Flight of middle class Muslims

[Uthman]

Flight of middle class Muslims
By Navid Akhtar and Mukti Jain Campion

Many Muslims, fed up with what they see as Islamophobia, are upping sticks and heading for the Middle East.

At Nuzhat al-Sibassi's family home in south London, the contents are being packed away in boxes, ready to be shipped to the United Arab Emirates.
Mrs al-Sibassi was born in Britain to Pakistani parents, raised and educated here. She's worked as a senior hospital manager in the NHS, but is now moving with her family to the United Arab Emirates.

You feel you are having to constantly prove that you're not what other people think you are - you always have to be on your guard

Nuzhat al-Sibassi

"Living here is not how it was. The politics and the environment has changed and people's perception of Muslims has changed dramatically. A number of incidents in UK over past 3-4 years have marred life for decent Muslims living here."

Mrs al-Sibassi is just one of a growing number of middle class Muslims who are leaving because they no longer feel comfortable living in the country of their birth.

Last year an ICM survey found that two-thirds of Muslims contemplated leaving Britain after the 7 July bombings in London. The regular flow of front-page headlines has placed Muslims under intense pressure to explain their faith and its place in British society.

Politicians' assurances

"Bringing up children in an environment where the messages in the media are anti-Islamic, it just puts added pressure on them as they grow up," Mrs al-Sibassi says.

It's a pressure she feels herself too. "You feel you are having to constantly prove that you're not what other people think you are. You always have to be on your guard."

She believes that despite British politicians' assurances to the contrary, there is a witch-hunt going on against Muslims at the moment.

Dubai also has the weather on its side

"I know many Muslims who have been arrested and put in cells overnight without being charged. They're not terrorists - they just happen to have a beard and visit the mosque on a Friday. It makes us all feel uneasy, and you want to be away from it, hence the move."

Lord Ahmed, a Muslim peer in the House of Lords, says he has noticed this growing nervousness.

"The Archbishop of York has compared Britain with Uganda under Idi Amin and he said that the difficulties faced by the Asians at that time are very similar to the difficulties faces by the Muslim community today.

"Obviously people have already been feeling the intimidation, the provocation, and more importantly, the demonisation of their religion. These people who are born here, who've lived here all their life and they feel that they now don't belong here - because they're being made to feel like that."

Dubai headhunters

Britain's loss is the Gulf's gain. It's the booming economies in the region, particularly those of the United Arab Emirates, which are actively seeking these skilled British Muslim professionals.

Six months ago, Meiraj Hussein, from Lancashire, who works in corporate recruitment, was headhunted by a large multinational located in Dubai.

"Things are different in England since 9/11, it's generally more difficult to get ahead in the corporate world. You reach a glass ceiling. Coming here, it's a step up for me job-wise, and one of the reasons for moving," he says.

If the very few of us who are making it to the higher positions in terms of education and labour market leave, what is left?

Dr Tahir Abbas
Birmingham University

Emerging companies in the Emirates see a Western education as a good thing. And being Muslim with an Asian background is seen as a good recipe for fitting in, Mr Hussein says.

His wife Shazia, who is a teacher, initially remained in the UK, but now is ready to join him.

"I feel very relaxed here. It's not a question of fitting in, it's more a question of not sticking out. Since the 7 July bombings in London if you wear hijab or have a beard then you're treated as if you don't believe in secular society.

"Here, I look more Arab so I am viewed in a positive way, the tables are turned if you like. And it does affect you psychologically. I feel more comfortable here, which is sad really because Britain is my home. I was born there, my family are there and part of me does feel sad to leave. It's not an easy thing."

But it's couples like Meiraj and Shazia that are the role models for the younger generation of Muslims, looking to further integrate itself into British society.

The Muslim community in Britain has a very small middle class - only 16% are professionals. And they are the ones who are leaving. In some quarters, there are concerns about the impact of this creeping migration.

"There's a potential problem there. If the very few of us who are making it to the higher positions in terms of education and labour market leave, what is left?" asks Dr Tahir Abbas, who is the Director of Birmingham University's Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Culture.

