KUALA LUMPUR: In the run-up to National Day, MAlaysians have been told they should not be shy about flying the 'Jalur Gemilang' (Malaysian flag) - not only at commercial premises but also at their homes.

Information minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin said Malaysians should take the initiative to show their patriotic spirit and love for the country.

"We should not be mere followers. We must be pioneers. Dont wait for others before following suit.

"Some people are shy to put up the flag at their houses. It is not embarassing, so why feel shy?" he told reporters after the hoisting of a giant Jalur Gemilang at Wisma TV, Angkasapuri, yesterday.

According to the minister, those who did not fly Jalur GEmilang WERE UNPATRIOTIC AND HAD NO LOVE FOR THE COUNTRY.

Source: The Star, 15.08.06, page N12.


Any comments?

I am always a bit suspicious about anything that that may be seen as promoting Nationalism of any form. Our first Alligence should be to Allah(swt). I can not understand the views of a country that is Majority Muslim to embrace the flying of a secular flag. I do not believe the people are shy to fly the flag, I tend to believe that they see it as an attempt to place the Government above Allah(swt)

Originally Posted by Woodrow

I am always a bit suspicious about anything that that may be seen as promoting Nationalism of any form. Our first Alligence should be to Allah(swt). I can not understand the views of a country that is Majority Muslim to embrace the flying of a secular flag. I do not believe the people are shy to fly the flag, I tend to believe that they see it as an attempt to place the Government above Allah(swt)

So do you hold any loyalty to your country the Unites States of America Woodrow? I'm not saying it has to be above Allah, but do you hold any loyalty to America? Or is your only loyalty to Islam and the "Ummah"?

Originally Posted by therebbe

So do you hold any loyalty to your country the Unites States of America Woodrow? I'm not saying it has to be above Allah, but do you hold any loyalty to America? Or is your only loyalty to Islam and the "Ummah"?

I believe that my loyalty to Allah(swt) demands that I obey and support my country as long as My country does not force me to go against Allah(swt) So, far in the Past 66 years of my life, my country has never asked me to place secular loyalty above loyalty to God(swt)

I believe I have paid a sufficient price in service of my country and I do not need to explain or justify my loyalty to any man.

I believe I have paid a sufficient price in service of my country and I do not need to explain or justify my loyalty to any man.

Understand that I am not asking you to justify anything to me. Just trying to get a deeper understanding to the place a Muslim man in a secular country puts his loyalty to.

Originally Posted by therebbe

Understand that I am not asking you to justify anything to me. Just trying to get a deeper understanding to the place a Muslim man in a secular country puts his loyalty to.

No problem. I will just say that I was born in Hartford, Ct. Served over 7 years years in the military and severly disabled in the line of duty. I will gladly die for the USA as long as what I am supporting does not ask me to defy Allah(swt)

Originally Posted by Woodrow

No problem. I will just say that I was born in Hartford, Ct. Served over 7 years years in the military and severly disabled in the line of duty. I will gladly die for the USA as long as what I am supporting does not ask me to defy Allah(swt)

Very admirable.

Actually Muslims have a long history in the USA. For the most part they live in peace and unnoticed by their neighbors. Every Muslim I know is supportive of the US. There are policies we disagree with, but we choose to voice our opposistion in the manners prescribed by the constitution.

Yes, we do love America and are loyal to it's laws. It is just that we love Allah(swt) above all else.

Originally Posted by Woodrow

No problem. I will just say that I was born in Hartford, Ct. Served over 7 years years in the military and severly disabled in the line of duty. I will gladly die for the USA as long as what I am supporting does not ask me to defy Allah(swt)

Edit

Originally Posted by Woodrow

No problem. I will just say that I was born in Hartford, Ct. Served over 7 years years in the military and severly disabled in the line of duty. I will gladly die for the USA as long as what I am supporting does not ask me to defy Allah(swt)

America does everything agiasnt Islam and defy Allah S.W.T. How could you be in USA military since they defy Allah S.W.T from long time? What war did you serve American military?

Originally Posted by Woodrow

Actually Muslims have a long history in the USA. For the most part they live in peace and unnoticed by their neighbors. Every Muslim I know is supportive of the US. There are policies we disagree with, but we choose to voice our opposistion in the manners prescribed by the constitution.

Yes, we do love America and are loyal to it's laws. It is just that we love Allah(swt) above all else.

I know there is a pretty large Muslim community in Michigan, is there one in Austin Texas as well?

Originally Posted by therebbe

I know there is a pretty large Muslim community in Michigan, is there one in Austin Texas as well?

We are not in any particular community in Austin. We are spread around pretty evenly throughout the city. There are no areas yould designate as being a Muslim neighborhood. The Apartment building I live in is mostly Pakistan and Jewish people, however the adjacent buildings are a wide mixture of ethnic groups.

Very large in Austin. I would say nearly 25% of the total population. Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio have many more than Austin in total numbers, but are much lower in percentage of population. Remember, Austin is a fairly small city.

Originally Posted by Woodrow

Very large in Austin. I would say nearly 25% of the total population. Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio have many more than Austin in total numbers, but are much lower in percentage of population. Remember, Austin is a fairly small city.

Wow. I did not know that at all. How did Muslim communities become so large in places like Michigan(midwest) and Texas(south)?

I would expect LA, and NYC to have the largest. I had no idea about Austin.

Originally Posted by Woodrow

Actually Muslims have a long history in the USA. For the most part they live in peace and unnoticed by their neighbors. Every Muslim I know is supportive of the US. There are policies we disagree with, but we choose to voice our opposistion in the manners prescribed by the constitution.

Yes, we do love America and are loyal to it's laws. It is just that we love Allah(swt) above all else.

I think saying that we love america is going a bit too far. I understand that it is not right to just outburst on a country, much less the country that we live in, but this nation has committed reprehensible actions that shall never be forgiven.

This country has destroyed my homeland (Afghanistan) in search of one man who they seemingly "cannot find." 30,000 is the death toll, and still counting. They've also destroyed Iraq, a place that had never threatened the US. Ever. I think it is not justifiable to say that any muslim should love America. Not after what they have done to us as a whole.

Originally Posted by Samee

I think saying that we love america is going a bit too far. I understand that it is not right to just outburst on a country, much less the country that we live in, but this nation has committed reprehensible actions that shall never be forgiven.

This country has destroyed my homeland (Afghanistan) in search of one man who they seemingly "cannot find." 30,000 is the death toll, and still counting. They've also destroyed Iraq, a place that had never threatened the US. Ever. I think it is not justifiable to say that any muslim should love America. Not after what they have done to us as a whole.

Perhaps the word Love carries too strong of connontations for most people that do not have Englicsh as a native language. In english we are very limited in words that reflect appreciation and loyalty. Love in English does not have the same strength as it has in say, Arabic, Urdu or Greek.

with that said, those of us who were born here have very strong loyalty to our nation. We recognise the wrongs it it has done and we do not like those. We do our best to rectify those wrongs. Channals are available to us to voicre our concerns over the wrongs we see done and we openly express them. Loyalty to a country does not mean blind following or to place the country above religious beliefs. But, it does mean to have sufficient respect to use the established means to correct the wrongs as we find them.