Re: Continuous arguing from thread to thread!
You are an open atheist in a religious forum. Difficult to understand how a
sane person would expect positive feedback.
I don't expect positive feedback. I expect civil discussion, disagreement, and exploration of issues. I even expect to change my mind from time to time. It was largely posts on this forum, and some others dominated by muslims, that led me to see through western propaganda about Israel, and to see a more balanced picture of the Israel/Palestine conflict.
And as I posted above, yes I expect trash talk directed at me, since my views and my mere not being muslim will offend some people here. As I noted in my post above, this kind of lashing out is to be expected when people talk about religion or politics, as those are touchy subjects. It is why you won't see me in most of the subforums here, but only in comparative religion and world issues - subforums that call for a broader perspective.
So sure, I expect that my presence and my views will create some hatred towards me. I expect the same at Christian forums and tea party forums (I'm one of those libruls they hate even more than they hate muslims). I would expect the same ire I get to be directed by some at you on such forums (since you are muslim). And yes, you may get similar hostility from some atheists on atheist boards (dawkins' board is particularly rabid).
But it isnt everybody that behaves that way. I have had good conversations with fundamentalist christians. I have had good conversations with neo-conservatives. And yes, I have had good conversations with muslim members of this board. Posts here, both by me and directed towards me, have led to a lot of really good private conversations as well as a few good and civil threads.
I do go to atheist boards from time to time, mainly Freeratio.org, and I have had some good conversations there too with non-atheists, including muslims, who are thick skinned enough to venture there.
There is a real benefit to discussing things with people who you disagree with. Had I not come to this and other muslim boards so many years ago, I may have fallen prey to the media, propaganda and culture here in the west and may view muslims as so many others I know do - as the dehumanized other.
It is that kind of insularity that leads my fellow Canadians not to do a double take (as I did) when war casualty reports omitted to mention the number of civilian deaths in Afghanistan, focussing only on the number of Canadian soldiers. It was as if they felt no empathy.
I am all for crossing over to as many forums as I can, and I encourage you to do the same if you don't already. And I encourage you to state your views, even when you know they conflict with the majority on the boards you visit. I know some ultra-conservative fundamentalist christian boards in particular that could really benefit from the presense of an actual muslim (as opposed to the stereotypes of muslims they push).
It does take a very thick skin (especially for muslims on a far right conservative board who get far far worse than I could ever imagine getting here), but I say the perspective we can all get from seeing events from dozens of conflicting points of view is worth it.
So my goal in coming to this forum? Broader perspective, civil discussion with lots of disagremeent, and personal growth.
This part you said best yourself, with my slight edit (removed the words "and move on"):
There appears to be a difference of opinion regarding the application of applying laws to Muslimah who wear Niqib. There is no reason for this discussion to become personal.
If you have an opinion post it. Don't make this thread an excuse for your dislike of one another.
We are quite capable of discussing, disagreeing, even debating or arguing without engaging in personal attacks or even disliking each other. We may be aghast at each others' views and opinions, but that isn't the same thing. I can honestly say that I don't dislike anybody here, not even those who lash out at me (because I know that has nothing to do with me personally)