"The fact that we've got three times as high unemployment in the inner city, we've got huge problems of health, housing, inequality, who's going to lead on these fronts, not just as Muslims, but as citizens?' It's a tremendous brain drain."

For Mrs al-Sibassi it's a difficult choice.

"That has come to my mind - discussing with like-minded friends of mine who are female and wear the hijab. Again and again, the same issue comes up, that you need to stay and fight."

But she knows her children must come first, and for her, that means a plane to the Emirates.

I'm A Muslim, Get Me Out Of Here! will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 2000 BST on Tuesday 24 April 2007 and repeated at 1700 BST on Sunday 29 April.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6585411.stm

[King Solomon]

Actually here in the US we are seeing an influx of immigragtion of muslims. Nothing like on the scale of France or Germany but a steady stream

[Umar001]

It'd be interesting to see Muslims all leave Uk.

[skhalid]

Everybody...pack your bags...we are moving outta here lol
well...U.K. is not an islamic contry..and most muslims do not feel confortable living here..so the best option is to leave...byeeeeeee I'm going to Dubai hehehe

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[Cognescenti]

Even Halliburton is moving to Dubai.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6440365.stm


This part from the original post got my attention:

"..Six months ago, Meiraj Hussein, from Lancashire, who works in corporate recruitment, was headhunted by a large multinational located in Dubai...." :phew I hope everything came out OK.

[Bittersteel]

good.this is good,a lot better than staying in UK and complaining.

[England]

Emir Aziz I totally agree with you. This is excellent news. I wish other muslims that complain about British people, culture, British way of life, British democracy, the clothing we choose to wear, would pack their bags and find a suitable home.

[DaNgErOuS MiNdS]

^ nahhh, sorry mate. You aint getting rid of us that easy...we here to stay :D


It's all too easy to run away, problems aren't just going to disapear once you move, every place has it's own problems, trials and tribulations. Just have to face upto them.

[The Ruler]

Salam

Emir Aziz I totally agree with you. This is excellent news. I wish other muslims that complain about British people, culture, British way of life, British democracy, the clothing we choose to wear, would pack their bags and find a suitable home.

we dont complain about your culture...rather it is you that complain about our culture i.e. the veil etc.

Peace.

[England]

Salam



we dont complain about your culture...rather it is you that complain about our culture i.e. the veil etc.

Peace.

Christmas rings a bell, so does Easter so does the national flags being deemed racist...
Then are some that complain about the way WE dress, ie: shorts in the summer. Women with skirts, bikinis. There are some that FORCE your religion on us when we're not in the slightest bit interested, ie: non muslims will go to hell. They tend to forget that this isn't a muslim country. It isn't the middle east but the smart ones seem to realise this and move to a place that suits them.

[Keltoi]

Perhaps since we are talking about middle-class Muslims, this group in particular can get up and leave, but most people, whether Muslim or not, simply can't do it. It's hard enough to move to a different state or country. If many of these people truly are leaving to go to different countries, that is unfortunate. However, if they don't feel comfortable in the West they should leave. It isn't the job of the West to structure themsevles to be acceptable to Muslims, ideally it is the other way around, as much as people don't like to hear it.

[DaNgErOuS MiNdS]

Christmas rings a bell, so does Easter so does the national flags being deemed racist...
Then are some that complain about the way WE dress, ie: shorts in the summer. Women with skirts, bikinis. There are some that FORCE your religion on us when we're not in the slightest bit interested, ie: non muslims will go to hell. They tend to forget that this isn't a muslim country. It isn't the middle east but the smart ones seem to realise this and move to a place that suits them.

National flags being racist?? force our religion on you...oh pleaseeeeee!!!!

but I agree christmas rings bells yeah(literally), give you that one.

We invite non-muslims to Islam, never force...which is totally wrong to do.

[England]

National flags being racist?? force our religion on you...oh pleaseeeeee!!!!

but I agree christmas rings bells yeah(literally), give you that one.

We invite non-muslims to Islam, never force...which is totally wrong to do.

Don't tell me you're not offended by the St. George flag.

