Comments

1
I have stood up for Muslims when I've seen them harassed. Once at Northgate Mall and another time at the QFC at University Village. I sure wish they would return the favor when GLBTQ folks are beaten and harassed.
2
Hey #1, turns out this isn't about you. But thanks for trying to engage us in the Oppression Olympics. The rest of us are just trying to do what's right.
3
Cato the Younger, I am Muslim and always speak in favor of GLBTQ rights. We all have to do our part to create the kind of society in which we are all free and feel safe.
4
@2:

Are you saying that speaking up for GLBTQ folks ISN'T trying to "do what's right"?
5
I would propose that Muslims arm themselves, acquire Concealed-carry Permits, and then brandish their weapons at anyone who harasses them, or makes them feel threatened. It's what White Americans do, hundreds of thousands of times a year (estimates may vary)!
6
DO NOT sit next to the hijabi woman on the bus if you are a man. Don't tolerate any harassment, but don't involve yourself in her life uninvited. All women deserve to be able to ride the bus without being creeped out by guys "just lookin' out for her". You may also be asking for trouble from her male relatives. If she is devout enough to wear the hijab, you should assume her brothers and uncles are devout too.
7
6: I'll sit next to whomever I like on the bus, thanks. That's the rules of the bus since we abandoned the 'coloreds to the back' policy. I have as little respect for this viewpoint as I do for hasid jerks who will hold a flight up so as not to have to sit next to a woman.
8
@6: Are you serious? If I sit next to a Muslim woman on the bus, or speak to her, I'm asking to be tracked down and assaulted by her male relatives? Or is that just if I "creep" on her? I think you're the one trading in stereotypes.
9
Yes, it's possible for a man to sit next to a woman on a bus without creeping her out, assaulting her, or inciting her anger or that of her relations. 1) make the briefest possible eye contact, nod, or eyebrow flash as you sit. 2) You may make one (1) impersonal remark eg; weather, traffic, or the transport itself. "Sure is raining" or "glad I caught this one." 3) After that sit quietly, don't look at her, and don't talk further unless she answers your comment. 4) If you exchange a few words and she stops talking, you stop talking. 5) No personal remarks whatsoever about her, what she's wearing, no questions about her life or where she's going. 6) Do not tell her the story of your life, your day, your boss, or your girlfriend. 7) nod minimally when you or she gets up to leave. That's it. Should work for everyone regardless of religion, age, attitude.
10
@1 Ditto. I've stood up for Muslims when they are harassed only to see them quickly support worse incidents involving Muslim on Jewish violence and/or bigotry. It's offensive for the author to make a list of things we can do for Muslims. Why doesn't she make a list of what her fellow Muslims can be doing for gays, Jews, women, and non-Muslims in Islamic countries? Here is Seattle there have been zero serious incidents of bias crimes against Muslims. There have been a handful of extremely serious and violent bias crimes by Muslims though- the Jewish Center shooting, the killing of 2 gay men, the attempt to blow up Neighbours, the attempt to blow up a Christmas lighting ceremony in Portland, the attempt to blow up a synagogue in that same city, and several others. Muslims will do much better to speak out when they see their fellow Muslims behave in an abusive manner than to exploit terrorist attacks to make people feel sorry for them. In the aftermath of 9/11, the Paris attacks, San Bernardino, etc the level of hate crimes towards Muslims is still lower than what Jews usually experience. How about some conversation about that Ms. Al-Khan?
11
Oh look, it's the resident racist. hayden c, please stop pretending to be the champion of the Jews; we really don't want you to have anything to do with us.
12
@ #3

I'm gay myself, so of course I think standing up for queer people is a good thing.

What I'm saying is that when I'm faced with injustice and bigotry against my Muslim neighbors, it's my job to stand up to it... it is not really helpful to them or me to say, "I'm a victim too!" And if my first response to bigotry against someone else is to call them out for supposedly not supporting my rights, that's a problem with me, not them.
13
one other thing to keep in mind when defending muslims against harassment is the lesson many do-gooders have learned in stepping in to violent public disputes between couples, or confronting street harassment: the focus can turn on to you in a flash. so always carry a concealed weapon and brandish it at the first opportunity. if you're white.
15
Thanks, I'll do what I can.
16
I don't particularly like being referred to as an infidel.
17
On Sunday Obama called the Islamic States "thugs"

"Thug" is a racist code word.

Islamic States include all these in the map:

File:Muslim_Percent_Population.svg">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_by_c…
18
#muslimlivesmatter
20
Is Whitey the guy that used to post with the soccer field avatar? He's as incoherent and idiotic as that guy... No_fool or something?
24
I'll decide who I'm in solidarity with, thank you.
27
Well this thread has become remarkably stupid.
29
This is nonsense. What MUSLIMS need to do is join the "Muslim Reform Movement" (google, American Muslims don't find them very popular for some reason) and openly denounce the violent and oppressive ideology that you foster and propagate in your mosques all around the country who practice Whahhabism. You need to openly denounce that you support Sharia, that you embrace America culture and equality for gays and women, and that you have no intention of following the cruel tenets of your fate and which you are oblige to obey. End of.
30
I criticize ideas not people. If people cling so closely to bad ideas that a critique of them is offensive, well that's their own problem not mine. Islam (the texts) are full of really bad ideas (Apostasy, Jihad, Sharia, Caliphate, political faith, Purity of faith/holy texts, ect...) so this often gets confused, but let's not forget what the enlightenment brought us. And while only a few may be violent a plurality of Islam holds these ideas in high regard and thus carry ideological water for the violent. We see the result of this worldwide.

I'll be proud to stand up to any injustice I see personally, but I won't join the author and most comments in misunderstanding that the problem of Islam is something other than Islam itself.
31
We all need to work together to reduce bigotry and hate speech/crimes in the USA. I'm disgusted that the author appropriates the Jewish suffering in 1940s Europe to make their case and does not acknowledge that Jews are today the number one victim of hate crimes in the United States. It may seem all hunky dory since Jews are portrayed more positively in the media than Muslims but that does not change the facts. https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ha…
32
The last time I checked immigrating to another country wasn't a human right. The citizens of the US decide who is allowed to immigrate to our country. Maybe people would have a more favorable view of Muslims if they would denounce the violence their fellow believers have committed throughout the world. But we know that won't happen since several polls show large percentages of Muslims believe terrorist acts are justified and have favorable views of terrorist organizations.
33
If your wife or sister gets molested by gangs of "refugees" just smile and apologise for being white.

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