Gee! Is there any wonder why?
<http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/author/barenakedislam/> <http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/oh-boo-hoo-muslims-whining-a bout-not-being-embraced-by-americans/> OH, BOO HOO! Muslims whining about not being embraced by Americans <http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/author/barenakedislam/> barenakedislam | June 1, 2011 at 3:49 PM | Categories: <http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/?cat=52721> Islam in America | URL: <http://wp.me/peHnV-uKd> http://wp.me/peHnV-uKd Muslims are either at your throat or on their knees. And they wonder why people don't want anything to do with them. My San Antonio - A Saudi engineering student shed a tear, but it took three long years. He was excited when he arrived in the United States, having observed the country from afar through television and movies. [...] My San Antonio <http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Embrace-Muslim-neighbors-they-a re-not-the-enemy-1399520.php> - A Saudi engineering student shed a tear, but it took three long years. He was excited when he arrived in the United States, having observed the country from afar through television and movies. But his excitement faded. He had been studying here for three years, and during all that time had hoped to befriend a typical American family. He wondered whether life here is really like what he sees on television. Now, after all these years, he has finally received a dinner invitation from an American family. A woman in flowing robes and head scarf quietly moves up and down the aisles at the local grocery store. She misses her parents, brothers and sisters, and her aunts and uncles back home. She has come to this country, along with her husband, in order to give her young children a quality education and better life. But she is painfully lonely - accustomed to either stares, looks of suspicion, or worst of all, being ignored. But today, she beams with joy, as a non-Muslim woman looks her in the eye, smiles warmly, and greets her in a way that reminds her of home and touches her heart: " Salaam." Could this be the day she makes her first non-Muslim friend? Your Muslim neighbor may be a recent immigrant who has left his home and family, the comfortable and familiar, and is now <http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/oh-boo-hoo-muslims-whining-a bout-not-being-embraced-by-americans/unknown5/> http://barenakedislam.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/unknown5.jpeg?w=217&h=233s truggling in a confusing and complex new culture. Or she might have lived here 20 years, but while appearing to fit in, has never felt accepted and a part of her neighborhood and community. (There are 57 Islamic hellholes where you would feel welcome. Pick one) A Muslim doctor never experiences this. In fact, she feels like no one truly knows her. She enjoys the interactions with her patients in the examining room and hallways of her office. Her patients seem nice enough; no one is deliberately rude. Yet when she returns home, she feels isolated and ostracized by her neighbors. (You should hear how they feel about you) Sometimes she wishes she could shout from the rooftops, "I hate terrorism as much as you do!" (Then why do so few of you ever condemn it? And when you do, you only condemn terrorism against other Muslims) She knows the hallmark of Christianity is love. Why does she so seldom experience it? (Because Christians know the hallmark of Islam is hatred for non-believers) Although these are composite experiences of real Muslims who live and work all around us, these Muslims are "us." They are a part of "we the people." They are not "the enemy." (Yes, they ARE. Islam is the enemy) <http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/oh-boo-hoo-muslims-whining-a bout-not-being-embraced-by-americans/indiamuslims/> http://barenakedislam.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/indiamuslims.jpg?w=300&h=2 07If Christians are to love, bless and pray for those who persecute them, a Christian can never really consider anyone his or her enemy. Further, we are taught to love our neighbors, and Jesus scolds us for only loving those who love us. Thus, there is no group of people that falls outside the category of "neighbor." (He only said that because there were no muslims back then) Loving our neighbors does not mean simply bringing no harm to them. It is not a passive matter, but a command to act. If we are to obey Jesus' teaching, we must embrace Muslims and through our lives minister to them God's love, acceptance, encouragement, compassion and comfort. (Bite me!) If we do not befriend Muslims for the sake of loving them, then why not at least for the sake of enjoying the experience of learning about someone who might come from an ancient and fascinating culture? (We HAVE learned about Islam: persecution of non-Muslims, oppression of women, forced marriage with children, honor killings, beheadings, animal cruelty, female genital mutilation of young girls, killing of homosexuals, hatred of Jews, and more. Frankly we are not fascinated, we are repulsed) Why not befriend a Muslim for the sake of enjoying the company of someone who might prepare food in delicious and unique ways (Unique ways include brutal torture and suffering of animals for slaughter), who views God through a different lens (and hates everyone else's view of God), and who exhibits hospitality, genuine friendship and loyalty in ways that might surprise you? (The Qur'an says, 'Take not Christians and Jews as friend.') We have nothing to fear from the vast majority of Muslims. (Oh, yes we do) Rather, let us acknowledge and welcome the contributions they make to our communities, befriend them, and enjoy the mutual enrichment we can bring to each others' lives. (YOU do it, buddy, it's your neck) Mark Pfeiffer is adjunct professor of Islamic studies at Baptist University of the Americas <http://www.mysanantonio.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=ne ws%2Freligion&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Baptist+University+of+the+Ameri cas%22> and director of the Christian Institute of Islamic Studies <http://www.mysanantonio.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=ne ws%2Freligion&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Christian+Institute+of+Islamic+ Studies%22> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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