Originally posted by: Chris A
As a American non Muslim I would be intrested in hearing more of your insights.
Few Muslims, and it truly is a minority, will quickly disregard me as a heathen for my support of American policies. Nevermind that I don't support all U.S. policies and I don't do it blindly, but for the most part I like my adopted country.

Some poeple regard American culture as immoral and materialistic. I know whenever I go back to the middle east or the Indian sub-continent a few people will regard me with contempt, maybe outright hatred - I've never cared to find out. Essentially, what happens is a more-conservative culture clashes with a more liberal culture. Our Republicans don't compare to the conservatism that can be found in many Muslim countries.
On a few rare occassions, me and my friends have a clash of ideologies with people in America who still have that Muslim conservatism. It rises from false beliefs and views on America, because they haven't truly been exposed. You have to keep in mind that what reaches them is our grossly exaggerated view of America represented through the media. I can't even begin to tell how powerful American media is; you truly get a sense once you're in these 3rd world countries. These movies, the music - they are America to the world. It doesn't help that America does indeed have a few policies that can truly irritate and hurt Muslims and Muslim countries. By and large, it's just how we sometimes represent ourselves.
The truth is that these countries also have problems with teenage pregnancy, etc. - but it's kept very quiet. Few people have the guts to admit the truth. America's problems, IMHO, aren't "special" or limited to here, but some want to assume moral superiority.
However, in some people and even some primarily Muslim countries that conservatism goes to the point where it's forced down your throat. If you refuse, they don't just look at you in contempt, they'll outright punish you. I see myself as an American and a Muslim, but they see me as solely American.
An example: once when I was visiting family in Bangladesh; my cousins and family friends (my peers) asked me how many people I've had sex with. They then proceeded to ask me if I could give them advice. I was 16 at the time, and I was just shocked. Not over the idea of sex, but the fact that it was an assumed fact that I've had sex multiple times and with multiple partners. Okay, fine, maybe there are some really experienced 16-year olds, but I don't believe that's typical. All I could say is that I hadn't had sex. They all just stared and said, "Really?" They were so sure I was lying. In Islam, sex before marriage is typically thought of as wrong, and even though I was Muslim they just figured I lost all my Muslim morals as an American. But, these were my friends and cousins - they loved me either way; they didn't really care. Not only teenagers asked me, but my younger uncles and aunts asked me. Older people would not talk about it; it's just something you don't talk about. I couldn't even imagine what would've happened in a more strict environment and a more strict country. Some elder people would just assume the worst.
Edit (2/03/03):
Spelling, grammar, tried to shorten it - really!