When I say "force" your religion on us I mean whining that somethings causes an offence to muslims such as the way we dress, or how we socialise, or how we go about our culture because of it not being "Islamic." Then there's that muslim school teacher who went to a "Church of England" school and complained that she wasn't allowed to wear her niqab.

[DaNgErOuS MiNdS]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/w...re/4305798.stm They're careful not to mention "muslims." Don't tell me you're not offended by the St. George flag.

I have nothing against English people wearing their flags...the link doesn't prove nothing apart from some rules made in a prison

When I say "force" your religion on us I mean whining that somethings causes an offence to muslims such as the way we dress, or how we socialise, or how we go about our culture because of it not being "Islamic." Then there's that muslim school teacher who went to a "Church of England" school and complained that she wasn't allowed to wear her niqab.

It's not Forcing then is it?? :rollseyes your just picking petty points that dont prove your point. I can tell your not very fond of Muslims but trust me we dont care which flag or clothes you wear and neither should you care what we wear.


I personally wouldn't wear a st.geoges flag

[AHMED_GUREY]

Father: Study hard!!, stay out of trouble!!, work hard!!, come home!!

yep magic plan:) Insha-allah

[noodles]

Emir Aziz I totally agree with you. This is excellent news. I wish other muslims that complain about British people, culture, British way of life, British democracy, the clothing we choose to wear, would pack their bags and find a suitable home.

I think the operative word here is 'Democracy', my friend. Be it a majority, a minority or even a single individual, his opinion counts. If the government and its people that 'claim' they are a democracy, shun a select group then they are no better then their Nazi counterparts. Keep in mind we are talking about a Democracy here so bringing in monarchies wouldn't matter because Arab states have different form of governments.

As for the complaining, that is a direct result of not letting the muslims to dress as they please.

I wonder, if it so happens that Britain ever turned islamic, and they decided to implement the Veil on all muslims women, would there not be an outrage? In a reverse scenario, when muslim women are constantly made to defend the veil, I hear of no outrage. Why?

(I know what the response will be for my last statement. You will probably say 'only if britain was an islamic state')

[Fishman]

Christmas rings a bell, so does Easter so does the national flags being deemed racist...
Then are some that complain about the way WE dress, ie: shorts in the summer. Women with skirts, bikinis. There are some that FORCE your religion on us when we're not in the slightest bit interested, ie: non muslims will go to hell. They tend to forget that this isn't a muslim country. It isn't the middle east but the smart ones seem to realise this and move to a place that suits them.

:sl:
Hardly any Muslims actually think that things like Christmas decorations, Easter celebrations at work and national flags are offensive, it's just that the people in charge don't want to have any chance of being sued for racism, which is very bad for business.
As for dress, yes, Muslims do beleive that skirts and bikinis are immodest. But so do most other religions, and I think that fifty years ago most ordinary English people would be offended too. But even if Muslims were the only people who complain about bikinis, they do not try to force non-Muslim British people not to wear them. I challenge you to find a single large-scale attempt by British Muslims to ban the bikini. I seriously doubt that you would find anything.
And I don't know any British Muslims who force Islam on non-Muslims either. Muslims do believe that non-Muslims will go into the fire, but they don't go around people's houses like Jehovah's Wittnesses and shout it at them. I am part of an Islamic propagational movement, but we only target Muslims, trying to take them out of the cultures of drugs, violence and crime that form strong undercurrents in the inner city areas that most Muslims live. If we succeed, you would probably like it, as young Jamal and Rashid will have stopped disturbing your peace by swearing and listening to loud music on the street corners at night, and will start spending their nights in quiet, peaceful Mosques instead.
I would rather live here than in some parts of the Middle East, as we have a good, democratic system that allows us to have a part in what the government says, rather than a crazed, oil-hungry despot who spends his money on mansions and fast cars rather than hospitals and food. I would prefer a rightly-guided Caliphate to Britain, of course, but since there are none of those in existance I would rather opt for the UK.
:w:

[S_87]

Everybody...pack your bags...we are moving outta here lol
well...U.K. is not an islamic contry..and most muslims do not feel confortable living here..so the best option is to leave...byeeeeeee I'm going to Dubai hehehe

:sl:

there may be a few problems in the UK but really? those eatern countries like the UAE is super racist imho. yup its good if you have money but could you ever say youll get a UAE passpotr for example?

