The following article written by Abbey Fenbert, The fear of footbaths: It’s not exactly jihad, caught my eye this morning. The NYU student makes some pretty amusing statements. Well, amusing to me because I’m the jaded infidel, probably sad for most of you. Let’s have a look:
The Muslims are coming. They have footbaths. RUN!!!
WSN’s Sept. 24 article, “Muslims lacking a place to cleanse,” pointed out that footbaths might be a better option than the Bobst sinks for Islamic students washing their feet in observance of Salah, the daily prayer ritual. This provoked passionate debate in the online article comments, with many readers posting responses best described as bat-shit crazy.
Yes, the drama of our time - a footbath.
Some commenters thought footbaths would be an unnecessary cost. Others just found the whole foot-in-sink thing gross. And then there were your garden-variety “Muslims smell” threads.
When I read those comments, I get the feeling I’m in a Lifetime special presentation on “What It Means to Be Muslim in America.” Allah preserve us.
Allah preserve us? Um. Hello? Right off the bat, beyond the obvious silly sarcasm, poor dhimmi Abbey is intimating that Allah is God, so let’s have a “secular” student draw the parallel for all of us I suppose. No, sorry, I don’t think so. I’m calling foul on this entire article, but you knew that right?
Let’s hear from a commenter (hopefully a student!) that had this to say in reaction to this controversy. Darwin stated:
Since when is Islam a race? Are you saying one is not free to criticize you or Islam? Let’s get a few things straight … for being a minority religion in the U.S., Islam sure does make huge demands and is very unforgiving to those who criticize it. Maybe that’s why people feel like voicing their opinion here. To some people Islam is offensive yet you insist on shoving your beliefs where they’re obviously not wanted. Islam is a intrusive religion, and as it spreads becomes less and less tolerant of others and demands more and more for itself.
This is my opinion, if you can’t accept it without calling me and others “racist” then all you’re doing is validating what I’ve said.
Bravo, Darwin! Now that is exactly the sort of intelligent, defiant young American mind I am hoping to see voicing opinion on college campuses far more often; the backbone that might very well save this nation one day!
On we go. I have more points to make, beyond the obvious fact that Muslim footbaths are just one more invasive intrusion upon Western society and an another excuse for Muslims to draw attention to their religion and (God help us) more “reverts” to Islam, more undue sympathy and more noise in general.
Back to the original article:
Despite all the upheaval, there’s been no actual demand, or even request, from NYU’s Islamic community for the footbaths. It’s more like, “Hey, they’d be nice, but no pressure.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
(Can’t breathe. Excuse me for a minute.)
Yes, she just wrote that Muslims are not using any “pressure” to get their way.
Gee, what’s all the terrorism about again? I told you this was funny!
They’ve even quietly accepted being relegated to the Catholics’ basement in lieu of a center of their own. I get the feeling our school has remarkably chill Muslims.
Seems odd, doesn’t it, in a culture of complaint such as ours? We freak out about everything - the housing lottery, tuition, the broken escalators at Kimmel, goddamn Will Smith shooting movies in the park. There’s a crotchety streak that runs deep in the American soul. Is this anomalous complacency typical only of NYU’s Muslims, or are Muslim Americans not quite comfortable yet with organized public dissent?
What planet are we on? This is still Earth, right? Just checking. “Muslim Americans not quite comfortable yet with organized public dissent…” Evidently Abbey has never heard of CAIR or the Islamic Thinkers.
Makes sense, when a Muslim can’t even wash his foot without getting called an “inconsiderate pig.” (Thanks, anonymous commenter.)
Oh, the irony there: a Muslim getting called a “pig” instead of the other way around. I forget how many times the Qur’an refers to Jews as “pigs” but perhaps someone reading has an exact count they might share.
I also love how this supposed comment comes from someone anonymously. Yes, no Muslim propaganda at work there.
The paranoia this story inspired fascinates me. As if Islamic students were making the most brazen of demands, instead of, well, not making any demands at all. One commenter, who identified as Mormon, said, “I must insist that if the Muslims get their footbaths, the campus must be rid of places that sell coffee, tea, soft drinks and hot chocolate.”
