Response to posts

Submitted by Nomduplume (Canada), Oct 8, 2005 at 18:31

...As a Muslim, born and raised in Canada, I find it offensive as well as laughable, that what is the blossoming of a religion in a western society is seen as a radical takeover of the political landscape. I can only speak from personal experience, but being a Muslim and a visible minority has never been easy, even in such a free and wonderful country as Canada. I suspect that many Muslims feel the same way and have endured harsh bigotry and racism. To see that we are an accepted member of society with our unique values and cultures is a dream that I have waited many years to come to fruition.

I would never disrespect another person's religion whether I agreed with it or not. I have no desire to convert people and have no wish to be converted. Live and let live I say. This is of course the sentiment of the vast majority of Muslims, at least, the Muslims I know. The term extremist applies to a fringe group of psychopaths that do not speak for me in any way shape or form. I do not tell my children to strap TNT to their bodies and take out some sinners. How insane is that? Do you have any idea how stupid that sounds? That is why we are not all out there trying to blow things up. Our religion, and common sense, forbids us to kill in cold-blood. Period. End of story.

You will ask why no Muslim stands up and says that these terrorist attacks are abhorrent and are anti-Islam. The answer to that is the simple fact is there is no Islamic leader on par with the Pope and the like. I suspect that part of the problem is that you see an Osama Bin-Ladin who says he is Muslim, obviously is a leader of some sort, and he says to kill, and some "Muslims" do. He is neither my leader nor the leader of any Muslims. He is/was the head of a terrorist organization. That's it. But if you believe that he is a leader of Muslims, you are doing a great disservice to the millions and millions of Muslims who see Bin-Ladin as a cancer of Islam.

I visited Ground Zero. I am a grown man and I cried. I cried because my favourite city in the world was attacked and lives were taken. I cried that my religion was to blame. I cried that hate can cause such pain and suffering. I cried because there was nothing I could do.

I must apologize at this point for droning on and on. I am not a regular visitor to this site and quite honestly do not plan to be. I just wanted to express myself and hopefully express that the vast majority of Muslims are honest, hard-working people just like most people in our society of all backgrounds and cultures and religions. We want to be respected and seen as equals.

The results of the issue of Sharia law in Ontario are unfortunate. Muslims have no desire to stone their sisters, mothers and daughters to death. Having an equal footing as other religions was the goal. Saying that Muslims can't govern themselves in honourable fashion smacks of elitism and racism. For taking away the right to faith-based arbitration from all religious groups was purely a political move. Do not blame Muslims for this. The government could have just said Muslims are incapable of justice. Of course this might not be a good way to get your party back into government at election time.

We could discuss the pros and cons of Islam until the end of time. Keep in mind that we could do the same with all the religions of the world. The problem in the whole equation is people and how they interpret their directives from God.

Please consider what I have written. Agree, disagree, but please don't hate. I don't hate you. We don't hate you. Open dialogue is what we all need to aspire to. I don't want to take over, but I do not want to be subjugated either. To be a valued member of society is what I want.

I wish you all peace and prosperity.

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