Christmas rings a bell, so does Easter so does the national flags being deemed racist...

actually from what ive seen muslims dont care about any of those things its actually white non muslims who SAY the muslims will be offended.
to be honest id say though i dont celebrate christmas and easter the chocolate range round then is cool :statisfie and i dont even the teeniest bit find what youve listen offending. nor do i know of any muslim in the uk who does

[guyabano]

[sarcastic mode=on]
If tomorrow, all the muslims go back to their countries, ermm, honestly, seen totally neutral, there will be no loss, as probably, the next days, the chinese immigrants will arrive.
[sarcastic mode=off]

Sorry, I just said it this way, as some others seem also to joke and think, they are irreplacable. But you are all wrong on that. There is always one who can take your place and do the same thing than you do...maybe even more efficient, without praying 5x a day !
If tommorrow, you all will leave England, you will just harm yourself, but not England. They always have alternatives

[Muezzin]

I'm not going anywhere. I was born here in the UK. This is my home.

Plus I need to qualify as a solicitor and practice here. No way in heck am I taking overseas conversion courses; they've already rinsed me with post-graduate fees in this country! :p

I also have zero problems with Christmas, Diwali or Vaisakhi decorations. Heck, our council even puts up Eid decorations too. Okay, you get the occasional butthead who has problems with Islam or Muslims or Jews or Christians or black people or white people or Chinese people or aliens... But those types of people, the ones with attitude problems, exist in every country because they're arrogantly ignorant turds that are unfortunately a fact of life.

But like Rocky Balboa said, 'It ain't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward'.

[HBot 5000]

Flight of middle class Muslims
By Navid Akhtar and Mukti Jain Campion

Many Muslims, fed up with what they see as Islamophobia, are upping sticks and heading for the Middle East.

At Nuzhat al-Sibassi's family home in south London, the contents are being packed away in boxes, ready to be shipped to the United Arab Emirates.
Mrs al-Sibassi was born in Britain to Pakistani parents, raised and educated here. She's worked as a senior hospital manager in the NHS, but is now moving with her family to the United Arab Emirates.

You feel you are having to constantly prove that you're not what other people think you are - you always have to be on your guard

Nuzhat al-Sibassi

"Living here is not how it was. The politics and the environment has changed and people's perception of Muslims has changed dramatically. A number of incidents in UK over past 3-4 years have marred life for decent Muslims living here."

Mrs al-Sibassi is just one of a growing number of middle class Muslims who are leaving because they no longer feel comfortable living in the country of their birth.

Last year an ICM survey found that two-thirds of Muslims contemplated leaving Britain after the 7 July bombings in London. The regular flow of front-page headlines has placed Muslims under intense pressure to explain their faith and its place in British society.

Politicians' assurances

"Bringing up children in an environment where the messages in the media are anti-Islamic, it just puts added pressure on them as they grow up," Mrs al-Sibassi says.

It's a pressure she feels herself too. "You feel you are having to constantly prove that you're not what other people think you are. You always have to be on your guard."

She believes that despite British politicians' assurances to the contrary, there is a witch-hunt going on against Muslims at the moment.

Dubai also has the weather on its side

"I know many Muslims who have been arrested and put in cells overnight without being charged. They're not terrorists - they just happen to have a beard and visit the mosque on a Friday. It makes us all feel uneasy, and you want to be away from it, hence the move."

Lord Ahmed, a Muslim peer in the House of Lords, says he has noticed this growing nervousness.

"The Archbishop of York has compared Britain with Uganda under Idi Amin and he said that the difficulties faced by the Asians at that time are very similar to the difficulties faces by the Muslim community today.

"Obviously people have already been feeling the intimidation, the provocation, and more importantly, the demonisation of their religion. These people who are born here, who've lived here all their life and they feel that they now don't belong here - because they're being made to feel like that."

