Your numbers seem too high

Submitted by J.R. Ortiz (United States), Jan 2, 2005 at 18:57

Yes, I admit that the Muslim population is increasing in Europe. And yes, they have some influence already in some countries like France, Great Britain and Netherlands. But still, the percentages of their numbers in relation to the general population of Europe are still small. Only in France do I see a quite high percentage of 10%. And I would not be surprised if these numbers are inflated. The rest go from 3% in Germany-too small to make a difference-and 5% in Netherlands. Even Great Britain is only 4%.

Yet the way you express yourself, may make people think that there is already a Muezzin calling for prayer at top of the Big Ben. The percentages in countries like Spain, Italy and Portugal are still much smaller. Not passing 2% of the general population. And Scandinavian countries, the numbers are so small-except Sweden with 3%-that I don't think a Mosque will be built for the Laps in Finland not yet!

Frankly, what are you trying to tell us? Scaring us that Muslims are trying to rule the world? I am no Muslim nor Arab. But a person of Hispanic origin.

Muslims don't bother me, I don't bother them. In my apartment lives a Palestinian Arab and I treat him as a person and we get along just fine. I won't get into the problems of the Middle East. But it is high time that we make peace with them. It is not the first time that some people in the West create "fear" with non-white people. [Yes, some Muslims are White caucasian-but most are Arabs, Indonesians, Persians, Africans and others non-White]. A hundred years ago, the press was full of Asian people fears: that Chinese were trying to rule the world. That Japan was trying to establish herself as a world power. That other "Yellows" people, as they were called by racist, were not to be trusted. This ugly propaganda led to huge wars in China, Japan entering World War II attacking Pearl Harbor, and wars in Korea and Vietnam. Yet, today the Asian people live in peace with us. They were not the "monsters" that the press used to portrayed a century ago. [Think of Seiji Ozawa, Kristi Yamaguchi and Lucy Lui]. The same I say about Arabs Muslims. We must stop creating fear from these people and reach and understanding. Thanks.

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