[Faith-Talk] List Messages from Mustafa

Fri Dec 6 23:11:41 UTC 2019

Good afternoon,

Ericka, I would like to correct you about when Ramadan was this year. Ramadan was mid-May to mid-June this year. Thank you for asking to bit generalising about all Muslims and how words make an impact

I would like to echo that this list is not strictly Christian. I view this list as a place where we can receive help and talk about how our blindness impacts our faith..

Salam,

Kaden

> On 6 Dec 2019, at 15:35, Ericka via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Mustafa, it is Ramadan now correct? It is a time of reflection while you fast correct? If so perhaps maybe you could look back at some of the things you wrote and see how you could have written things in a more tactful manner. I choose to believe that you really do not hate any of us and that you want the best for this world same as we. Personally I know many people who are Muslim and or find citizens here. The best Neighbor I ever had was. Was  a Muslim family well my husband and I lived in an apartment building. We are very sad to see the move permanently to Texas. I don’t recall what country he was from, but his wife was American born. I tell you this not only to be an example that Christians and Muslims can get along, but to show you that you probably do not understand truly what is going on in America. Personally I think Trump is nuts and can’t wait to get rid of him somehow I am embarrassed. But that doesn’t get put into the international media. I understand not wanting to move to another country. I’ve only been to Canada and I regret that I have not been to other countries but I still I’m glad I live in America. I am sure there are wonderful things about Egypt that I’m not aware of but I I am also aware that there are Christians and Egypt to. Not just  optic Christians but others.
> 
> I am suggesting highly that you spend this time of Ramadan thinking about how you can gather better information than what’s on the Internet about other countries and have real conversations with people in the   United States. Don’t come to the conversation for any other reason then to listen and learn. I’m well aware this is difficult for you to hear as you have been Muslim all your life and your spiritual leader tells you many things. My pastor, my spiritual leader has never told me that every Muslim is a jihadist and going to kill me. my spiritual leader has never told me that my country is the only safe place to live. My spiritual leader has never told me that it’s OK to hurt someone else in anyway shape or form just because they don’t agree with me. I’m not suggesting that yours does, but I am just saying that I do not come to these posts with preconceive notion‘s and blinders on. I come to learn and to see what commonalities we have and how I can be of assistance at times.
> 
> May you have a blessed Ramadan and for those that are Christians a blessed Advent and Christmas. Incidentally, we do not just have Christians on this list. Or we didn’t. This is not exclusively a Christian forum. We’ve had Muslims riding here before and we’ve had druid or naturalist Faith. I know there are Mormons out here that you read this. 
> 
> If you continue to write to this list Mustafa, please tell us what it is like to be a Muslim and blind in your country. Are you allowed to walk into the mosque on escorted? Are you allowed to lead prayers? Do you read the Koran in Braille? Are all your study materials and Braille as well? If you are a part of a charitable Muslim run are you welcomed as a blind person or are they limiting your responsibilities? Are you employed and what do you do? I ask these because I do not want to stereotype you as you have been stereotyping The United States and Americans especially blind Americans. My husband works full-time and does not get any kind of benefits. I have some other medical issues and I do get some help but I am looking for work myself and have worked most of my adult life. If you ask us questions like I have asked you, you’ll get to know us better. Us meaning not just Christians but The blind in other countries.
> 
> Ericka Nelson
> 
>> On Dec 6, 2019, at 3:35 PM, andrew edgcumbe via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi mistoffa i never usually get in on stuff like this but frankly i am
>> tired of you being such a downer towards the states.  there are both
>> good and bad people in Canada and the united states.  you have no
>> right to be slamming people for their beliefs. i respect other
>> opeople's beliefs but i feel like you are against what christians
>> believe.  instead of talking bad about people we are to pray for them
>> not attack people like you are doing.  the thing is this i get so fed
>> up of christianity being attacked. I hacve not attacked islam in
>> anyway but you are attacking those who believe in jesus. this list is
>> not about  attacking and debates this is about blindness and issues
>> blind have as christians.  let me ask you this why are you giving us
>> such a hard time about these things.  the way you attack us it is like
>> every single one of us are bad and it is like we are your enemies.
