Oslo Bombing/Shooting

[GnaReffotsirk]

Murderers. Let's re-socialize them or implant those fungi cells into their brains to make them less likely to want to murder someone.

There must be some research to this side of the human psyche. Prevention is better than revenge I guess.

But if someone did happen to murder someone I care about, I'd hunt him/her down and torture the sob until I can finally say, "I forgive you" then let him watch murder upon murder then end his pathetic life.

Someone give me a pill, but that's the truth.

[Lupino]

We are opening our doors to hundreds of Muslim families because their countries are falling apart. A Muslim women has a much higher fertility rate than a traditional Canadian women. If the current fertility and immigration rate continue on this trend, you don't need a statistic degree to realize that in a couple of years, half of the Canadian population could in fact be Muslim.

Now, if Muslims were not so conservative, I couldn't care less. The problem is, most of them keep to their beliefs and traditions. If their beliefs do not get influenced enough by their new neighbors(us), we could have some serious problems down the road (aka: block on progress).

I'm not like "omfg! terrorists are everywhere!", I'm just concerned that there might be an increase in the percentage of conservative religious practitioners which would consequently not be good for progress. I think it is a valid concern just like any other demographic change that could occur in my country (the aging population of Canada for example).

Your explanation is more understandable, however the premise makes a very large assumption that the Muslim immigrants keep up their current birthrates, and that they remain religiously fundamentalist. This study indicates that immigrant families, after the first generation or so, tend to decline for all the same wonderful First World reasons native families are shrinking. I doubt it would apply less to Muslim immigrants than it does to Mexican.

As for the fundamentalism, that will persist so long as the immigrants perceive hostility towards them. The key to combating it (besides going after religion in general) is to identify moderate and liberal aspects, make friends with them and convince them to help identify and combat the conservative extremists. People are far more willing to adopt a culture and become one big happy melting pot so long as they don't feel like suspects or second-class citizens.

[DemolitionSquid]

To the person who down-repped me: my "stench" comment was not so much racist as it was having proper manners. I have no antagonism toward skin color. I do, however, hold offense to those who do not shower or wash their hair, especially after a meal composing mostly of curry. I have been exposed to Muslim (also Sikh and Hindu) culture for many years, learning much about middle eastern culture and its people. To sum up: I have every right to find the smell of an unwashed turban absolutely revolting.

[TheEconomist]

Calling someone stinky is offensive to them and, therefore, entirely unacceptable.

[/sarcasm]

Damn PC bullshit

[Sarov]

I have been exposed to Muslim (also Sikh and Hindu) culture for many years, learning much about middle eastern culture and its people. To sum up: I have every right to find the smell of an unwashed turban absolutely revolting.

You assume that they thought you were being racist by basis of skin color. Maybe they didn't like you being prejudiced by lumping everyone of one faith together and saying that they stink?

The Islamic faith isn't just Middle Eastern. There are countless Africans who follow this religion and most don't wear burqas or turbans, although hijabs are common. Chances are that you only met a group of Muslims from a few countries, Demo. On the other hand, I grew up with it. My dad had many close friends, many whose families were also Muslim, but there were also Muslim classmates and the neighbors I didn't know. Very few of them had bad hygiene.

Still, it's very common for people to assume that anyone wearing a turban is Muslim when in fact they're probably just Indian Sikhs.

Calling someone stinky is offensive to them and, therefore, entirely unacceptable.

[/sarcasm]

Damn PC bullshit

Um, how about the fact that it's not PC? Judging a diverse group of people by the actions or habits of a few isn't acceptable, especially if it's a large religion like the Islamic faith that is practiced in countless countries.

Oh, but guess what? Demo just did that. But apparently it's PC bullshit because someone was offended by him doing that.

[DemolitionSquid]

The Islamic faith isn't just Middle Eastern. There are countless Africans who follow this religion and most don't wear burqas or turbans, although hijabs are common. Chances are that you only met a group of Muslims from a few countries, Demo. On the other hand, I grew up with it. My dad had many close friends, many whose families were also Muslim, but there were also Muslim classmates and the neighbors I didn't know. Very few of them had bad hygiene.

Still, it's very common for people to assume that anyone wearing a turban is Muslim when in fact they're probably just Indian Sikhs.

I GREW UP WITH IT. I went to a 50% "brown" (that's what they called themselves) school for 8 years. I have known, befriended, and fought with Muslims and Sikhs from all over Africa and Europe. I have been surrounded by Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus for almost 1/3 of my life. Trust me when I say, the majority of Muslims and Sikhs DO smell like a goulash of curry, B.O., and Old Spice, because their religions let them never freaking bathe. I've gotten used to the smell, but that doesn't mean it doesn't reek.

Hindu's smell a bit better. Lots of citrus and lavender in their ointments. Still, the scent of curry lingers.

[Sarov]

I GREW UP WITH IT. I went to a 50% "brown" (that's what they called themselves) school for 8 years. I have known, befriended, and fought with Muslims and Sikhs from all over Africa and Europe. I have been surrounded by Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus for almost 1/3 of my life.

My father taught me about the religion with the intention of me following it. I was expected to follow at least a little bit until my mom stepped in. I once attended a school made up entirely of Muslims, which was intended to teach you the Islamic faith. I also attended a small group run by a newer family because I was curious about the other aspects. I've been friends with entire families and, in some areas, communities. I grew up with these people for most of my life. As in, out of my entire life, only two or three years have been spent away from them with more than a decade and a half spent with/around them.

Now do you see why I decided to say exposed rather than grew up with[/I]? It's not, "OMG! No you didn't!" but me trying to differentiate growing up around it with growing up a part of it. Which usually results in the exposed vs grew up with. No disrespect intended.

Trust me when I say, the majority of Muslims and Sikhs DO smell like a goulash of curry, B.O., and Old Spice, because their religions let them never freaking bathe. I've gotten used to the smell, but that doesn't mean it doesn't reek.

I've heard so many jokes about that from friends/classmates but I've never actually run into anyone who reeked that bad.

I suppose in that respect you can trust me when I say that they probably belong to the 'very serious' group of Muslims. The Muslims I knew actually did take bathes. Then again, they were Somalian rather than Indian so that might have something to do with it. Maybe Russell Peters wasn't exactly exaggerating about brown people in that regard...

[TheEconomist]

@Sarov: Pretty sure DSquid has been educated enough to know that not every Muslim stinks and that it was silently implied that he's only talking about a (large) portion of the population. Kind of like how I always imply such things in my post.

I've heard so many jokes about that from friends/classmates but I've never actually run into anyone who reeked that bad.

I have. I think I've gotten close to maybe one "true" Muslim and they stunk. Horribly. Not of a "goulash of cury" but more of a B.O.And that was with whatever they call the garb they wear. No telling what was underneath. However, I'll admit that most Muslims that stay in Miami are far from "true" Muslim (like a Christian living in Las Vegas) so I have little first-hand experience.

Indians, however, I've seen shit tons and they pretty much all stunk.

But apparently it's PC bullshit because someone was offended by him doing that.

Nah, I just call it PC bullshit when a valid observation is considered wrong or unacceptable because its not pleasant. What you're referring to I would call insecurity or over-sensitivity. Although I've been bombarded with assholery since I crawled out of the womb, so, what would I know?


...

D,d, did I just defend DSquid?

[Arkalis]

^ Tychus has gone mad

[Hellgrinder]

Quick! To the Bunker! Its the Apocalypse!

In all seriousness though, I never even knew there was that stereotype about Muslims and smell. But then again, I've only ever known one Muslim in my entire life, and she didn't smell.

I knew the stereotype about Sikhs smelling though.