Phew ... I caught this thread.

Few points:

Someone mentioned here that I was Muslim and was wondering what my views were on this .. I'll get to it in a minute

@Zach: its difficult for people to see problems but there are quite a few ... sadly, most problems are very phchological.

Heres one off the bat:
I do not follow normal procedure everytime i enter the US. The law states that certain action must be performed when people from certain countries enter the states. You'll also notice that the majority of these countries are muslim countries. I do believe its now encompassing a large part of the world noe (this law in some form but I'm not sure if its to the point that I have to go through right now)

When i enter the states, I'm sent into a special room. Even before that, I'm always picked out for a "random" search. I have to arrive an hour before normal passengers because I have to fill out special forms after which, I have to raise my right hand aand take an oath. I have to disclose all posible locations I'll be inside the States followed by a document attached to my passport giving me 2 extra days more than my intended visit to remain in the states. If I extend it, I can face consequences (which means give a good reason why I'm still in the states). The real kicker is that each time I enter the country, I must be fingerprinted and must have a picture taken.

Whats even worse is that to enter back into my country (or adopted country), I have to present myself to the US embassy again, where i'm finger printed and photographed to confirm I've left ...

The example above is just one of the things ofcourse. But I'll let them be ... how I feel about them?? We'll leave that for later ...

@Archie: the diversity is a bit untrue ... Toronto and Motnreal are waaaaaaaaaaay more diverse than any place I've heard of in the states ... the fact that I'm brown has never even been an issue in these cities ... the fact that I'm Muslim is only a minute situations only at times of people wanting to know more about the religion of ramadan time .... I think the problem in the states is very different ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How do i feel about this survey?? honestly, it effects me little. whether someone is democrat or republican is not even an issue for me on this one at all. I'm not really all that surprised and truthfully, I dont feel that negatively towards it. I can't blame people for thinking the way they do .. i mean look at the freaking media and tv and movies and how they portray us sometimes .. its something that gets embedded. Every freaking movie I've seen since 99 deals with terrorists whos name always ends up being arabic ... news emphasizes on race and ethnicity for all bad acts done by a Muslim or a middle eastern (or muslim dominated country) ..... tv .. radio ... everything ....

When 9/11 happened, i was shocked to find Islam for Dummies ... I was actually offended by it ... disguised under the name of spreading awareness but it was no more than a way of marketing on the idea and making more sales ... as much as i enjoyed Team America, it doesn't really help the cause either ... and then some Muslims themselves are a bunch of idiots ...

Words like Jihad are so misinterpreted in American society its not even funny ... Jihad does not mean Holy War in the literal sense to begin with .. and just like that, there are so many other misconceptions just fueled by people who can influence people ..

so yea ... a 44% is not something i'm surprised and i wont be shocked to find out that th enumber is even more and people were just being cautious and not admitting to it ...

I can barely blame people and really, quite understand why they feel such a way ... I'm not disgusted or anything by it .. people react to what they're fed and sadly, for me and others like me, this is how it is ... more than anything, I'm glad theyre so honest about their feelings .. i respect that more than the person who gives me civil liberties for the sake of equality or looking liberal or good or just but deep down inside, thats not how they feel at all ... its better than people who pick me out for "random" searches or keep an eye on m y movements but say they're not .... hypocrisy is just terrible ... I'll respect the person who just flat out comes to me and tells me he feels negatively towards me .. atleast it gives me the opportunity to educate or show what real muslims are ...

anyway, just had a haircut, my head iand shoulders and back itches so much shower.

University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign has the largest greek system in the country. That should put that question to rest and get back on topic. Krem, thanks for reading my post, I'm pretty sure you're the only one that did. I put a pic of a guy shot four times in the head being held up by the police chief and still didn't get anyone's attention. Ah well...I can't think of much else to do.

That's an utterly preposterous statement. Is there any way to POSSIBLY back that up?

Yes....everytiem i turn on the tv....i always hear somethign about the ten commadnements being taken out. I always hear abotu the word God being taken out of the the pledge. Then we have all Muslim day at theme parks and the tv sponsors these days. Only muslims areallowed and if you are christian you cant go in the theme park. Also newspapers particulary Rochesters is by far so pro-palenstinian its beyond belief. They have no sympathy for anyone esle besides muslims.

What I find particularly disturbing is that a lot of immigrants (and I, obviously, run in immigrant circles) are way more racist than the general population here in the states.

You'd think Russian Jews, for one thing, would know better, but unfortunately the attitude towards black people is way worse than "Moscow on Hudson" would have you believe.

Heh, at least you got a response...

Baba, I feel that it truly is unfair that Muslims are being tageted primarily in those 'random searches', etc. Racial profiling is most certianly real, and its a shame. Basically, we are fighting the Crusades. Its the same scenario over and over. Fighting over religion. And I think that the new security procedures should not be limited to Muslims. I think all people going in and out of the country should be tagged. But we live in an unfair world where Muslims, reminiscent of the Jews being blamed for everything throughout time, are being targeted because of the actions of a few. And its not that I think Americans are totally ignorant, either. I think most Christians have reservations about Muslims, because we all know its a holy war of sorts. I hope, but I doubt, that our up-and-comming generation can be one of many generations to tear down such walls in our world community. Its a shame. I could rant forever. And, its a bit too late to be putting together something, anyway. Just mho.

Yup ...

