RESPONSE TO comment "I don't know actually..."

Submitted by Debbie Kurth (United States), Nov 28, 2004 at 00:49

AMA..
I can appeciate your position. However, I can also understand the fear and dislike.
Islam is a fine religion, in the hands of a true spirit, but you must also understand that not all cultures place a value on religion.

In the case of Sweden, it is a country of self-contained, self-reliant and extremely private people. Religion is NOT to be expressed. It is not to impact any decision and interaction with other individuals. It is a totally private matter.

Many of the Muslim persons living there do not understand this culture base and yet even though they have moved to THEIR country, they are considered to have "invaded" and through their actions indicate that the Swedes are essentially "wrong", in their way they live their life and run their society. They insist on open society and expressiveness. They insist on acting differently in a society that values like-mindedness. They insist on even treating the male-female relationship differently. It is disrespectful, by not fitting into the society rules. It is very disrespectful.

Who would not rebel?

The Swedes offer their society, their monetary support of a system that they have built over hundreds of years. They generously offered a safe and secure place to live...and yet from their point of view, their guests are not grateful. Grateful means blending in ....completely.

Generally speaking they are a social system that puts a value on NOT standing out. and NOT imposing any problem on others. They don't even talk about their problems verbally to friends. A Swede is expected to solve things on one's own without help.

Sorry to say, that building a mosque in Sweden and requiring prayer and all the traditional relgious trapppings....makes one stand out.

I am not saying this is right or wrong...it just the way they are..and frankly, have a right to be.

While I said in (another comment here) to the Swedish comment that they need to understand other ways of thinking and living, similarly the Muslims need to understand, the same. Not all people believe like they do...nor should they try to force others to align with them, as with any religious affiliation. But that means they may not get to practice their religion they way they wish...

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