Seriously. Muslims getting their footbaths would be like opening a Kosher Café. Or having a vacation from school at Christmas. Hey, I’m vegan - does that entitle me to a special vegan dining hall? I mean, come on.
No, it most certainly would not be the same thing, because for one, Islam is a violent political ideology. Secondly, Islam is a manifest lie. Thirdly, Islam had nothing whatsoever to do with the construction and founding of the United States of America and has in fact been in conflict with our nation since its inception in one form or another. (As if I should even have to remind anyone that the majority of the attackers on 9-11 were devout Saudi Muslims — from our supposed Islamic ally — but I guess it never gets old having to state that nasty little fact again and again because so many people still can’t seem to come out of the rain in a hurricane!)
And last, but certainly only because I don’t want to fill ten pages with the obvious, the footbaths are typically incorporated in or near public restrooms. That makes them unavoidable to non-Muslims. That also makes the ritual of the cleansing unavoidable. What am I not making clear here? Anyone?
A few people - the ones who forgot we attend a private university, apparently - brought up separation of church and state. Privileging certain religious groups is plain unconstitutional, right? Just imagine, a society that can’t sell liquor before noon or deliver the mail on Sundays. Or that orders the centuries based on the life of Jesus. Some Orwellian shit right there.
Hmm. Good thing I never took this article too seriously, because the use of sh*t made me chuckle again; journalistic taste at NYU runs wild.
OK, so the “Mormon” guy might’ve been kidding. But if we’re going to accuse Muslims of seeking “religious privilege,” let’s acknowledge that we live in a society structured around Judeo-Christian privilege anyway. Oh, those selfish Muslims, wanting it all. Hell, they already have the basement of the Catholic Center, the Bobst second-floor bathroom and a practically disenfranchised political voice, so what’s with the greed?
The Muslims shouldn’t even have any of those things. In fact, Islam should be outlawed in the United States of America.
Oh my God! That’s right. I said it again.
The WSN editorial board suggested in the Sept. 26 issue that NYU’s new multifaith center come equipped with footbaths. It should. And yes, this university’s 1,000-plus Muslims deserve a full, footbath-friendly student center all to themselves.
We all deserve to have our country back and to not have to even rationalize such ridiculous appeasement. That’s what we deserve. Pandering to Muslims might make a few people feel nice about themselves right now, today, but believe me when I tell you, you’re only paving the way to our demise by continuing to give more and more allowances to a religion that believes it has the right and the duty to one day supplant the Constitution and the U.S. government and rule the world. If you do not understand these things then you had better start reading more of the Anvil and go to my links section pronto for further enlightenment!
I can’t claim much personal interaction with the Islamic faith. I did grow up near Dearborn, Mich., which boasts a huge Arab population, and I’ve enjoyed high-quality hummus. When I was 9 years old, I went on a Girl Scout field trip to a mosque and we did a craft that involved making our own headscarves out of lace.
I grew up an infidel anyway.
But as long as Muslim Americans, especially students at NYU, aren’t comfortable making the most reasonable requests, I’m adding my secular voice to the cause.
A step into a footbath could be a step toward tolerance. Or at least a step away from angry Mormons and Muslim-haters.
You didn’t grow up an infidel, Abbey. You grew up a dhimmi.
If I ever hear of anyone trying to take a Girl or Boy Scout troop to a mosque where I live, I’ll be sure to remember this article and enhance the reasoning of the parents involved to make such an excursion end up a the local Dairy Queen instead.
One more thing: This is all certainly Islamic jihad at its most fundamental base. The Muslims are “struggling” to get their way. Funny though, it certainly seems like the opposite to me — we are all “struggling” to keep our own ways and I struggle each and every day to save minds that otherwise might be destroyed by the rampant foolishness, ignorance and dhimmitude that is apparent in the article in question here. If I am perceived as perhaps being overly harsh to Abbey, then please understand that this is a “tough love” sort of thing and I only do this in the hopes of opening minds, not allowing them to founder in the squalor of self-doubt, nihilism and anarchy that otherwise seem to be the menu of the day in the USA.
And that is no laughing matter.
