Valerie,
Munawar gave excellent advice. In the West we have come to see our religion as a social situation (which it is); however, ultimately, Islam is about your relationship to Allah. I won't let anyone keep me out of Jannah. (Paradise). I won't let any other person send me to Jahannum (Hell).
You are obviously a sensitive person who might be driven away by a look or word, but remember, we can't read minds and there are cultural differences between individuals raised in The West and other parts of the world.
Also, when I was very new to Christianity, I made a judgmental remark about another person. My mentor at the time ask me if I decide to sit on the judgment throne. I try to always remember that it is Allah Who is The Owner of The Day of Judgment.
You're right, and I agree it was great advice. And actually, I should have been more clear. My situation (so far) has been that I have encountered positive Muslims who are friendly and interested in teaching others (it's been on the internet, here and beliefnet, which I don't go to anymore). They have made me want to learn more ("they" including the people I've seen here). I didn't mean for it to sound negative, although re-reading it... Yeah I should have thought more before posting
I can handle being ignored. Deliberately rude or hostile... would probably make me stay home (fortunately, since I"m female I don't have to go to the local center to pray, right? I'm such a chicken. I emailed them and no luck yet, I never see cars there when I'm in town either )
The reason I found this site to begin with was someone on beliefnet who posted a link to the last sermon (that someone else recently posted on here again). So far in the past, and yet it describes how life should be... How people should be treated. That's what I want. And if I did go to the local center, I'd try my very best to live up to that, but I'm just a flawed human.