I work daily with a great many Muslim people. They are all uniformly
polite and articulate. Over the past Ten years I have listened to a great
many statements these people have made and I must say that I am afraid
that cultural misunderstandings work BOTH ways. I will list a few points.
No matter how earnest a person, and how intelligent a person, the
individual who is explaining Islam to somone who isnt already Islamic:
The majority of the common people of the USA do not now, nor will they
ever agree to abandon their own faith, for Islam.
They do not agree that Islam is morally superior to whatever religion
they are already members of.
They will NEVER change their minds. And in fact, it offends them that anyone
should think they SHOULD change their minds.
They also do not agree that people who wish to come to the USA should simply be allowed to do so. In fact quite the opposite.
The country is becomming quite insular.
The common USA citizen does NOT expect anyone to automaticly accept
USA norms. In fact they would be appalled if it were suggested somone
WAS. The majority wish to live simply as they wish. Without their life
being dominated by any religion.
The idea that anyones life is dominated by a religion is simply anathema.
Such people do exist of course. But they are by far a minority.
Insofaras Iran and the USA, that topic is polemical.
The greatest problem that US citizens have with Islam, is the idea that
the Sharia should be a standard for all behaviors.
I am afraid that will NEVER be accepted. And I do mean NEVER.
I have tried to post respectfully, and hopefully without offence.
Chiteng
polite and articulate. Over the past Ten years I have listened to a great
many statements these people have made and I must say that I am afraid
that cultural misunderstandings work BOTH ways. I will list a few points.
No matter how earnest a person, and how intelligent a person, the
individual who is explaining Islam to somone who isnt already Islamic:
The majority of the common people of the USA do not now, nor will they
ever agree to abandon their own faith, for Islam.
They do not agree that Islam is morally superior to whatever religion
they are already members of.
They will NEVER change their minds. And in fact, it offends them that anyone
should think they SHOULD change their minds.
They also do not agree that people who wish to come to the USA should simply be allowed to do so. In fact quite the opposite.
The country is becomming quite insular.
The common USA citizen does NOT expect anyone to automaticly accept
USA norms. In fact they would be appalled if it were suggested somone
WAS. The majority wish to live simply as they wish. Without their life
being dominated by any religion.
The idea that anyones life is dominated by a religion is simply anathema.
Such people do exist of course. But they are by far a minority.
Insofaras Iran and the USA, that topic is polemical.
The greatest problem that US citizens have with Islam, is the idea that
the Sharia should be a standard for all behaviors.
I am afraid that will NEVER be accepted. And I do mean NEVER.
I have tried to post respectfully, and hopefully without offence.
Chiteng
