Very brave of you to do that, but I just have one itty, bitty little explanation:

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...would rudely turn their chair completely around just to get a good stare at me

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Since when did staring at people become so offensive? I hate how Hispanic people will stare you down, but why don't people ever come out about that?

I don't think it's the intention of people to be "offending" when staring at someone - you're different and people are used to seeing common things -- staring, according to sociologists, is nothing more than keen observation.

They're observing the uncommonness that you brought into the mall.

People are so uptight about things these days, geesh.

Have you learned not to ever wear that again? If you do, you have no right to complain.

last friday, i wore jeans, a collar, long sleeved shirt buttoned all the way up . However, i also wore a covering around my nose, mouth, chin, neck and to cover my hair. I am not a muslim but really wanted to find out what people would say. After walking around for only an hour in a mall, i felt completely appalled at the looks everyone was giving me.

These were not casual glances, they were STARES. These people would see me walking from fifty feet away and not take their eyes off of me until i completely left their sight, thirty seconds later.

People whispered to their friends, some pointed, people eating at a table next to where i sat down for while, would actually whisper to their friend who would rudely turn their chair completely around just to get a good stare at me

I stood looking at a Cd and no one passed by me. They would stop five feet in front of me, stare at me up and down and then try to find another way of getting somewhere without having to walk passed me.

The ones that did pass by me, would walk slowly, then walk really really really fast when they passed me then went back slow. A little girl screamed to her mother "Mom, why is that girl wearing a table cloth on her head?"

Imagine living your life this way. I mean everyone gets self conscious when just one person stares at them and everyone quickly looks for a booger out of their nose or a peice of ketchup on their cheek.

But imagine not being able to go to a mall to just watch a movie or hang out without knowing that the whole world is going to stop and stare, that you're every move is being watched. I know i couldn't live like that, i hate it when i wear a daring outfit and people stare. I feel so umcomfortable and that's just a few days a year. It's not my life

I understand, that muslims are not the norm. I understand that after seeing thoasands of people with their faces unconcealed, a woman who is covered kind of surprises you. I'm not angered at people who make a glance and then look away, that's a natural reaction. But for people to keep staring, start whispering, give these poor people these looks like dog poop just walked past them is just wrong.

Not the whole world is like you. As a matter of fact, the second largest religion is muslim and they predict that in around six years it will surpass christianity, get used to it. You wouldn't want people pointing, laughing, and staring when you wear your cross or star of david or whatever.

Muslims -are- people, too.

I don't see anyone running away from Christians because of Eric Robert Rudolph, who was supposedly Christian, but killed many people after he bombed an abortion clinic. Many Christians argue that he was not a true Christian because the Bible condemns murder.. But so does the Qu'ran. There are radicals in every religion who twist religion around to fit their personal agenda.

Dante, I'm going to look into those things further, but I basically agree with you and realize your point.

True, the definition of being a terrorist also includes "Christian" "right-wing" "libertarian" "constitutionalist" and what have you, so yeah ...hmm.

But ...people want to gripe and complain that I'm "profiling" a person because of their clothing, etc., yet that is PRECISELY what everyone does anyway.

I'm basically against the PC way of doing things. Granted, they still have rights, but profiling isn't bad - it's common sense.

You see a group of 20 blacks standing at a street corner downing 40s and listening to loud rap "music" and wearing all the same color, instinct is going to tell you that yeah, maybe they're a gang - and if I even "suspect" them of being that, I shouldn't be reprimanded for it.

Then at the same time, nothing should be done unless they are specifically engaging in a crime or a suspect to a crime.

Sorry but when most of the islamic population is terrorists or condem terror i cant help it but fear them.
After 9/11, the terrorist acts in Israel and everything you hear about them its kind of hard not to.
And when your religion condems murdering people, its kinda F***ing hard not to fear them!!
I am scared of you guys! Is that what you wanted?!? well you succeeded!good for you!

