Dear Forumers,
Recently in the Guardian, a UK news paper, there has been an article about a full Burqa-in-public ban proposed by France's president Nicolas Sarkozy. Can you believe that the opposition political party is considered the "conservative" party? It concerns me a little, as I would not want things in the UK to turn sour like they have in France. I was wondering about how well Muslims have integrated into British society, how do British Muslims feel about Britain, does British law inhibit British Muslims from conducting their lives as they wish, do British Muslims receive discrimination etc?
I think I would be the exact opposite of that a Muslim would want to meet, if BBC News is to be believed. I'm Jewish born. I'm gay. I'm an Atheist. Obviously I understand that Islam doesn't approve of any of these things (although as an Atheist it might be a bit difficult to get me to agree). My question is, how do British Muslims feel about potentially having to deal with people who in their eyes may be committing acts or hold beliefs that hold strong taboos among Muslim communities? Would it bother you to live next door to a Jew/Atheist/Homosexual? Would you be motivated to campaign to criminalise these things? Would you be moved to seek out and assault Jews or gays?
I'm never sure what to think. The media always shows the nutters, but every Muslim I've met pretty much has the attitude of "Good for you, but it's not for me thanks".
Recently in the Guardian, a UK news paper, there has been an article about a full Burqa-in-public ban proposed by France's president Nicolas Sarkozy. Can you believe that the opposition political party is considered the "conservative" party? It concerns me a little, as I would not want things in the UK to turn sour like they have in France. I was wondering about how well Muslims have integrated into British society, how do British Muslims feel about Britain, does British law inhibit British Muslims from conducting their lives as they wish, do British Muslims receive discrimination etc?
I think I would be the exact opposite of that a Muslim would want to meet, if BBC News is to be believed. I'm Jewish born. I'm gay. I'm an Atheist. Obviously I understand that Islam doesn't approve of any of these things (although as an Atheist it might be a bit difficult to get me to agree). My question is, how do British Muslims feel about potentially having to deal with people who in their eyes may be committing acts or hold beliefs that hold strong taboos among Muslim communities? Would it bother you to live next door to a Jew/Atheist/Homosexual? Would you be motivated to campaign to criminalise these things? Would you be moved to seek out and assault Jews or gays?
I'm never sure what to think. The media always shows the nutters, but every Muslim I've met pretty much has the attitude of "Good for you, but it's not for me thanks".