The Gap: Can the USA and Islam Bridge It?

Re: # 4
Yeah...well said Zeena. We dont need all this hatred in this world based upon religious differences. Unfortunately, too much damage has already been done.

Re: # 3
You go girl...;)

Re: # 3

I believe the theme of your interaction is summarized as follows:

``I am Muslim no doubt about it. But, being American is my identity. Not being Muslim. ``

I PARTIALLY AGREE.
Being american is one of your identities, perhaps a major one but being muslims is also your identity.

and why do you need to identify yourselves as muslims? It is because in a democratic system, the opinions of its populace matter. In america`s case the opinions matter a whole lot more, cause the US is the police of the world. The decision she makes effect the entire world.

so why do you need to identify yourself as a muslim, it is to show to the american populace that the only muslims in the world are not those cowardly terrorists who blow themselves up or butcher non-muslims` heads off. common average normal people like you are muslims as well.

that is the gap which needs to be bridged. the gap worse than the gap of ignorance, the gap of a misinformed people. that is why you need to identify yourself as a muslim as well.

ofcourse you have the complete and absolute right of not giving a damn about bridging ``THE GAP``, and thats your personal choice.

UMA is exercising thier own choice, one which they are equally entitled to.

Re: # 4

`religion is good as long as you keep it to yourself`

this u can say about any religion but islam. Islam was not revealed on human beings to keep it to themselves. Islam is a system given to human beings by Allah(s.w.t) so they implement it in their OWN LIVES as well as in the SOCIETY. Establishing a society which has the laws of the sharia implemented in all walks of life is a farz on every muslim just as namaz and saum are farz.

I am not saying that muslims should start a struggle or JIHAD trying to implement islam in the american society. Where such a society should be established is a seperate discussion.

Re: # # & 4

...Bravo!! Zeena............this time you get my applause!!!

On side note:-

It is proven without any shadow of doubt that all humans influencing or interacting with eachother on this planet Earth need NO religion. Only good religion for recognition is NO religion. Yes, religion is good as long as you keep it to yourself.

Dear Muslim Writer,

This article is just another useless attempt to unite all American Muslims together on the same platform for their protection from Americans and American Govt...................Look at these senseless sentences uttered by some naive and ignorant fanatics who in their ignorance are trying to fill up some unknown GAP...............hahahahah

{{{{“American Muslims have become too full of themselves,” he said. He attributed this to the tolerance of Americans and added that if a 9/11 type event happened in India, thousands of Muslims would have been slaughtered. ``The biggest threat to American Muslims is another attack,” he said. }}}}}}

{{{And as for another 9/11, American Muslims know that we have to do all that we can to stop any such horrific act from impacting anyone`s life again.
United Muslims of America (UMA) }}}

Let me ask you who are Americans? Who are Muslims? Who are these self appointed organizations working aimlessly and pointlessly?

Let me remind you , America is an immigrant country, it is not a colony or monarchy.
America is based upon freedom for all humans equally without any thing to do with any religion. And that is the beauty of it.

We immigrated to America. Why? B/c of this diversity and beauty with rainbow colors which are at equal wavelength with equal distance without dominance of any one color.

There is no such term as who is American and who is not? All American citizens are Americans regardless of color, creed, region, religion and gender.

In America all Americans keep their religions to themselves, for them religion is their personal issue, they don`t advertise their religions to everyone they meet and make themselves a laughable material for others......................

Except Muslims (Not all) by saying,``hi, listen Tom, I am Muslim, hey, listen Barbara, I am Muslim, Do you know I am Muslim? ``

``Hey, American people listen, I am Muslim, I am not terrorist, I didn`t do anything in 9/11. Please, don`t blame me. I am a good Muslim, though I am a Muslim, don`t kill me, I am innocent, I apologize for others.``

You are great, please let me live in this great country of yours, Oh, you nation of great Americans, I will never utter a word of disrespect for you. I will always be apologetic. No matter what, I will bow down infront of you mighty gods. I am trying to fill all these invisible bridges, so that may be you Americans and we Muslims can cross these invisible bridges and find our ways either parallel or closer with each other, not in an opposite direction,b/c we are your slaves, have mercy on us, miserable humans on this mother Earth.

