What do you say to a conservative Muslim colleague when you find his culture ridiculous?

[Metaphor]

How exactly does this harm anyone or is it the business of anyone besides the people getting married?

Should I next go and try to slap old Christian woman out of their delusions?

You don't think treating men and women so differently they can't be in the same room together does no harm?

And, of course, it's separate but equal

 

[Bronzeage]

Does he know you are gay?

I have not been invited to this wedding. It was planned before I even knew him, and nobody from our team is invited.

The conflict is not about my reluctance to go after being invited. It's the strange relationship I have where I find him an affable and intelligent young man, but I also think he is basically scary crazy.

I don't know whether he knows about my sexual orientation. I've never told him directly.

My experience with middle eastern men was mainly from school days, so that may not be a fair sample, but about half of them were gay. The other half didn't seem to mind, as long as it was kept closeted.

I would be happy to accept this invitation, all other things taken into account. A chance to see an important ceremony from another culture is a rare opportunity. What if this was some South Sea Island tribe and the groom has to endure some kind of ritual scarification before the wedding?

A trip to his hometown and a couple days with his family and friends might give you some insight to his scary crazy.

 

[Metaphor]

Well the very first problem is that, as a gay man, I wouldn't go to Dubai for love nor money.

There are gays in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They just don't tell too many people.

Of course there are. There are gays in Saudi Arabia and even ::gasp:: Iran.

But any gay man would have to have lost his mind to voluntarily travel to a country that has the death penalty for homosexuality.

 

[Metaphor]

I would be happy to accept this invitation, all other things taken into account. A chance to see an important ceremony from another culture is a rare opportunity. What if this was some South Sea Island tribe and the groom has to endure some kind of ritual scarification before the wedding?

Um, why would I want to see that? I've never seen female genital mutilation inflicted on a baby either.

What's with the mania for wanting to keep abhorrent cultural practises alive?

 

[Metaphor]

I have not been invited to this wedding. It was planned before I even knew him, and nobody from our team is invited.

The conflict is not about my reluctance to go after being invited. It's the strange relationship I have where I find him an affable and intelligent young man, but I also think he is basically scary crazy.

I don't know whether he knows about my sexual orientation. I've never told him directly.

So you don't get how you can like the guy when you hate his religion?

No, I get that I can like him. I have two close Christian friends (one is studying to be a Minister), so I know I can be friends with people who think I am literally going to hell for eternity. I just think of them as a little bit mentally ill and they don't really mean it.

 

[Bronzeage]

I would be happy to accept this invitation, all other things taken into account. A chance to see an important ceremony from another culture is a rare opportunity. What if this was some South Sea Island tribe and the groom has to endure some kind of ritual scarification before the wedding?

Um, why would I want to see that? I've never seen female genital mutilation inflicted on a baby either.

What's with the mania for wanting to keep abhorrent cultural practises alive?

If a general quest of for knowledge before passing judgment is not motivation enough, I can't help you.

 

[ksen]

Doesn't pederasty have a vibrant history in muslim history?

If powerful men having sex with boys, girls and women aren't a problem I don't see why adding adult men to the mix should really matter.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Doesn't pederasty have a vibrant history in muslim history?

If powerful men having sex with boys, girls and women aren't a problem I don't see why adding adult men to the mix should really matter.

It has a history going back to the very beginning of Islam.

In case it wasn't clear to anyone, that was a reference to Mohammed raping a nine year old girl because he was a pedophile.

 

[Metaphor]

Um, why would I want to see that? I've never seen female genital mutilation inflicted on a baby either.

What's with the mania for wanting to keep abhorrent cultural practises alive?

If a general quest of for knowledge before passing judgment is not motivation enough, I can't help you.

If you feel yourself incapable of passing judgment on infant genital mutilation without seeing it, I can't help you.

- - - Updated - - -

Doesn't pederasty have a vibrant history in muslim history?

If powerful men having sex with boys, girls and women aren't a problem I don't see why adding adult men to the mix should really matter.

It has a history going back to the very beginning of Islam.

In case it wasn't clear to anyone, that was a reference to Mohammed raping a nine year old girl because he was a pedophile.

She was asking for it when she got her period.

- - - Updated - - -

Doesn't pederasty have a vibrant history in muslim history?

If powerful men having sex with boys, girls and women aren't a problem I don't see why adding adult men to the mix should really matter.

Tell that to the Islamic countries who have the death penalty for homosexuality, not me.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Doesn't pederasty have a vibrant history in muslim history?

If powerful men having sex with boys, girls and women aren't a problem I don't see why adding adult men to the mix should really matter.

It has a history going back to the very beginning of Islam.

In case it wasn't clear to anyone, that was a reference to Mohammed raping a nine year old girl because he was a pedophile.

She was asking for it when she got her period.

Agreed. I'm not saying that she wasn't a whore who got what was coming to her and it's quite clear that she was dressing provocatively and brought it on herself. That doesn't change the fact that Mohammed was a pedophile, though. It just means that he was, at best, 20% responsible for the rape.

 

[ksen]

Doesn't pederasty have a vibrant history in muslim history?

If powerful men having sex with boys, girls and women aren't a problem I don't see why adding adult men to the mix should really matter.

Tell that to the Islamic countries who have the death penalty for homosexuality, not me.

Ok!

Can I get a couple of addresses?

 

[OLDMAN]

You have to accept his beliefs and religion because it is his culture...he doesn't have to accept the fact you are a fag, because it is his culture. Understand now?

 

[ZiprHead]

I'd say congratulations then I'd STFU. [/THREAD]

 

[Bronzeage]

If a general quest of for knowledge before passing judgment is not motivation enough, I can't help you.

If you feel yourself incapable of passing judgment on infant genital mutilation without seeing it, I can't help you.

That's quite a leap. I don't recall saying any such thing. Since I am a victim of infant mutilation, perhaps I am jaded.

Do you know if your co-worker's bride to be still has her clitoris?

 

[ksen]

I know.

 

[Metaphor]

That's quite a leap. I don't recall saying any such thing. Since I am a victim of infant mutilation, perhaps I am jaded.

No, you didn't say it, it's the absurd result of your position that I have to 'witness' something to pass judgment on it.

Do you know if your co-worker's bride to be still has her clitoris?

I don't know. What a gauche thing to ask.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

That's cool, we don't mind. Ask him and let us know.

 

[bilby]

One of the awful things about religion is that it is often used to oppress women.

Another awful thing about religion is that it is used as an excuse for telling other people how they should behave.

Apparently, however, religion is not needed for the latter; Apparently perfectly it's acceptable to tell someone that his choice of lifestyle is abhorrent and wrong. Or even that it is ridiculous.

It sounds pretty pathetic and childish to me to even consider ridiculing another person for their lifestyle choices. But If that's how you want to behave, go for your life.

 

[Juma]

I would avoid any wedding that does not serve alcohol (or at lest turn the other way when I smuggle in a flask).

Tried AA?

 

[Juma]

I'd say congratulations then I'd STFU. [/THREAD]

Why? Keeping quiet is not what braught the modern society.