Dubai headhunters

Britain's loss is the Gulf's gain. It's the booming economies in the region, particularly those of the United Arab Emirates, which are actively seeking these skilled British Muslim professionals.

Six months ago, Meiraj Hussein, from Lancashire, who works in corporate recruitment, was headhunted by a large multinational located in Dubai.

"Things are different in England since 9/11, it's generally more difficult to get ahead in the corporate world. You reach a glass ceiling. Coming here, it's a step up for me job-wise, and one of the reasons for moving," he says.

If the very few of us who are making it to the higher positions in terms of education and labour market leave, what is left?

Dr Tahir Abbas
Birmingham University

Emerging companies in the Emirates see a Western education as a good thing. And being Muslim with an Asian background is seen as a good recipe for fitting in, Mr Hussein says.

His wife Shazia, who is a teacher, initially remained in the UK, but now is ready to join him.

"I feel very relaxed here. It's not a question of fitting in, it's more a question of not sticking out. Since the 7 July bombings in London if you wear hijab or have a beard then you're treated as if you don't believe in secular society.

"Here, I look more Arab so I am viewed in a positive way, the tables are turned if you like. And it does affect you psychologically. I feel more comfortable here, which is sad really because Britain is my home. I was born there, my family are there and part of me does feel sad to leave. It's not an easy thing."

But it's couples like Meiraj and Shazia that are the role models for the younger generation of Muslims, looking to further integrate itself into British society.

The Muslim community in Britain has a very small middle class - only 16% are professionals. And they are the ones who are leaving. In some quarters, there are concerns about the impact of this creeping migration.

"There's a potential problem there. If the very few of us who are making it to the higher positions in terms of education and labour market leave, what is left?" asks Dr Tahir Abbas, who is the Director of Birmingham University's Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Culture.

"The fact that we've got three times as high unemployment in the inner city, we've got huge problems of health, housing, inequality, who's going to lead on these fronts, not just as Muslims, but as citizens?' It's a tremendous brain drain."

For Mrs al-Sibassi it's a difficult choice.

"That has come to my mind - discussing with like-minded friends of mine who are female and wear the hijab. Again and again, the same issue comes up, that you need to stay and fight."

But she knows her children must come first, and for her, that means a plane to the Emirates.

I'm A Muslim, Get Me Out Of Here! will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 2000 BST on Tuesday 24 April 2007 and repeated at 1700 BST on Sunday 29 April.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6585411.stm

One of the things i really love about Islam and being a muslim is that if you are a muslim you are equal; when people start coining phrases like 'upper class muslims, middle class' it really does us no justice. :raging:

[lilah]

if muslims leave western countries....will the west leave muslim countries?

:D

[جوري]

if muslims leave western countries....will the west leave muslim countries?

:D

I have lived every where in the world far east, middle east, Africa, Europe and the U.S. I'll say this much, home is where the heart is, and I take my heart with me everywhere. Plus I take the knowledge in my head along with me.
BTW some of the best Doctors I have rotated with are Muslims, would gladly give their names and the journals they have published. I have known one Guy Dr. F Abbas, who fillet a woman with "flesh eating bacteria" when everyone else in the room wanted to give up on her and amputate her arms and legs, chances are she would have actually died as this spreads through the fascia like wild fire-- he sat there literally scrapping all her fascia for 9 hours, so she wouldn't be disfigured. and would live-- So we'll be missed if we all up and go... Maybe not to the people on some random forum, but to the people we serve in our communities. I wouldn't seek my validation through the opinions of a select few on a random thread!

Middle Eastern Immigrants in U.S. Educated, Prosperous, Study Says
Gannett News Service, August 15, 2002

(Also ran in Arizona Republic - 8/15)

WASHINGTON — Middle Eastern immigrants in the United States are well educated, earn more money than most Americans and are predominantly Muslim, according to a report released Wednesday.

They also are among the nation's fastest-growing immigrant groups, according to the report issued by the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, a think tank that supports reducing the number of immigrants to the United States.

The report says the number of Middle Eastern immigrants increased from fewer than 200,000 in 1970 to almost 1.5 million in 2000. The overall number of foreign-born residents in the United States tripled to 31 million over the same period.