Immigrants and minorities in my opinion are the worst when it comes to racism ... Its something I notice a lot, even in my own community ...

Its sad but not completely unfair ... thats just how things are ... its always a few that are required to make a whole community look bad .. thats just how it always is .... like i said, i think its understandabale that people feel such a way ...

in a country that promotes equal rights and where privacy is such an issue, it does feel odd to me though that I'm fingerprinted and IDed everytime ... I'm sure Americans would hate something like that happening to them .... i understand the action but i consider it a double standard .... atleast openly come out and say that you're racial profiling ...

I have a few more issues with it ... I know how much my country and other places have been looked down upon for having strict laws against countries we're under threat from .. hell, it aint easy for indians to walk into pakistan ... i again just found it hypocritical that the minute the states came under attack, such actions were all of a sudden, excusable and justifiable.

First of all, that's not really the media. That's politicians, groups, and individuals, and it's being reported by the media.

That's different than the media, for example, sensationalizing and playing up the threat of terrorist attacks when there isn't any.

Second of all, the opposition to public endorsement of religion is not anti-religious at all. It's true that some atheists oppose it, but the vast majority, like myself, are Christians/religous people who don't want the govt involved in religion. That's less anti-religion than it is pro-first amendment.



Yeah, because theme parks don't celebrate Christmas at all, do they.

Unquestionably, the people who advocate less rights for you as a "justifiable cautionary measure" would scream out loud about unfair big brother govt if the same thing happened to them. And that's the problem. If your principle is that you're for smaller less intrusive govt...just for yourself...then that's not much of a principle.

maybe its 2 in the morning or you really were tooo smart for me there but I didn't understand what you were trying to say ... could you repeat that in more lehman English .. Thanks ... I'd really like to understand it ...

forget it .. i got it ... I think its the fact that its 2 in the morning : )

@Beeblebrox: yes .. you are right ... which is why you'll notice that American or Canadian Muslims (or American Muslim residents) are not subject to this. It had a lot to do with the fact that they are technically American and a cry would be sounded if "our own" are treated in such a way.

Funny story .... Canadian citizens originally from those muslim dominated countries had to undergo these procedures as well. Canadians through a fit after which, it was taken out. The Canadian govt still warns us though, to be careful while travelling and expect such situations to arise and send their apologies beforehand ...

@Coasterman:

The Muslim Day that you speak for is paid for by Muslim communities .. its not like the park actually just allows it. Its one of those things that minorities are just allowed ... mainly cause majorities get represented in any case (in this case, Christmas, Easter and all other celebrations). Its not someting that the park does, they get paid for it ...

If I am running a business and I think I can make a lot more money by having a "Muslim Day" or a "Christian Day" or a "Red Headed Day" or a "Left Handed Day" why shouldn't I do so?

You should be alright, as long as it's not called "Ladies' night" and you're not living in New Jersey ;-)

Why? Cause you would or wouldn't make alot of money? I lost those lost something somewhere in between the second to last, and last post of this thread.

There was a case earlier this year where a local judge prohibited a bar from having a "Ladies' night" in a Cherry Hill, NJ bar on the grounds of violating Civil Rights Act, after a complaint from a male patron of the bar.

There was a thread about it on BOM.

yeah but say if christian groups pay for something like that do you think they'll allow only christians in and not atheists, jewish, muslims

I really dont see whats wrong with that .... forget parks .. I've actually seen that happen with halls and stuff which are taken over by the church for a day for having entertainment events ...

I am concerned by already 4 people having voted "yes" :?

Most Americans have a vague to non existent recolelction fo the Japanese Interment camps. I actually went the the Japanese American Museum in CA (eductionon the internment camps was part of this free trip I took via SONY that included a visit to CA and then time in Japan). I got to speak with Japanese American we were int he interment camps.

Oneof the professors in the msuci departmetn at the University of Delaware has an amzing performance were she puts her father's expereinces in teh camp to music. She plays the paino while words that he worte in his diary are spoken, absolutely haunting.

Anyway, i ahve to agree with you, I have always thought the right chain of events could easily see it happening againa nd 9/11 is such an event.

Two of mys tudents this semster did their final projec ton the Patriot Act adn they did a poll on campus and in each of their hometwons asking people for their opiniosnon the Patriot Act, Over half the peopel said that even though they really diidn;t knwo what the Patriot Act did since it was passed inwthe wake of 9/11 and no further attacks had occured the fully supported it..whatever it takes to stop terrorism they are willing to do. I would bet that includes rounding up those Arab descent.

Of the 4 senators from my state, onlyoen of them read the Patriot Act before voting for it as law, and he freely admits he did not liek teh last minute changes, but he voted yes anyway.

Under the umbrella of 9/11, alot of scary things are possible because peole stop thinking with their heads and think only with their fear.

and thats what bothers me lecter .. people who actually feel this way yet haven't owned up to it at all ... i tell you if I was face to face with them, they wouldn't say anything ... how am I to make an effort to make someone think otherwise if I can't even identify who the person is?

I'll be honest. If I lived in the USA, was exposed to some media propaganda and didn't know any Muslims personally, I think that my mind might have gone in a similar direction.

But it's not like that. There are bad people in all religions and races. The end. No point to discuss here.

It doesn;t say much for them if they are willing to vote that way but they don; want to defend their opinion or discuss it rationally with the other side.