So I called the local mosque tonight and told them....

Allah ahkbar...which may not have been in the correct vernacular, but I intended it to mean "God is Great". Since I left it on their answering machine there was no feedback, but my intention and the rest of my message was that I lived just the next town over and that I would try to visit their mosque this winter. Perhaps we all should. It couldn't hurt...

It's pretty easy...these folks are going to be stressed...my home state is New Hampshire and NOT Muslim friendly. All I did was send some small support to a troubled minority.

I know your heart was in the right place, but I agree with the others. Your "greeting" isn't a greeting, and the rest of your message does sound vaguely like a threat.

I know that isn't what you meant.

For future reference - As-Salamu Alaykum which means Peace.

Or Asalaam Alaykum which means Peace be upon you.

my door. yesterday it was jehovah witness. i listened, then i preached. told them religions are not behaving and my responsibility as a christian to speak out to fellow christians....

wished them well on their way

pleasant all around. point made

something equally annoying.

a good day.

where is the problem.

what....

being a christian i should keep my mouth shut on the abuses

i cant condone hate in the name of christ. what would that make me.

overall. Great.

i hear ya.

I need write nothing else. But tell me why?

:rofl:

(it is amazing that you're so self-centered that you can't show a little sympathy for other human beings in distress)

I appreciate your support. I just realize that up here there are Muslims and this ain't their best week...

The proper thing to say is "Al-Salamu Aliekum"

Hopefully the person hearing it will understand. If it were me, I'd call back until I got a human being and explain.

Between 9/11, the wars, and now Fort Hood the Arab community must feel very scared and hated. Can you blame them?

That's just what we don't get here..I'm only trying to say that even in NH some people don't blame the faith-I was trying to say that Islam is as valid as the Catholicism I was taught...

I'm having a shitty day, too. For all the same reasons. Don't worry, you can call again if you want to. Get a live person don't leave a msg. I'm sure they will be more than gracious and happy that you called. We are good people, we can stop the hate and get it together.

If I didn't believe that then I'd just have to hang it up and take up knitting or some other worthless bullshit.
:hug:

I can't wait to hear all the other judgments you harbor....

:puke:

"We are good people, we can stop the hate and get it together.

If I didn't believe that then I'd just have to hang it up and take up knitting or some other worthless bullshit."

And you give the vomit smiley? Why?

Unlike the children who come here with only an interest in judging and flaming.

Post says:
"We are good people, we can stop the hate and get it together.

If I didn't believe that then I'd just have to hang it up and take up knitting or some other worthless bullshit."

And you give the vomit smiley? Why?

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Post says:
"We are good people, we can stop the hate and get it together.

If I didn't believe that then I'd just have to hang it up and take up knitting or some other worthless bullshit."

And you give the vomit smiley? Why?

Post says:
"We are good people, we can stop the hate and get it together.

If I didn't believe that then I'd just have to hang it up and take up knitting or some other worthless bullshit."

And you give the vomit smiley? Why?




:)

I tire of it sometimes.

:)

There's an abundance of hate in the world... I don't need to subject myself to ALL of it, when I can avoid it.

But, then, I'm sure you will find a convenient judgment for that, too. It seems to be your reason to live.

but if you feel you are unable to stand and let it pass you by, then that is your choice.

Actually, if your ego would allow you to do some serious reading about abuse, you would find that you are WRONG.

But, then, your ego couldn't handle that, could it?

thats the difference between us, you have the ability to worry just about yourself whereas i have to deal with other peoples demons... nothing to do with ego,

then it sounds very similar to the tragedy we just witnessed.

If you don't see your own evidence of ego, that is dangerous indeed.

Shrink, heal thyself.

are you talking to me or another poster bobbo?

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How few in the state thought to say "We know it was not something you approve of."

could i possibly "harbor"-as if having beliefs would be a bad thing...

As you can see from my other posts, I'm on your side. I was replying to the one who called knitting "bullshit". Now THAT is a judgment!

I was trying to say that Islam is as valid as the Catholicism I was taught...

Why in the world would ANYONE think otherwise?? There are more Muslims than Catholics in the world, man! Read a book or something! :)

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like a pony.

But now I see that you TOTALLY deserve the reaming you've gotten today. So because they are a minority in America, you have to make them feel "validated." Yeah, like they need the validation of the galactically clueless.

I'm sure the members of this mosque, which had NOTHING to do with the Ft. Hood shooter, will feel so much better now that you have "validated" them. You sir, are a credit to your people! :patriot:

"Bite me bitch?"

Just wow.

trying to make sense of this whole mess. You are trying to reach out as a human being to your fellows. I get where you're coming from.

You called them and left the message "allah Ahkbah" (probably with an american accent) and then stated that you would come see them? This will probably be considered a threat.

n/t

And why on earth would an "American accent" matter?

If you wanted to show support for these people, then you would have done what a normal person would do and just make your statement in english. At best they think you are mocking them, at the worst, this could be considered a threat.

he/she said allah akbar AND left a message ("I lived just the next town over and that I would try to visit their mosque this winter. ")

Are you really that dense?