The report offers a rare portrait of an immigrant group that has received intense scrutiny and negative publicity since the Sept. 11 attacks.
Project MAPS, a survey of "Muslims in the American Public Square" conducted in 2001-2002 by researchers at Georgetown University, found that 86 percent of all Muslim professionals were concentrated in three careers: engineering, computer science, and medicine. Law, law enforcement, and politics accounted for a minuscule 0.6 percent. American Muslims, some demographers say, have also been voting well below their numbers in the population -- registering to vote at only half the national rate, according to the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey [PDF], a project of the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. "If they ever did play to their weight" in the electoral arena and in Washington, Muslims "would be a much more considerable force in public policy-making," says Steve Clemons, a Democrat who directs the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation in Washington.

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/p...ab_America.pdf
http://www.cis.org/articles/2002/mideastcoverage.html

[Sami Zaatari]

i have a feeling that many muslims will start moving to muslim dominated countries in the near future, such as uae, bahrain, qatar, even saudia, as well as malayasia, indonesia etc. and this is a good thing, since most of them wont be sending their educated to the west to make the west better (and then later on these same westerners nag and complain) rather they will make the muslim world better.

i was born in USA, but i grew up in UAE, and presently i am studying in the UK thankfully next year will be the last, i am presently back in the uae for summer break. i always told myself i would live in the west, london or la, but the last 2 years of being in the uk, especially last year have made me change my mind 100%. i am disgusted by them and their hate, and non stop propaganda insults and attacks on muslims on the paper, tv and so on. the only good thing for me in london i would say is going to watch arsenal play! and thankfully arsenal is a very multi-cultural club (having 4 muslims players and a muslim sponser!) on the field and fanwise, other than that generally british society sickens me very badly, i am very happy to be back in the uae, with 2 mosques right beside my house, and not anti-muslim prejiduce, and whats so ironic is that these english ppl live freely and happy here which does bother me, because ovr here they can do what they want but then they go back to uk and nag about the muslims?! hopefully that will also change in the future.

the only intention i have with visiting the west in the near future would only be for dawah purposes i.e lectures, debates, meetings, and to visit familly who lives in the west! and it is all for the better since dubai is in need of some dawah and etc and it would be the best place to set up dawah headquarters! in a muslim country!

[جوري]

I don't/ never have believed that the earth belonged to any folks in particular. I always found that to be a trait more prevalent in animals, the "territory laws", I always enjoy my travels and fortunately I have never met with people like one would meet on a forum. I have met with nasty people, they do exist everywhere, in about the same percentages. But over all I believe in the good of humanity outside of politics.
I believe that anonymity affords people the (*****) to say things they don't mean, or are otherwise too cowardly to say in real life. I believe we grow through integration and learn from one another. Each person having altruistically and selflessly contributed something to the greater good. But when it gets to the point where there is actual oppression, in deeds or words, then I truly believe that is the appropriate time to go. Each human being has a talent from which to benefit others. if not on a global scale then on a community scale, and when the time comes where the sum of a particular group of man kind, his ambitions and achievements are reduced to insolence and rude exchange , then it is best to leave with ones dignity and prosper else where. There will always be sky, sea and sun wherever one goes. There will be humanity--Yes home is where the heart is and we take it with us everywhere!

[Sami Zaatari]

when i was going to a game for arsenal, i was passing many fans by cause i wanted to get something, lol and as i passed many of them i noticed some of them kept looking at me as i passed them by, lol i told myself either i am extremly handsome ugly or maybe its cause i look abit mid-eastern as my hair was abit long and black and i had some facial hair etc but then i found out it was cause i looked middle-eastern because one fan passed me by with his friends and he laughed with his friends saying i look like a yid, which is a derogatory way of saying jew, lol although im not jewish, arabs do tend to look abit like jews at times, lol and i cud very well be easily be mistaken for a jew (proving i do too come from the holy land of palestine not jews only!)

i wasnt offended i didnt look away or act shy when i noticed eyes on me as we passed by but stared them right back down! it did feel abit strange lol, but heck arsenal wear a jersey sponsered by mideasterner muslims and the stadium is named after this mid-east company so if they find us strange or have something against us i guess they should stop wearing the jersesy and visiting the stadium!

