Bite your tongue and hope to die

I have had it! Enough is enough.

I do not deem myself as someone who is pious.
Nor would I dream of telling somebody off for their misdeeds.
-especially when I have my very own misdeeds to deal with-

So when I find myself in the company of those comfortable enough to bombard away on all things religious, describing me as a fish out of water would be a gross understatement.

True, I am a muslim (or atleast I'd like to believe I am one, regardless of all my short comings). But I do have my own views and beliefs.

Just because I'm not an extremist, it doesn't mean that I do not care about religion.
Just because I see things in a different light, it doesn't mean that I've gone down the devil's path.

Maybe they said what they did because they were so sure that I was 'one of them'. In a sense, I am. But when it comes to branding those different from us as 'kafir' and hell ridden people, I get defensive.

Maybe it's because they are also talking about my family and dearest friends- who did not deserve any of that. Or maybe it's because I also know that the one's saying such hateful things about others are not as 'pure' (I have no idea how else to phrase it) as they make themselves out to be.

No doubt that you believe that your right is being taken away. And that those 'not your kind' is all out to get you and ridicule your faith. But what happened is done. If you really wish to undo it, please do so in dignity.

I do not make a habit of commenting about politics (especially in my blog). But when it comes down to it, saying that these people deserve their holy buildings burnt and violated is beyond crude. How would you feel if the tables were turned?

Would you have handled it as well as they had and not torch their buildings down in return?
Would you have the strength to not hate those who has violated you?

The questions were swimming in my mind. My mouth was itching to say the words, but I dare not! Because on the slightest hint of protest, the whole group would swoop down on me like some almighty legion and smite me down. Heh.

"We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sometimes all we need is a little understanding.