The Muslim World seems to be a hot topic of debate at the moment. Just a question, how many posters have visited a predominantly Muslim country? Or at least have friends who have been to a Muslim country or have any actual experience of the Muslim world apart from what is in the news or on the paper?

patmcgee (Longford) - Posts: 520 - 15/05/2011 14:30:15    931174

Several members of my family working in that part of the world mostly Saudi, and they would never go back. My sister has a cross around her neck and was nearly killed, she thought it was covered up, it was a family heirloom and not really a religious relic . I simply do not like any culture or Country where religion dictates everything and common sense is out lawed.

freetaker1 (Limerick) - Posts: 758 - 15/05/2011 14:53:06    931191

Yes lived in Sparkhill Birmingham for a number of years
you cant get more Muslim than that.

Mulligan Eamonn (None) - Posts: 896 - 15/05/2011 15:43:43    931240

Went to Iran & Iraq a good while back after Uni, great people - wouldn't want to travel to Iraq nowadays though.

artisan (Down) - Posts: 1795 - 15/05/2011 15:49:02    931243

Have been to Morocco, great country and society. The people are extremely friendly and I have never felt so safe walking the streets of a city after dark.

morris (USA) - Posts: 302 - 15/05/2011 16:32:23    931272

Been to Dubai, thats pretty nice, had plenty of drink at the airport too and noone batted an eyelid either

stranmillis29 (Antrim) - Posts: 788 - 15/05/2011 16:48:39    931285

I know quite a few muslim people from college and what have ya. I spoke recently with a couple of muslim girls in my course, one of whom was from iran, about the killing of bin laden, israel, etc, and it was interesting to see a different point of view. Most of us only see the one side of the story as portrayed by the western media. Not all muslims are religious extremists, as we would be led to believe and not all muslim countries are intolerant to other religions. I know as one poster mentioned saudi arabia is particularly intolerant, but not many complain with the amount of money there is to be earned over there.

And as for Bin Laden, I believe this island has produced its fair share of terrorists, due to the interference of a foreign power on our soil have we not?

patmcgee (Longford) - Posts: 520 - 15/05/2011 18:04:30    931349

Living and working in India the last year and a half, and been to Dubai twice in that time. I'm yet to meet a Muslim who has any ill will towards the western world, or holds any of the backward attitudes towards women for example, that are portrayed in the papers at home. Fair enough, parts of the Middle East are an absolute basket case. In my experience, I've seen a normal, tolerant religion, and a world away from the extremist groups who dominate the headlines

petejoeduff (Donegal) - Posts: 329 - 15/05/2011 19:12:04    931426

Been to a lot of countries populated by muslims, and lo and behold, there are just about as many bad ones as there are in any christian populated countries I have been to. poverty and greed would seem to be the motivating factors in most cases

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 15/05/2011 19:21:14    931437

India has always warmed towards western ideals but like of Yemen, Saudi, Aran , Iraq and so on are have preconvienced ideas about westeners .

freetaker1 (Limerick) - Posts: 758 - 15/05/2011 20:09:29    931494

freetaker1
County: Limerick
Posts: 325

931494 India has always warmed towards western ideals but like of Yemen, Saudi, Aran , Iraq and so on are have preconvienced ideas about westeners .

Similar to western preconceived ideas about arab/muslim culture

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 15/05/2011 20:12:21    931503

I have been to Turkey Loads of times and Like most men they think its ok to pull non Muslim women just like its ok to shake you hand with the same hand that they wipe the backside with .

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 15/05/2011 20:14:42    931508

Fair enough, freetaker1 I agree, but it doesn't change the fact that an entire religion should be demonised because of the actions of a few.

petejoeduff (Donegal) - Posts: 329 - 15/05/2011 20:41:20    931530

In the country where western culture is "encroaching" such as Morocco or perhaps Turkey is where you see a more tolerant society.The country were Islam trumps everything else is backward and an affront to democracy,civil rights and in many cases common decency.Its the way of Islam and you can't dress it up as anything other than what it is.

seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 15/05/2011 21:09:48    931572

freetaker1
County: Limerick
Posts: 325

931494
India has always warmed towards western ideals but like of Yemen, Saudi, Aran , Iraq and so on are have preconvienced ideas about westeners .
______________________________
How did you do in your geography leaving cert any way freetaker?

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 15/05/2011 21:31:30    931607

seanie_boy
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1726

931572 In the country where western culture is "encroaching" such as Morocco

have you been Seanie, the encroachment you talk about is not that welcomed by a large body of the ordinary population especially the berbers. I doubt a republican like yourself would hold a monarchy that facilitates foreign encroacment in such high esteem

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 15/05/2011 21:48:05    931643

I have never been dhorse.I think that group you speak of want independence from the rest of Morocco,I'm sure its googleable. Nonetheless my point was made and still stands.I have been to the 'Marble Arch Caves' in Fermanagh dhorse,can I get any credit for that?

seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 16/05/2011 11:16:18    931778

seanie_boy
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1728

931778 I have never been dhorse.I think that group you speak of want independence from the rest of Morocco,I'm sure its googleable. Nonetheless my point was made and still stands.I have been to the 'Marble Arch Caves' in Fermanagh dhorse,can I get any credit for that?

Google is sometimes a good starting point, but some of the info cancome from dodgy sources, british military agencies etc etc.

I have not been to marble arch, I believe they are worth a visit, I will keep it on my list. i'm not sure if visiting them entitles you to credits or not, I'm not that familar with the finer points of the UK social security system

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 16/05/2011 13:18:04    931909

15/05/2011 21:09:48
seanie_boy
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1728


.The country were Islam trumps everything else is backward and an affront to democracy


As an historian I must say Seanie Elliott argues this point well.

I recall doing research into when Ireland was backward with a thriving woolen industry in the 16th century but England intervened to civilise the country, and destroy the threatening industry.

The same in the 1840s when the backward people did not realise the value to England of having cattle on the land instead of people. Fortunately the "famine" arrived and the enlightened foreign power who were helping to civilise the country took the opportunity to have the people removed from the land, and replaced by cattle.

The pattern repeated itself when countries all over Asia and Africa were raped and plundered for their resources.....soory when those countries were brought into the caring fold and efforts were made to mae them less backward.

And weren't some of them ungrateful? If we had allowed the backward people to have a say they probably would have fed people during the famine and where would be then? Swamped with too large a population to maintain.

So on this occasion Seanie Elliott is right.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 16/05/2011 13:48:12    931953

I've been to Indonesia, Malaysia and the UAE.

People are people.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13833 - 16/05/2011 15:59:10    932145