Do you not get that by segregating Muslums simply because of the acts of some of their race that you are not only being just like the terrorists of September 11 but also like Hitler?? His goal was to create the perfect Arian race...and so he segregating Jews because he was prejudice

Judging Muslums because of terrorist attacts is wrong

You don't get to ignore parts of the constitution; and for such a strict constitutionalist you act pretty populist/facistic with your interpretation. Sure, citizen are protected, if you think otehrwise, you're light in the head. You implied only citizens had right and we could **** with foreigners when we felt like it. That's a nonsensical reading of the 14th amendment. This is what I explained.


Depending on your definition of "terrorism" one is lead to conclude Christians have an edge based on age and dogma. Between the: Crusades (where at times they even killed their own people and burned their cities to the ground i.e. Constantinople), lynchings, the Inquisition (which continued until almost the 20th century in some places), the Age of Exploitation, Northern Ireland, England (she ain't called Bloody Mary for nothin'), and people like Timothy McVeigh, along with any more incidental acts of terrorism and aggression; it's a wash when you think of an extremist movement born in large part only after WWII.

If you define your terms to only include the past decade and a half or so you eliminate much of the American State Terrorism that has been much more deadly and violent than anything in that limited time frame.

You define yourself out of naming the biggest terrorist, the one with all the money and power instead of a misfit band of religious extremeists reduced to covert planning and cowering in fear, only able to attack sporadically with minimal casualties. Heck, we're about to launch an illegal war that, by best estimates, could kill more than a quarter of a million civilian non-combatants.

The bigger threat is the one who can spin a air of legitimacy in the killing of innocent people. Not the one who will be roundly condemned, sought out, and shot for their crimes.

If you focus on one group you will ultimately fail. It is impractical. Think John Walker Lindh or Jose Pedilla (the "dirty" bomber), both wouldn't be profiled and could be used by terrorists to prey on prejudices and preconceptions. Few of the 9/11 terorists even had beards, let alone wore a turban or any other supposedly identifying characteristics. They worse suits and had been here for extended periods of time.

There is no effective way of profiling, and while you're checking out the guy who is simply dressed religiously, you let through the terrorist, the white businessman. It wouldn't have stopped any attacks in the US.

The person most likely to be wearing a "death to America" bandana, is the same white kid who wears the Bush "International Terrorist" shirt. The terrorist may be violent and brainwashed, but they are not dumb, or the people that instruct them aren't. They will not dress in garb that catches your eye and makes you think "Muslim" any more than a christian terrorist will dress like a priest or nun.

You have the choice between a totalitarian state, or nipping the problem at it's root: make it so we're not the enemy, and despite what Bush say's it's not because we're "free". Switzerland isn't Muslim and they don't get attacked.

Although I view stereotypes as offensive and uncouth, the reason I dislike them on a grounds I would preach to others about, is because they are impractical and counterproductive. It doesn't solve the problem.

You can choose to be paranoid and enact all sorts of new "Homeland Security" laws; fingerprint all immmigrants, install chips in their skin, catalogue everyone's DNA, or you can get your a$$ out of the Middle East, bring your soldiers home, and stop funding the terrorists before they turn against you like has happened so many times. Don't create bin Laden and you won't have to worry about stopping him or his henchmen.

Yes, when i hear islam this or muslim that i do associated it with terroist...Why? lets not kid ourselfs...who has been responsible for almost all if not all terrost attacks sucessful or nonsuccessful toward America. And who seemed so happy on 9-11. I, myself live at a military base and on 9-11 when all the awful stuff was going on i went to shop for emergency supplies, the cashier who rang me up said that when they announced the news on the intercom of the store(inside the base), one man who seemed arab yelled in joy "we sure showed them!", and walked out. If i was arab or muslim and people looked at me with suspicion i think i would go to some country where they practice that stuff.

Someone please tell me what ethnic/religious background a majority of the world's terrorist attacks (beginning with the Lockerbie, Scotland hijacking) have been committed by?


Christians? Nope.

Jews? Nope.

Canadians? Nope.

Midget porn wrestlers? Nope.

Muslims? Bingo.


I rest my case.