That is where he made the veiled threat. What is he going to visit the mosque for?

I will visit their mosque if I have time and transport. Since when is "See you later." a threat?

(insert greeting with an atrocious accent), I live nearby and would like to visit your mosque, see you later. Veiled threat? Oh. Kay.

"If you wanted to show support for these people, then you would have done what a normal person would do and just make your statement in english."

I show you he did so you switch to "that is where he made the veiled threat". Good grief.

Then, you went on to say that you would be dropping in to visit them. Given the current environment Muslims are living in, I could easily see more than a few of them at the mosque assuming it's a threat. A message that simply said that we offer support in these grave times for you and that we'll be in for a visit sometime would've been more direct in driving home the meaning.

speak...

My message was, "Gay is good". I hope it helps.

with all the other participating religions just in the name of love for fellow man/woman. We are all really the same even though we all have so many differences. Even those who are non-religious. All that really matters when it comes down to it, is love for all humankind.

that is literally what the OP did.

Replace ignorance and hate with love and respect.

whoever gets the message will probably take it as a threat or hostile comment.

If your serious and you were trying to reach out I applaud the effort, but I'd strongly suggest a little more research before doing something like that.

At best they may think your trying to insult them, at worst they may view it as a threat.

Hopefully the person who hears the message understands you were acting with good intentions.

that we know that their religion is about love, rather than death..

..just bookmark this thread. If they did take it wrong you can explain what happened and show anyone who asks you about it this thread.

Sounds like your heart was in the right place. If more people made an effort to reach out like you, this world would be a better place. I'd just suggest maybe running ideas like this by friends or maybe this forum before acting on them. Had you put a question in the DU lobby asking how you could contact the mosque to offer support, you probably would have gotten some good suggestions about how to go about it.

Anyway, it's nice that your making an effort.

All I meant was visit. As in saying Hi, to a different set of people.I mentioned the winter because it is when my business is closed and I have time. If you read a threat in that you were incorrect.

Your heart is in the right place, and I hope your call warmed some hearts!

:yourock"

now they will be waiting for THE VISIT this winter, people really need to think this stuff through before acting, it might seem like a good idea to you but in reality to me this would sound like a threat...

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so yes i guess in that i am superior to you. thanks

Bullies are bullies.

not sure what bee you have in your bonnet.

on DU.

Goose-ish...especially from the Gander. Black-ish from the Pot.

and are obviously one of those lacking in compassion or social skills.

Bye now.

I doubt they've never had somebody who attempted to reach out to them before.

If so, I suggest you get a lawyer quickly. If the wrong person hears your threat, they can take it to the police for investigation.

will find that message very unsettling. :-(

not thru the church but school and friendship

This is the funniest thing I have read all day! Dude, learn some social skills.

It will be up to the police and the FBI to decide if this was a threat. SOunds like a hate crime to me!

wtf?

Most people who have commented on this thread believe that this man's action were quite weird. While I do not doubt his intentions, however, perception is reality. There were so many better ways to show support toward the Muslim community, the way he proceeded leaves things up to interpretation.

The OP seems like the type of person who would innocently use the word niggardly while in the comapny of black people.

If you read more of the thread, you see he/she left contact information and the OP says a longer message.

The judgementalism showed on this thread amazes me. Rather than asking for more info, just call him names, insult, etc. Good lord.

I don't think that word means what you think it means and I don't think the OP is the bigoted one here.

Trying to reach out now = bigotry to you? wtf.

had called using one of those reverb things and made a ransom demand, with more info it does sound less weird but the OP was still funny in a lot of ways and i hope the poster looks back and gets a chuckle from it to...

I could ask everyone I know and never find a Muslim in New Hampshire.Let's start with easy stuff-niggardly is repulsive to me. Since you are so knowledgeable how could I give them more support than to tell them that as a non-Muslim I support them?

Go to a Middle Eastern or African restaurant and have a good meal. While at the restaurant, chat up some of the patrons, but not the women! Don't talk about religion, ask about the food and the artwork in the restaurant. They will appreciate that much more than going to their house of prayer.

go. Rather like visiting different churches and talking with ministers and other people there. There are often people around a lot of the time, and willing to talk with others.

While I agree that a restaurant isn't the place to take up a religious discussion (unlike at a mosque), your advice of don't talk to women seems a bit odd.

If someone wants to find out about, or show support for, a religion, seems the religious institution is the best place to do it. But then I'm odd in that way.

i suggest before you visit the mosque you read up on the ettiquete or you are going to do more harm than good....

"While at the restaurant, chat up some of the patrons, but not the women! "
And I am female, have visited several mosques and was welcome in each.

some are not as welcoming as others though they are in the minority.

How about the guy actually make a bond with Muslim people before he starts prying in to something as personal as their religion. If he wants to just show lip service to them, then of course, just drop by their house of worship and get the 30 minute tour. However, if he actually wants to really learn and support Muslims, his best bet is making muslim friends. The only way to do this is to interact with them in a casual environment.

As far as not understanding why it would be inappropriate for him to chat up random Muslim women in a restaurant or a house of worship, well, if you don't understand why, there is no point of me explaining it to you.