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@acm
I consider a university, like NYU, to be a public place. There should not be any ‘faith-centers’ in public places, as public places are paid for by the taxpayer. You don’t seem to be able to read a simple text, as I nowhere advocate terrorism. I have to agree with x_dhimmi here: “Good lord, if this is an example of the reasoning power of college students today, it’s no wonder we’re in the state we find ourselves”. You cannot even handle being taken up on your own examples. I truly wonder how you ever made it through your first day of college (assuming you did).
@heroyalwhyness
Interesting question indeed, but hard to get an answer on. I know that while in The Netherlands Muslims refuse to shake hands and demand to be allowed to wear headscarfs or even burka’s in public functions or in school/college, either as teacher or student, they are not allowed to do that in Turkey. Turkey is more secular than all those countries appeasing these colonists with all their demands. Granted, that secularity is guarded by the army, and thus fragile at best, but still.
The dhimmies tend to give in to all sorts of religious demands, but the Koran nowhere requires burka’s or even headscarfs. Traditionally the headscarf even has the opposite meaning: it advertises that the woman wearing it is available for sexual activity.
My stance on immigration is simple, as I’m in favour of individual freedom, with the associated individual responsibility;
An immigrant is someone who comes from a place he deems to be less fit to pursue his happiness than the place he moves to. So he must feel that his new location gives him more opportunities, as a result of the customs and habits in that new place. Then why would anyone truly seeking improvement try to hold on to his old culture, which denied him those opportunities?
You want to stick with your old customs and habits: stay where you are and ‘enjoy’ them. You want to improve: adapt to the culture that allows you to do that, learn the language and customs and lose your backward demands. You have to choose; it’s one or the other. Everyone has the natural to live his own life and pursue his own goals, as long as he does not impose on that same right of others. It’s a libertarian principle.
So anybody is welcome to immigrate, as long as he’s prepared to work for a living (no nanny state) and doesn’t force his needs on anybody else. If you want to colonize your new environment, impose your invented needs and loot on your hosts, you need to be sent back home, forcefully if required.
Inane, refusing to utilize resources available, personal attacks and absolute lack of basic wit. You’re banned, troll.
Go back to the “shadows” of mediocrity, elitism, continued ignorance and sedition.
You’re so cute. Are you an lolcat? Is that why you boldly remain in the shadows?
Now that is an interesting point. I’ve seen this issue raised on a variety of blogs without any response to the question . . .do the muslim majority countries supply such wudu footbaths for their pious followers in libraries? . . .gymnasiums? . . .stadiums?. . .universities? . . .airports?. . .bus/train terminals? etc.
Inquiring minds would really like to know.
@acm: The things you profess to have “learned” here have nothing to do with what you should be learning while being here. You epitomize the arrogance of unfettered youth centered around a nihilistic academic community that is evidently hellbent on corroding the foundations of what actually gave you the right to come here and profess your rampant idiocy for the world to witness.
Congratulations for exemplifying how absolutely mired in multicultural, anarchist horsesh*t our professors are, because you are obviously a product of just more of that.
If you are a hawk among your peers, then I would appear to be a condor!
I sincerely hope that you are not so typical of American youth on college campuses today, but I’m not willing to bet my life against it. I do not make the mistake of holding out great hope for our current education process. It seems to be breeding a generation of self-centered hedonists that care not one iota what they are sacrificing in the name of liberal madness.
The Islamists love you and yours. You empower them with your lack of intelligent principle. Let Chaos reign!
Strong internet argument! Wait, what’s that I feel on my brains — I — I hate Muslims now! Hey, how’d you do that?
ACM wrote:
Okay, thanks guys. Here’s what I’ve learned here:
- If you want to win an argument, try (1) insulting the other guy and ignoring the text of his argument
==+==+==
ACM wrote (to Foehammer): But as someone who wants to outlaw Islam in the U.S., why do you need to break down college students’ op/eds?
ACM wrote (to heroyalwhyness): Thanks for the condescending list of authors that agree with you, though.
ACM wrote (to Foehammer): Ah, Foehammer: Stepping forward from the silent majority into anonymity, like the bravest of them.
ACM wrote (to x_dhimmi and heroyalwhyness): You guys are so cute.
