Many have read this already, That on a very popular US TV show called "The View", two of the TV show hosts Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg had walked off the set when Bill O'Reilly, a writer and a Fox news person said: "Muslims killed us on 9/11" while trying to make a point that building a mosque near ground zero is unacceptable. Whoopi and Joy called him an extremist, they refused his statement, his hate speech and left the set. The other TV hosts, Barbra Walters included made it clear that he should have said: Muslim extremists killed us on 9/11, instead of generalizing all Muslims...but they hadn't shown such anger...they were "reasonable"...well, it was obvious that they weren't big fans of Muslims but all had rational thinking. Watching the show had me thinking, Ok, that is their view...the Americans are quite the same...many hate all Muslims, many hate extreme Muslims only but are no fans of Islam in general and a few know the difference between a religion, people who are following the religion well and people who are extreme. Do I personally care what Americans or other nationalities think about my religion?? Well, I have mixed feelings...a big part of me feel bad that my great religion is being judged based on extreme criminal actions of some people who call themselves Muslims. this part of me really hopes I among others could deliver the true essence of Islam...and I always believe that any religion shouldn't be weighed according to the people following it nor by the misinterpretations of some. Another part feels that if someone was wise and smart enough, they would have tried to ask or study and use their best judgment and fairness before they produced so much hate towards a religion and its followers with such fierce methods...so, that poor unwise and stupid person shouldn't make a difference...he'd be actually doing him/herself the harm more than inflicting it on anyone else. And I thought about Our view...as Arab and Muslim nations...How do we see it...Have we been fair to Islam?? The whole anti Islam talk and trying to prove to the west how modern and away from extreme measures we are is robbing our identity bit by bit... People, at least in my country, who strive to imitate the American character or the western identity are looking, acting and thinking like them more and more everyday...some are trying to hard to prove that they are western friendly that the very standards that belongs to us as Muslims are beginning to fade. More people are becoming OK with drinking, with having casual sexual relations, with refusing the veil, abandoning praying and fasting and much more things that they falsely think is gonna make them more of a western than of a Muslim or Arab...such people forget that not all westerns commit sins for a living like they think...many westerns have values and follow their religion and are devoted and righteous...It's not all like what happens in the movies. But all and all...We are selling our culture very cheap...and fact is: We will never be them...because we are not. I want to make one point clear...I realize everyone has full liberty to do all he wants in life, after all it is his life...I am also aware that from the beginning of time and until life on earth ends people will fall into sins and will do wrong... But doing a mistake while you admit to the value of the ground rules is one thing...and changing your skin to fit into another identity is another...refusing Allah's gift for you just to be accepted is dangerous...Because, you'd be wasting your life for something that you'll never be. Whether it is our view or their view, I think every rational human being must agree that: - Terrorists that call themselves Muslims killed people from many nationalities -Arabs included- in America on 9/11. - Everyone should cherish his own identity, because fake identities never pays any good. - Religions are from God, actions are from people. - Hate produces more hate...understanding produces a better world for everyone. - Values and Ethics add value, happiness and meaning to any human life...It is never the other way around...NEVER!!
