Okay.
Maybe I'm insane for jumping into this lion's den but I'd like to throw in my two cents as well.
To Valerie: Forgive me if I end up going off on a tangent. I don't know what it's like to be you because I'm not you and so I don't know exactly which posts offended you. You're correct that the posts of many TTI members MAY give the impression that Americans are hated on this forum and I'm sure there are some members that do hate Americans. But if someone truly wants to learn about Islam, then their focus should be on the religion and not the Muslims. I'm not going to go and look at fanatical Christians that blow up abortion clinics or priests that rape boys if I want to learn about Christianity. If I'm interested in a particular creed, I will look at its source, i.e. the holy texts. Muslims in the end are human beings coming from all different walks of life and from all over the world, just like anyone else. Some may bring their own baggage and it may be similar to what others have experienced. They may be able to relate on that. If generalizations are made, then one should always remember that a few individuals do not speak for an entire group. I know that you don't look at the 9/11 terrorists as representative of Islam. If you did, you never would have graced this board with your presence. If you want to learn about Islam, look at the religion. Don't look at the Muslims. Muslims are humans and humans are liable to error and resentment.
Please don't judge a faith by its practitioners. If you choose to deny the Truth because of its practitioners then you're only wronging yourself and at the end of the day, it should be about YOU and what's best for YOU. It's another thing if you feel that Islam isn't for you, but if you feel that it is and its some of the Muslims on this board that are getting to you, then remember that they don't speak for the entire faith.
I once heard an amazing saying: "If every Muslim was like me, what would happen to Islam?"
To everyone included: One thing people need to remember is that many of the posters on this forum INCLUDING those that criticize American policies are themselves American. Myself included. And I'll tell you that at ONE POINT I was practically called un-American and treated like an outsider by an American on this board for stating my opinions that involved criticizing American international and foreign policies. What hurt me was the fact that I'm just as American as anyone else. I was born AND raised here. So if stating an opinion that isn't pro-American is what makes me un-American, then I really think the definition of being American needs to be refined. In a country where freedom of speech is promoted for both pro and anti sentiments, it's not fair to just label one as American and the other as un-American, just because it isn't in accordance with the individual's views.
I'm an American Muslim and I love my country. What I don't love is ANYONE (American or non-American) telling me what I am because THEY don't agree with my opinion or are offended by it. I am who I am and I believe what I believe and if you don't like it, you're invited to ask me about what I believe but you do not have the right to tell me who I am or what I believe. Being American doesn't mean I have to close my eyes and be blind to what goes on around me. I may be American but I'm Muslim first and foremost and as so, Islam dictates that I speak out against oppression no matter WHERE IT IS. If it's in my own backyard, so be it. I have to speak out against it. Otherwise, hypocrisy is the next path I'm going down and they don't tend to fare too well in either this world or the next. One does not have to be un-American to disagree with American policies and one does not have to be American to agree with them.
Finally, I feel that many opinions on this board are easily dismissed or just plain disrespected because they don't fall into line with our own opinion. This actually goes for both Muslims and non-Muslims. It would be nice to remember that we all come from different walks of life and barring Islamic principles, there are no right and wrong answers. It would be equally nice if everyone's opinions were respected and not dismissed as unnecessary.
Valerie, I've always found your views to be in accordance with mine and I've always enjoyed your posts. I understand that it may be difficult to read posts that go against what you believe. But everyone has their own experiences and everyone's coming from their own place. With that said, I hope that you see that everyone has their differences but in the end there's only one Quran. Looking at the behavior of Muslims (who are human beings with various experiences that may be tainting their behavior) isn't going to help you understand Islam too well as much as the Quran and Ahadith will. Look to the sources and study them. It's where you'll find all the answers that you need. But looking at the behavior of human beings and then holding them to be representative of any creed will only mislead the individual and I hope you don't deny yourself the Blessings of Islam because of a few individuals.
hehehe....kidding.and what you shared is the best way of explaining it=)