ACM wrote (to R.Hartman): Thanks Professor Hartman!
Is that what you meant, collegiate ACM? Please enlighten us, for we are but former collegiates who, as a consequence of the attainment of college degrees and afterwards living in the real world, have become as uncouth as …. well, as *you* were before entering the ivied halls. Quick! Before you graduate and lose it, share with us your wisdom.
ACM wrote:
Dershowitz pointed out that the non-violent citizens benefit from the deeds of their violent compatriots, i.e., they can sit back (doing no violence) and know they will benefit from the violent acts of their fellows. Thus, why should they discourage the violence?
You seem to be saying that if I benefit from the actions of a stranger, I’m in cahoots with him.
==+==+==
Good lord, if this is an example of the reasoning power of college students today, it’s no wonder we’re in the state we find ourselves. The root cause has been discovered! Stunted ability to apply simple logic.
It’s why we will tolerate ourselves to death.
Okay, thanks guys. Here’s what I’ve learned here:
- If you want to win an argument, try (1) insulting the other guy and ignoring the text of his argument, (2) listing a few authors that agree with you, (3) telling your opponent to stop talking and go watch a movie, (4) citing stand-up comedians, (5) changing the other guy’s argument so that it suits your position, then attacking it.
- Oh, and apparently if you don’t want to abolish Islam, you advocate terrorism. Thanks Professor Hartman!
- Oh yeah, and Foehammer, sometimes when I’m reading the comments section I only want to read what you have to say — not necessarily anybody else. Isn’t there a way you can put your comments in a white box and keep everything else in grey?
And just for fun, because this is too easy:
Professor, nobody at NYU is requesting footbaths in public places. The only thing that might — might — be in the works is putting them in a new multi-faith center. I myself would be vehemently opposed to putting footbaths in the library or any other restroom, even at NYU. I was very disappointed when public funds were used to construct them to the tune of $25k each at the University of Michigan’s Dearborn campus.
Wow — I’m impressed. A “nice modern guy” flooded the bathrooms and uttered something shady about a mosque. Clearly, all Muslims are terrorists, even the moderates. Clearly they all want to pray in front of us in public. Clearly.
Because, after all, if that guy did it, any single one can, right?
Solid.
Unfortunately, my roommate didn’t blow me up, nor did she appear to want to. She’s just a Fulbright scholar studying for a masters in economics. Does that fly with you?
We can both come up with anecdotes about individual Muslims all day long, but it doesn’t prove anything.
Except, of course, that I apparently want to blow up an airport. Nice.
Pat Condell, a UK standup comedian, did two videos on Islam I put up on my site. I think he says it all.
Muslims that want Islam as a religion: fine. But in their own time, in their own home. Don’t bother me with it. No religious exhibits in public places, no footbaths which’s requirement is a religious one. If you want everybody to adapt to your particular fairy tale: stay home where you have all those facilities as part of your Muslim culture. Don’t bother us with your compelling needs or your ridiculous sensitivity and intolerance. Grow up.
Christians don’t demand Holy Water basins in public places, do they? Keep your rituals at home, in private, where they belong.
Problem with Islam is that it’s only 10% religion, and 90% brainwash-propaganda political doctrine. ACM would probably have liked those UK doctors that tried to blow up Glasgow airport very much, as they were just those single, decent, solitairy Muslims, educated and respected.
Yes, I worked with a young, decent, Egyptian Muslim, a nice modern guy. He used to flood the bathrooms in the office a few times a day with his ritual washings, he skipped work to visit the mosque, and when ‘Madrid’ had happened he dropped the remark “We’ll take it back. It may take time, but we’ll prevail”. That showed the true danger in any Muslim. It was the only such remark in 14 months, but it was enough. You cannot trust these fanatics, as they never learned to think for themselves. The indoctrination starts at birth. Any Muslim in America is potentially part of the 5th column.
@acm: You are so absolutely, painfully predictable in your ignorance and smarmy attitude. I’ve seen it all before. It’s sad that you yourself apparently do not see it.
I suggest you move along if you’re not willing to educate yourself. This isn’t a platform for fools.