Salam malekum

Aqui vos deixo um texto de um amigo meu que está a estudar em Manchester, o Faris Musallan (do Kuwait), que não se enquadra bem no imaginário colectivo que a maior parte das pessoas têm sobre o Islão neste momento. Quantos hóspedes deste espaço, se fossem muçulmanos, exibiriam na fotografia do MSN Messenger a bandeira da Dinamarca??
O texto foi publicado no seu blog e enviado para um jornal do Kuwait.

«It has become evident in the last few weeks that Arabs posses a very special talent... of passing judgement without taking the time to understand the situation, the different forms of action that can be taken, and the repercussions.
What I am insinuating specifically are the savage and ape-like actions that have taken place in Damascus earlier today. Why is it that Arabs make their voices heard in the most deplorable way? And yet we have the NERVE to act surprised when the rest of the world regards us as violent, narrow-minded terrorists! Maybe people would take us (and our rich civilization) much more seriously if we didn't blow up innocent people.
It's real, no wonder Arabs are now at the bottom of the barrel. Countless hijackings, suicide bombers, hostage takings - all carried out by the same people who had mastered algebra, geometry, and astronomy, and all carried out "in the name of Palestine", or "against American Imperialists".
It is real, no wonder that with a vast majority of supposedly "good Muslims" that people seem to think that our religion is one that encourages violence, hatred, and the dehumanization of women. When will people understand that Israel is going nowhere, and that the OOOOOONLY solution is a federation (like Switzerland)? When will people understand that the American troops that were (and ARE) stationed in the Gulf, are there at the request of each of the respective governments? It's rather silly to call the Americans imperialists when we've got "intellectuals" calling for a WORLDWIDE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION. If that isn't Imperialism, then I don't know what is. It is also rather hypocritical that the Saudi Arabian government recalls its ambassador to Copenhagen because of a cartoon in an independent (read NON GOVERNMENTAL) newspaper, when its own Ministry of Education publishes textbooks that incite religious hatred and intolerance. (I myself have seen these books and read them). Why is it that the Danes have to show respect to all religions, when only Muslims may practice their religion in Saudi Arabia, and no Jews are allowed into the "Holy Kingdom"?
In addition, why is it that people seem to think that Islam is the only religion that is parodied? And why do people think that this is the first time that Islam has been caricatured? Also, how is boycotting companies such as Arla, Puck, and even Kuwait's own KDD (Kuwaiti Danish Dairy) revenge on a Danish NEWSPAPER? Can we Arabs, the ones who showed the world advanced mathematics, not put two and two together?
One last point, one of the greatest insults on Earth is to burn a flag. People have DIED and SUFFERED for the flag which they douse in petrol, step on, and burn. A national flag represents a government, a people, and a way of life. It carries with it so many feelings of patriotism, that warm feeling of "my home", "my people". Therefore, (in my opinion), burning a flag is an even bigger offense than a satirical cartoon which we were responsible for...
Held og lykke, Danmark!»

Publicado por Mohamed Ali | Barros na Parede | 15:33