Newsgroups: soc.culture.iranian
Subject: Re: Fanatacism
From: minhaszt@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Zafar T Minhas)
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 19:18:36 GMT
Organization: University of Cincinnati

In article <4390@copper.Denver.Colorado.EDU> aaldoubo@copper.denver.colorado.edu (Shaqeeqa) writes:
>After reading the postings this past week, I have to say that
>I am *extremely* appalled at how viciously the Muslim posters
>on this group are continuously attacked by fellow Iranians.
>I am also very disappointed to see how much division there is
>in this newsgroup.  At least in soc.culture.arabic and other
>newsgroups, there is more unity and a system of support for
>each other (as Arabs and Muslims) against posters who feel the
>need to slander us.
>
>It is just unbelievable that the people in this newsgroup resort to
>supporting the Western theories of anti-Islamic propoganda.  I thought
>these folks would be one of the first to realize the hatred and fear
>that is propogated against Muslims, and at least have the dignity and
>decency to not perpetuate this by categorizing all Muslim posters (who
>are honest in their feelings and openly speak out) by calling us
>'racists', 'fundamentalists', 'radicals', and *especially* backward!!
>This is just completely unacceptable, and as much as I fight these
>slanderous and bigotted remarks in other newsgroups, I will do so
>here as well.
>
>I don't mean to upset posters by my words, however, I am extremely
>offended by what I read (not so much in regard to my postings), but
>to other Muslim posters.  If they have resorted to bad language, that
>is absolutely NO justification to use and excuse these racist remarks
>and comments, while excusing others who are foul-mouthed in other
>postings.  This is double standards and a seemingly easy way to flame,
>insult, and incite other silent readers of this newsgroup who may be
>afraid to say anything on behalf of the Muslims whom they agree with
>(philosophically speaking), minus the bad language, which, as we all
>know, is usually the method used when completely frustrated or angry.
>Everyone of us Muslims are human and not perfect.  We make mistakes
>too, but that is no reason to criticize everyone and continue along
>these deplorable lines.
>
>Anisa
>

anisa, there has been a consistent double standard here. it is okay for the 
non-muslims here to attack islam, but it is not okay for the muslims to defend
the religion and attack non-islamic things/ideas. yet the problem is is that
no one's behavior has been above criticism. i say this to myself first. everyone
on this net has been cussing and spewing expletives and insults left and right.
but when we muslims do it we are called fanatics and other not nice things. but
when other people say things like that the only reponse is "hit the 'n' key" or
some other crap. this only reinforces in many muslim people's mind that the 
people on this net just have it in for islam, nothing else, it is just plain and
simple prejudice. but then there is another interesting fact, these people who
are seen as prejudiced by us poor fanatic closed-minded muslim, are being 
accused of racism, bigotry, and elitism by the other side! while muslim
have some justification for feeling good about islam, from all signs that i see,
islam is loved by the people of iran back in the old country (not necassarily
the government, but i withhold my judgement on how the people feel about that).
which makes me wonder how much of culture.iranian is represented in what i have
seen in soc.culture.iranian. a good friend of mine told me once that the heart
of iran can never be seen on this net which is both fortunate and unfortunate.
unfortunate because i am trying to learn more about iranian culture, and, sister
i am learning more about the culture in books than here. it is fortunate 
because if the state of iran is representative of what is going on in iran....

anyway that is the end of my rambling once again. you can see what i am trying
to say, anisa.

now to change the subject, i was reading the quran and ran across the word
sij-jil, in the surah, al-fil, 
tarmihim bi-hijaratin min-sij-jil.

grandpops told me that this word, sij-jil came from the phrase sang-e-gil,
is this true people out there in net land? are there any other arabic words
that came from farsi language? i know of one more word, siraj, which came 
from the word cheragh. so how about it? another thing i noticed is that
the found of pakistanis/indian muslim is almost the same (sans spices). and
indian muslim classical painting has had a lot of persian influence which
wouldn't be surprising since the moghuls (my ancestors) spoke farsi.
interesting things to think about. so let's rap.....

zafar

Newsgroups: soc.culture.iranian