Why don't you and the OP do yourself a favor and take a couple months off and move to NYC. It appears as if dealing with different cultures is something purely theoretical to y'all. Spending sometime in the big city will give you a better understanding of different cultures than you will find on the net or in your small town.

Alright, I am done with this convo I got stuff to do tonight!

I don't think you know that as you seem to be confused. As far as your snark about moving to NYC, no thank you. I have no desire to go there, and have spent a lot of time dealing with people of different cultures. Again, you have no clue.

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"while in the company of black people"? Series. You pople are kilin meh.

You did what you thought was kind and what you thought was right. Why should Moslems be any quicker to perceive a threat from a call like that than any other religious community?

If you assume that they are, then you are tacitly acknowledging that they have faced a lot of adversity and prejudice here because of events they had nothing to do with.

Also a great many Moslems are US born and raised here in that faith. Why do you think they would have any trouble with a fellow American phoning them and trying to reach out? If you can explain why then I refer you back to the second paragraph.

We are always commenting on Fundies and their intolerance for just about every religion in the world that does not mirror theirs, and we dislike that quality in them. Why not allow OP his kind gesture and give him the credit he deserves for making it. Nothing is flawless or perfect, but people do recognize kindness especially when they have been missing it.

People divide themselves with differences they create or imagine to separate themselves from each other. We are all more alike than we are different. I'm not talking about criminals here, they are different and they would be criminals regardless of how or where they were raised. They should be brought to justice, but whole communities should not be punished because they share one or more traits with a person who is a criminal.

If a killer was raised on a dairy farm, do all people who live on dairy farms have to be feared and watched and deemed a threat? I know it is a ridiculous simile, but the situation of hatred by association is also ridiculous and poisonous.

You have officially brightened my day.;)

Think about it.
The guy at Ft. Hood allegedly yelled 'Allahu Akbar" before firing on those people.
Your calling them and leaving that message would seem at the least to be taking the piss, and as other posters have noted, it could be taken as a threat, considering your promise to visit them.

I replied with my name, address, and phone # on their answering machine. There should be no question about a threat...

you would be surprised at the number of people who leave their names etc when they leave threats, some just dont care, for others they want the attention....

Was to call the closest mosque to say there are people in the state that do not blame you. If my Arabic was wrong, or I offended any Muslims that was never my intention...

The only mistake you made was to assume that DUers would be supportive.

:hug:

That you don't blame them? Because that isn't what you posted in the OP, which IS what eveyone is commenting on.

Everone pretty much agrees that your heart was in the right place, they're just pointing out that you should have chosen your words better. And of course, that's based only on what you said in your OP.

being all superior.

It's quite tiresome.

I guess it just doesn't occur to some people that others don't come here to be judged by ego trips.

I am a security specialist for a large federal agency. I am in the business of evaluating and reporting threats to Federal Protective Service for investigation. Your comments might be innocent to you, but not the person recieving it.

Good luck, dude. I hope this message does not come back to bite you in the ass. `

Thanks for being so supportive of a DUer trying to reach out. It really helps when people give good advice and try to supportively help each other. Hugs to you

I require a lot of affection!

"I'll try to come and visit you this winter." etc. How could you possibly get a threat from that?

And do you really think the nutjobs would say something like that? I really doubt they would beat around the bush like that.

Actually, without hearing what he/she said, it's kind of pointless, isn't it? At the very most, the OP could maybe try calling them back to get a human on the line if they're worried. Most answering machine messages sound awkward and messed up, mostly because you're talking to a device and not a human.

its shocking some of the crazy shit people leave as threats, but remember the threat is in the eye of the beholder, what may seem rather innoccious to you or me can have a different meaning to the receiver of the call. If the mosque perceives it as a threat then the local law will follow it up and check with the OP to see if their was any intent, Its standard OP when it comes to threats...

The OP did not explain himself well. At first, it appears as if he said "allah ahkbar" then transitioned to "I live in the next town over. I will come visit you this winter". From his later statements, there was much more to his message. He is probably okay. But who knows? We'd actually have to listen to the recording for a definitive assessment.

and I have one. If a jerk like you really has any swing with the government come and get me. If not **** off...

professional je ne sais quoi?

no humans...I left my contact info.

Seems fine to me. Maybe they'll call you back.

You've said elsewhere on this thread that you left your name etc, so I don't think there's much chance that they'll perceive your message as a threat, as some people have suggested (perhaps before they knew you left your contact information).

That was very kind and I think your supportiveness will be much appreciated. However your gesture ends up being perceived, it says a lot about you. :)

By a single guy from a different faith...

They all had big smiles on their faces and clearly enjoyed the privilege.

}(

You wouldn't catch me setting foot in a Mosque or any other religious building, but I get where you were coming from. Not too sure what you said would have come across too clearly, but if you feel strongly, maybe you should get in touch and see if you can help out with a community program (don't all religious lots have them?) or something like that?

with YOU!

:hi:

or baptist church when one of their adherents goes berserk?

They'd know you had good intentions at the mosque, and so would any spyops types listening in, and if they think you were making a threat, they'd probably try to help you carry it out.