Muslim in a yoga class.
There are plenty of people claiming that my country is being infiltrated by Muslims who don't want to integrate and will bring Sharia law and Islamisation into our communities and create no-go zones if we don't nip this in the bud.
Last week a Muslim woman of a certain age walked into my yoga class. She was of Asian appearance and wearing the full chador (the black shapeless, floor length dress and hair and neck covered so just the oval of the face is visible, rather like a traditional nun). I was a little surprised as most of the women wear skin-tight lycra with bare arms and the guys are mostly in t-shirts and shorts. I thought to myself "this will be interesting", wondering how she was going to achieve any range of motion. I also wondered if she had blundered into the wrong class - a mixed-gender environment of minimally-dressed practitioners in a discipline based on ancient Hindu practices. I was thinking "this must be haram in so many ways" as I prepared myself, relaxing on my mat with eyes closed. When the class started I looked around and it took me a minute to realise that the little old Indian-looking woman in the baggy pants and blouse was the same person. She joined in the warm-ups and the less strenuous postures and, I imagine, put her full religious attire back on when she went back out into the public space.
It reinforced my impression that for the Muslim community Islam in the UK is largely a matter of social convention, observances and tradition. The vast majority just go through the motions with each generation successively watering down the practices of their parents. Of course, some become extremists, just as some of our own community become coke-addicts or neo-Nazis - people who need watching but hardly representative. I'm very optimistic that exposure to the 'West' will slowly but surely break down the centuries of ignorance and oppression that religion has forced onto their own societies. At heart the people are no more stupid, fanatic or intolerant than we ourselves are, and when they see a better alternative they will nearly always take it.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I like what Martin Luther King said, "We should judge people by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin, (or their garb, religion, nationality, etc). Muslims have not had the enlightenment & often come from extremely repressive societies. I believe must of them will be glad to be assimilated by the relative freedom of America & will be happy to give up their old ways
Remiforce
Level 7
Sep 30, 2019
1
Where I live borders on Toxteth. People may remember the name from the riots in the 80s. After that, Granby Street and environs really did become a no-go area. The cops stayed away and the dealers moved in. With them came the prostitutes and muggers, it was not a nice place to live. Property prices fell through the floor and Muslims bought in cheap. Some from the Indian sub-continent but quite a few from Somalia. It was they that helped clean up the area. They got rid of the street dealers and hookers (not always by legit means). Okay, it is not the burbs and there is still crime. But it is no way as bad as before. Once a month in summer there is a street market and kids can play there without used needles everywhere. Plus we have one of the best vegetable stores you have ever seen.
I was there a few months ago. One of my regular customers, an Asian family. large and hierarchical. Grandma at the top and grandad.. well he spends a lot of time at the local cricket club. Giving kids something else to do in the summer other than just hanging around on mountain bikes.
273kelvin
Level 8
Sep 20, 2019
2
It is always nice when people get that light bulb moment that causes them to realize that we are all mostly the same...exposure to those different in dress, culture, religion, race, etc. only broadens your mind and makes you tolerant and accepting of people...I regularly kickbox with a Muslim woman who dresses modestly and hits like a brick...nice insight...thanks for sharing, Gareth.
thinktwice
Level 8
Sep 20, 2019
3
Interesting thread. I'm sure some of you have no clue how borderline offensive you sound, categorizing the Muslims you've met or seen as if you expected them to do something odd, strange, or violent... "Gee, they're just like us!"
Two eyes, arms, legs, a beating heart, red blood... Yes, they are just like you. People.
SeptemberWoman
Level 5
Sep 20, 2019
2
I have had experienced life with those of all beliefs, and only judged them on their personality.
There's nothing wrong with it. I see them all the time in North Texas and they don't cause any issues. A few years ago we had a gas shortage and while we were all waiting in this huuggge gas station line this Muslim guy didn't let the situation ruin his schedule, got his mat out and did his prayers right in the parking lot. Anywho, the Muslims here in the states are MUCH more moderate than elsewhere.
FadeToBlack
Level 3
Sep 19, 2019
3
Cheers for that. Moments like this are part of my end of year project on integration.
When I was down in London back in January I was in a pub, and two coffee coloured gentlemen met each other with 'Paki Wanker' 'Bangla Bastard'! as greetings. Their accents pure Middlesex, their drinks beer. Conversation was about f-ing immigrants (eastern Europeans) coming over here taking their jobs.
Just people being people, getting on with life.
For non Brits. Insults are a common way of showing affection and chances are the two men were Muslims. In fact I've not met many Muslims who don't, much in the same way as Jews love bacon! Shh.
Sofabeast
Level 7
Sep 19, 2019
4
It works in Australia as well. My greeting was Pommy Prick, to which I used to respond, Aussie Tosser! All good banter that helps to strengthen relationships.
A few years ago when I lived in Toxteth (see comment above) my gf had a craving for a kebab. So I got sent out to purchase one. I was waiting in line when half a dozen young lads came in. A mixed bag of black, half-cast, Asian and white. All about 14, all speaking scouse and all tying to look hard but not really hard. The kind of gang that could be scary under the wrong circumstances. Full of testosterone and bluster they got around to sassing the guy behind the counter. "So where are you from mate?"
I still remember the look he gave them as he turned and held his 18" knife vertical. "Afganistan" was his one-word answer. After that, you could not have met such a well behaved and polite bunch of young men in your life.
I had Muslim neighbors and they were great people and as good neighbors as anyone could ask for.
They never tried to convert me.
WilliamFleming
Level 8
Sep 19, 2019
2
The extremists who are afraid of anything different will be the loudest, and that goes for both sides of the issue. The extremist Xians and racialists see anything different from what they grew up with as a threat, and some who emigrate want to import their home country with them when they go to a new land because it's all strange and frightening to them. All places and all ages have seen this; it's the speed of travel and the speed of communication in the modern era that makes it seem more prevalent and more intense.
The more a community has its own language and culture, the longer it takes to integrate. Look at the history of the Italians and the Irish in New York, the Germans in the American Midwest, the Australians everywhere (kidding!). (I stole that one from Terry Pratchett...) I am certain, as a historian, that in a century this will be yet another story of the continuing migrations of humans over the face of the planet.
Oh yeah- and that Trump and Johnson will be remembered as two of the worst elected leaders in history, not least because of their resistance to the ongoing trend of humans to merge into one culture worldwide, not to divide back into squabbling bands of primates.
Paul4747
Level 8
Sep 19, 2019
3
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