[Pygoscelis]

The point about democracy is an important point.

If a people with an ideology, be it muslim or whatever else, immigrate in large numbers to a democratic country, there is the risk that they may become a sizable and powerful minority or even a majority, and then be able to force their ideology on those who lived there before them.

I am ultra social liberal. Enough to likely make muslims here go into convulsions. I support full legalization of marijuana and prostitution. I support freedom of public nudity if people so choose. I strongly support the separation of church and state and strongly oppose any special treatment on religious grounds (wherever you can wear your veil I should be equally allowed to wear a ski mask).

I'm quite happy if ultra social conservatives leave my country, it makes my values that much more likely to be favoured by the majority and implemented (or kept in place).

[wilberhum]

I think every one who hates there country, should leave.

[Pygoscelis]

I think every one who hates there country, should leave.

The thing (and danger) about democracy is that you don't have to leave, you can work to change it from below.

[tears4husain]

:sl: I see alot of muslims coming to america, but I was born here and I cant stand it people dont respect us and I really didnt realize it until I became muslim five years ago. The thing I dont understand is they still come over here and segregate themselves from others.I stay by dearborn which is one of the biggest populations of muslims in michigan, like when I cross the street im in dearborn. I dont like america but where could I go to feel comfortable and accepted? Alot of muslims come over here and get westrenized. There is this young muslim bro I see at the majid, he saw me at gas station and was like "whats up my nigga". That really hurt because im trying to brake through the strong hold of the dunya and they come over here falling right in to it. Money is not everything Allah tells us this in the qur'an. Then they come over here for better living, how could this be better then living where the city street are flooded with mu'meen when its time for salat? Dream to see andbe inan enviroment like that, my question is why do they leave it?:?

[جوري]

Then they come over here for better living, how could this be better then living where the city street are flooded with mu'meen when its time for salat? Dream to see andbe inan enviroment like that, my question is why do they leave it?:?

I imagine everyone comes here or goes there or anywhere for all sorts of different reasons-- the Land of Allah is vast, and one shouldn't be limited to a particular area, he created us in tribes and nations to learn of one another and from one another-- I know when I was a kid it killed me that we up and moved all the time, especially when I had made friends, it took away my sense of security... now as an adult, I can't imagine giving that up for the world. I can acclimate to a new environment and new people in a manner of two weeks tops, I can live under any condition, even no water or electricity, I can relate to most people on a human level... You grow so much as a person through travels, I wouldn't recommend losing one's character or ways in the process, but it is to me anyhow a wonderful thing... plus the last of our rituals mandates travel you see--Everyone that is to make pilgrimage (insha'Allah) has made a pact with G-D that day, the day Abraham PBUH built that house; so we are destined for travels as Muslims. and we are destined to meet in the House of Allah. Ameen

--this is my favorite quote about traveling, so I'll close with those words.

"What if I live no more theses kingly days? Their night sleeps with me still. I dream my feet upon starry ways; My heart rests in the hill, I may not grudge the little left undone; I hold the heights, I keep the dreams I won." -GW Young

[don532]

I absolutely agree one grows as a person through travel. The travels around the world I have experienced, and continue to experience have taught me innumerable lessons of great value. To be exposed to other cultures and points of view has taught me things many do not have the opportunity to learn.

[wilberhum]

I absolutely agree one grows as a person through travel. The travels around the world I have experienced, and continue to experience have taught me innumerable lessons of great value. To be exposed to other cultures and points of view has taught me things many do not have the opportunity to learn.

Second only to the people I love, travel and living in other countries, has been the greatest thing in my life and has caused a profound positive impact on me.

[Keltoi]

Second only to the people I love, travel and living in other countries, has been the greatest thing in my life and has caused a profound positive impact on me.

Not to mention yummy dinner menus.

[جوري]

^^you obviously didn't try the venison potjie on the orient express menu for £300... lol....
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."-Mark Twain