I

I am not your worst nightmare and I am not out to kill you. I do not want to preach to you or force you to believe. I'm simply asking that you understand, that you do not brand me, fear me or hate me.1

I hold a degree from a University and I have a pretty good job. I'm married to a man of my choosing, who lets me think for myself, doesn't ask anything of me and encourages me to learn and grow. He actually helps me out around the house and does not shirk his responsibilities to me and looks for any opportunity to put a smile on my face. He's also absolutely brilliant and is always looking for ways to make things better.2

I will admit that neither myself or those of my kind are not perfect. I will admit that there are those of my kind who shame what I believe in, who find ways to manipulate and do the obscene and horrific in the name of God. I don't care if you believe in God or not- what I do care about is that there is no excuse for some of the cruelties that take place.3

I will not blame what's going on on the religion- but on the people who follow it. It is their doing that causes harm- not the religion which they use as an excuse. It is unfair that the majority suffer condemnation and are stereotyped because of the actions of a minority.4

I believe in democracy, but I do not believe it should be forced upon a people who are not asking for it. I also believe that one man's democracy could very well be another man's prison. 'Freedom' is now ironically a dictated state. It has become the watchwords by which men wage war and innocent people die. It has become a front and an overused term that is slowly losing it's meaning.5

I am sorry if I digress, but I hope that you understand. I am a Muslim and Islam is not to blame. It is those Muslims who do the unspeakable in the name of something that means 'Peace' that hurts my heart.
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