``Hi, Tracy, Linda, Tammy, Gina, Lina, Elizabith, Lisa, blah,blah,blah, we Muslims love to fill the GAPS between you Americans and us, b/c we wish to be ONE. So, that all the world should see us as One body and mind............``

Speaking about GAP, there are some dumb, idiotic, moronish so, called Muslim Organizations trying their idiotic propaganda`s to cross some unknown BRIDGES or invisible GAPS between them and Americans............utter rubbish

What exactly are the Gaps? I do not see any gap. Who made this gap? I did not make any gap. Then why I should cross the bridge or fill the gap? I see majority of sensible Muslims who are much more nice humans, who are as Americans as any American can be without advertising their religion to every one they meet. They don`t carry this badge of identity to cover their insecurities................

UMA and other organizations like crossing the bridges always call my home phone to insist me to join them . I always ask them,`` what is your agenda?`` Why you persistently after me and why you want me to join your organization?``

Their answer is always like,`` We want all Muslims to gather on the same platform to cross the bridges and fill the gap between Americans and Us, so that they should recognize us not as terrorists but as peaceful Muslims. You should join us and attend all our meetings.``

I always end up by saying,`` Listen, don`t waste my time and yours as well. We do not need any recognition. We are as Americans as anyone could be. We do not need to advertise ourselves that we are Muslims and we are guilty of terrorist attacks, please, forgive us.
Why should I do that? First of all I am not guilty of anything. Nobody is asking me what is my religion? Nobody is discriminating me for being whatever.``

Now, you wish me to join you and be apologetic and be an idiot to advertise myself to the whole wide world to look at me with surprise for mockery and for saying, `` I am crazy or lunatic.``

I am myself and same is with other majority sensible Muslims who have nothing to do with any 9/11 attacks or any terrorism. Why should we feel guilty? Why would we be apologetic?
Why should we feel insecure if we are no different from any other American?

Why should we need any stupid organization which serves no purpose?

Why do we need such useless organization? They have no purpose but to expose themselves being labeled as terrorists. Aren`t they stupid?

What is this ,`` American Muslim Dialogue?``
Majority of Muslims are not radical or fanatic. Why we need such radical Islamic organization?

Yes, I am Muslim no doubt about it. But, being American is my identity. Not being Muslim.

Being Muslim is my private and personal choice for my own soul. I cannot carry that idiotic badge of some religious identity in my neck to be recognized as such. I don`t need any pseudo recognition, while my recognition is already made. Yes, I am American with Pakistani background ........This is the only recognition I need for myself. No one asks me about my ethnicity, about my religion or my private life. Unless I tell them myself that I am Pakistani or Muslim, which I don`t.

When we live in Pakistan, do we introduce ourselves as Muslims? No, we don`t, then why all of a sudden these idiotic organizations start brainwashing Muslims in America to gather under some Muslim flag to fill up the gap between Americans.

I always tell my colleagues, you know I want to fill a big GAP between you (American and me). Do you see any GAP? Do you see any BRIDGE for me to cross to fill up this GAP or HOLE? They always think I am going BONKERS. They think I am talking about VERIZANO bridge to go to Manhattan.

When I explain the whole organization issue, they always end up laughing. Their responses are very normal by saying,`` Babe, you don`t need any bridges to cross to fill up any gaps, you are already closer to our hearts just by being AMERICAN. Darling, you don`t need any identity or recognition, you are one of us. All of us are Americans under one flag of America and that is the beauty of this diverse immigrant country...................

Yes, these stupid organizations need recognition in Pakistan, India and blah,blah,balh where they are not respected as being individuals but where they are respectful only if they have A NAME with religious identity, being Muslim, Hindu blah,blah,blah...........

Dear Writer,

What was the purpose of this article? Quite meaningless, if reporting events is the objective then it was a total waste of time and space.

Can USA and Christianity/Hinduism/Jainism/Buddhism/Shintoism etc etc. bridge it?

All this talk about `bridging gap` is nonsense. The only gap that needs to be bridged is by these PAkistani muslims who take their TNT along whereever they go and spread hatred while enjoying the fruits of the Western world.

Why should a liberal state like US think about getting into a dialogue with religious heads.........................you mean to say should US government talk to the religious goons and impose Shariat based laws or Manu Smriti based laws or some ancient religious tradition on its citizens?

This question is stupid and actually exposes the grand communal designs of these Pakistani infested associations like the United Muslims of America (UMA). These associations have only one aim of dumbing the liberal muslims from realizing the evils of political Islam that the TNT mongers from Pakistan practise wherever they go............it aims at hiding the camouflaging the role of these `educated` Pakistanis who, in the name of religious piety, provide the real intellectual and financial leadership to the political Islam................