First, I agree with the person who said that terrorists are not crazy, but I would like to say I think they are the most horrific people who ever walked the earth. Though you may say that is prejudice - they are prejudice to people (the Americans who were killed in Sep. 11) who have never done anything to them except declare their citizenship to our country, so they deserve not to have any rights a human being does and anyone who defends them should be considered a traitor to the human race. I do not have anything against Islams and Muslims and anyone else in the middle east, so long as someone isn't a terriorist and hasn't killed anyone, they're okay in my book. (and I'm not saying only Islams and Muslims are terriorists - that wasnt my intention at all)

i actually have many frends of islamic decent. and when i see tha way ppl just like them are treated i feel bad i dont think we shouldlook at all islamic ppl like theyre about to get on a plane and blow us up...thats not fair!!they are human too and you have to give everyone the benefit of tha doubt...my mom taught me to look at everything..person place creature with an open mind and thats what i do!i think that if everyone would be more open-minded instead of ignorant to tha fact not all ppl are bad we wouldnt have to go thru what we are now....KEEP THA PEACE!!!

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abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States

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Clarify that one then.

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Now citizens on the other hand -- when you are a citizen, you have Constitutional rights. Therefore, unless you are suspected of a crime or actually carry one out, then no, you shouldn't be checked, fingerprinted, etc.

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Amendment XIV:
Section. 1. [...] No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.


Summary:
The constitution isn't limited to citizens.

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Anyway, I don't think the Justice Department should fingerprint every single Muslim or Middle Eastern-descented person that comes into this country.

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Wait, yes I do. If they're not already citizens here, then yes, every single foreigner deserves to be patted down, frisked, checked and eyeballed -- I don't care if they're Mexican, Jewish, Iraqi, Canadian, Siberian, etc.

Now citizens on the other hand -- when you are a citizen, you have Constitutional rights. Therefore, unless you are suspected of a crime or actually carry one out, then no, you shouldn't be checked, fingerprinted, etc.

Well, if someone is Islamic and they are a citizen here, have done business here, have a home here, then no, I wouldn't see that as a "terrorist."

However, at airports especially, with the traditional Muslim garb, you have to think and profile someone such as that - and don't feed me that PC bull about "racial profiling." PC is bad enough, but that crap right there is completely ridiculous.

Anyway, I don't think the Justice Department should fingerprint every single Muslim or Middle Eastern-descented person that comes into this country.

But if you were on an airplane and a Muslim, in his mustache and death bandana and all, YOU would not tell me that you WOULDN'T profile him and become uneasy.

Just like if I were to walk down the street and a black gangsta type was "bling-blingin'" with his gold teeth and belt buckle-hanging drawers, then ya, I'd profile him thinking, "hmm, is this guy going to bust a cap in my @$$?"

Or to make it "inclusive" for you PC wimps, if I saw a white trash hick with tattoos and a wife beater shirt on looking all NASCAR fan-ish, then ya, I'd wonder "is this guy in the Klan or is he about to rob me for some booze money?"

Although I am against Bush for many reasons I support his stance that Islam is not ipso facto violent, though many of his conservative friends believe this.

Terrorists are not crazy. Ok, maybe a little crazy to do something like 9/11… but you shouldn't assume that. You can't dismiss terrorism as being led by crazy people, that's underestimating them and making assumptions just because you don't understand… it's desperation and an utter conviction in their own beliefs that drives them to do it. They are ordinary people, not some kind of breed apart.

Yep Muslims are getting a hard time now and that isn't fair. It's scapegoat-ing and it's juvenile. Hopefully in time everything will calm down a little and this new outlet for racism will become less heated, but until then there isn't much we can do.

Bex

No, I can't say I am Islamaphobic

The first word(s) that comes to my mind when I hear the word terrorist is stupid retarded people that are going through or have went through some seriously pyschological problems.

Islam and Muslim people are a sad set of people, because of what they have to go through and what they have gone through, because of their leaders.

The media does not do the Islamic community justice, they protray all the people, as terrorist and that they are all bad people, but they don't show then as they really are. They aren't all bad, just the handful (or maybe more) that make the whole nation look bad.

They are suffering hate and discrimination on behalf on Bin Laden, because we people, have no one else to blame. They don't know where else to turn.

Yea I believe they are oppressed, I go into that further at a later date.

*Star*