>> Why do you feel you have to say terrible things about the states and
>> attack us all?
>> 
>>>> On 12/6/19, Ericka via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Mustafa I am very much interested in hearing the answers to JOY’s questions.
>>> They are very good ones and this way we know more about you. Not all of us
>>> applaud trumps actions. Thank you JOY for writing what you did.
>>> 
>>> Ericka Nelson
>>> 
>>>> On Dec 6, 2019, at 1:47 PM, BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER via Faith-Talk
>>>> <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> It seems to me that you are using a broad brush to put us all in a
>>>> certain
>>>> disliked category, be we Americans or Christians or whatever class of
>>>> infidels
>>>> you think we are.  This list is not for discussing Trump and whatever you
>>>> or we
>>>> may think of him.  We blind people in the United States do not all live on
>>>> 
>>>> government assistance.  Not all Americans are racists.  I also think that
>>>> it is
>>>> disingenuous in the extreme to say that you don't instigate hatred with
>>>> any of
>>>> your threads, or that you haven't been disrespectful or hateful to anyone
>>>> on
>>>> this list, or to say that we have been disrespectful to you.  No one here
>>>> has
>>>> called you a terrorist or anything of the sort.  It would be easier to
>>>> dialogue
>>>> with you if you would at least own your part of the discourse.  If you
>>>> were to
>>>> be removed from this list, it would not be because of your theological
>>>> opinion.
>>>> Freedom of speech is not freedom to be disrespectful and to spread vicious
>>>> 
>>>> lies.
>>>> 
>>>> No matter where we are from or what we believe, I think every problem we
>>>> have
>>>> as individuals or a society is due to one thing: a heart problem.  Do we
>>>> love
>>>> and serve God first and foremost above all else, and do we share the love
>>>> of
>>>> God with our neighbors, friends, and enemies to the best of our ability.
>>>> That
>>>> is not always easy to do, and I don't think we all do it well.  Some of us
>>>> 
>>>> don't do it at all.  But you will know us by our fruits.  A good tree
>>>> doesn't
>>>> bear bad fruit, and a bad tree doesn't bear good fruit.  I do not decide
>>>> what
>>>> is good or bad, by the way.
>>>> 
>>>> I once heard a sermon that I thought was particularly helpful.  I think it
>>>> was
>>>> called what's in your cup.  Say your heart is a cup of coffee or whatever.
>>>> 
>>>> When you are upset or angry or jostled in some way, whatever is in your
>>>> cup
>>>> spills out and sloshes all over you and others.  Is it loving, patient,
>>>> kind,
>>>> etc., or is it caustic, bitter, angry, or hateful?  I think that is a good
>>>> 
>>>> thing to ponder as individuals.  If there is something undesirable in our
>>>> cup,
>>>> we know what to do about it.
>>>> 
>>>> I have a test I try to apply before I speak.  I am not always successful,
>>>> but
>>>> I try to keep this in mind.  Is what I say true?  Is it helpful?  Is it
>>>> edifying to God?  If it doesn't pass those three criteria, then I should
>>>> keep
>>>> my mouth shut.  If I think my friend is ugly, it may be true, but it is
>>>> likely
>>>> not helpful or edifying.
>>>> 
>>>> It might also be helpful if you do not cross post messages to this list
>>>> meant
>>>> for others who are not on this list.
>>>> 
>>>> I don't think anyone here is asking you to abandon your religion.  I think
>>>> some
>>>> of your ideas about the United States or the people who live here are
>>>> erroneous
>>>> at best and misinformed at worst.  But actually, this discussion is off
>>>> topic
>>>> for this list also.  I think we would like to hear why and how you chose
>>>> Islam,
>>>> and how and where you get your information as a blind person.  How does
>>>> being a
>>>> Moslem inform your life's purpose?  Do you read the Quran in Braille, or
>>>> access
>>>> it in some other way?  How do you travel to a mosque, and how far is it
>>>> from
>>>> where you live?  Do the people with whom you worship respect you as a
>>>> blind
>>>> Moslem?  If you have a problem with anyone in your faith community
>>>> regarding
>>>> your blindness, how do you solve it?  If your blindness is not an issue,
>>>> that's
>>>> great, and we would love to hear about that, too.  Can you discuss such
>>>> things
>>>> without being defensive and hateful?  We shall see.
>>>> 
>>>> You must know that not all Christians believe the same things exactly,
>>>> and I
>>>> am sure the same thing is true of other religions.  There are some
>>>> denominations of Christianity or any other religion you can name that are
>>>> more
>>>> liberal or more conservative than others.  People interpret things
>>>> differently.
>>>> We do not know all of the truth from our earthly perspective, and we never
>>>> 
>>>> will.  When we meet God, we will see and know more clearly.  Until then,
>>>> we
>>>> must labor under whatever misinterpretations or misconceptions or lack of
>>>> understanding we all have as finite flawed human beings on this earth.
>>>> 
>>>> May God bless you on your journey.  Joy
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>> 
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