don't want anything to do with them. Let them exist in their own little sphere, and I'll exist in mine."

Or...

"That person has different color skin, has a different culture, has a different religion thatn I do. I'll respect their differences. I'll say 'hello' to them. I'll speak with them about where they are from. I'll ask them about their culture, and share with them pieces of mine."

Of course there are differences in people in our country. The fact that you recognize those differences does NOT make you prejudiced or racist. The fact that you even talk about those differences does NOT make you prejudiced or racist. It is what you do that makes that distinction.

Now, I don't believe that you need to change who you are, change your beliefs, or even agree with the philosophies of those who are different than yourself to not be prejudiced. It is a matter of showing respect for the rights and priveleges of those around us that makes a difference. A respect to their right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness in this country. Their right to worship as their concious dictates. Their right to be their own self. All rights they should be able to pursue without being judged by the fact that they are different. And all of these rights have their foundation set in the laws passed in the framework of the Constitution of the United States.

I am a Christian. I am a conservative. I am a white male (and yes, I do read posts on BlogHer.) And I believe that the ideals of the United States and Her People are such that we desire to better ourselves, and those around us. And in so doing, we better our Nation as a whole.

You stopped reading after the second sentence? Interesting.
I stopped caring or respecting one thing you said after you called those boys (and I quote) "the new "niggers".

http://simplyjunehaskell.blogspot.com/

As I was reading this article I could tell where you were going immediately...

And I mean no disrespect when I say this, but when you started to describe the way others around you reacted to the group of Arab boys and how SHOCKED you were that it happened.....all I could think was "duh" and roll my eyes.

I basically stopped reading there because I know what's next. "This is not the America I grew up in" "This is not the America I was taught" and the world famous "This is not the America our forefathers built".

YES, it is.

OF COURSE people made racists statements, reacted negatively to the new other, the new "niggers". OF COURSE they did, because that is America.

If you truly believe this is not the America our forefathers built, I challenge you to look at the constitution where slaves are only five eighths of a person. Where women don't have the right to vote. I challenge you to look at the Trail of Tears and broken treaties this country made with "savages". I challenge you to look at the Naturalization Act of 1790, where the only people who were considered true citizens were white males with property.

This has been America from day one. Your illusion of equality has just been shattered.

Racism and inequality are imbued in the American conscious, it is a part of US. The fact that you even noticed the boys in the first place is reference to your own underline racism. The fact that you felt the need to tell us that you had an Arab student living with you previously signals to me that you're waving the "I'm not racist" flag. A flag you wouldn't even own if this were true.

(Even the comments on this article add to my point..."97% of Muslims....I know muslims/I work with muslims..." *shakes head*)

Now don't reject everything I just said because I called you racist. Every man, woman and child living within a society that has its roots seeped in inequality and violence has discrimination & prejudice edged in their very beings.

Nothing has "happened" to us, you're just waking up to the real world. Welcome.

Great Comment and I love your verse at the end!

http://simplyjunehaskell.blogspot.com/

I work with several Muslims (from a half-dozen different countries) and I promise you none of them are out to kill me (unless I screw up the network). They also don't agree with the Wahhabist sect, which is where the 9/11 perps came out of.

How do you feel about Saudi Arabia, our "ally"? All but two of the perps came from there. Nearly all of the country is controlled by Wahhabists, yet they are still considered our allies. Just saying...

♫♪♫  ☺ I stand up for everyone's rights, whether they directly affect me or not. Today their rights, tomorrow mine...  ☺ ♫♪♫