Hi! My introduction

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- Fahad_R
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Hi! My introduction
OP - January 06, 2016, 02:57 PM

Hi everyone!

Excited to finally join the CEMB website/forum! I am currently a graduate student here in England now but originally I'm from Pakistan. I was part of the local "Lahori" Pakistan Atheist and Agnostics (PAA) group. I made some really good friends through that group and now I'm looking to meet and network with like-minded people here in the UK. In fact, I think I need that network here more than I needed in Pakistan. Why? Because my broader social network, family, colleagues, etc. were relatively open to diverse beliefs, politics and lifestyles and many were nominally Muslim, progressive/liberal Muslims and atheist/agnostic in Pakistan. On the other hand, the Pakistanis I know here in UK--mostly relatives and some fellow students--are considerably more religious and conservative. That alone is not what bothers me the most, it is the expectation to behave and believe in similar ways, an almost cult-like mentality, that makes me uncomfortable. I had religious friends and family in Pakistan but they knew and accepted that there was a vast diversity in lifestyles, dress, politics and beliefs . There seems to be a closer policing of people perceived as "in-group" in the UK, presumably, because of identity politics that come from being a minority group that feels attacked and defensive. So this forum and the meet-ups/ events seems like a good place to begin connecting with people who have similar views, politics and have had to deal with similar life experiences. Cheers!

Fahad
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Hi! My introduction
Reply #1 - January 06, 2016, 03:08 PM

Welcome

Which side are you on?
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Hi! My introduction
Reply #2 - January 06, 2016, 05:13 PM

Welcome, I'm new here too (to the forum)
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Hi! My introduction
Reply #3 - January 06, 2016, 05:27 PM

I have the impression this in group thing is utterly dependant on where you are and who your relatives and main groups are.

When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.

A.A. Milne,

"We cannot slaughter each other out of the human impasse"
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Hi! My introduction
Reply #4 - January 06, 2016, 06:25 PM

`But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
`Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.'
`How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.
`You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.'
- Bolton34
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Hi! My introduction
Reply #5 - January 07, 2016, 12:53 AM

Yeah, I have witnessed that firsthand too and from Indian and Bangladeshi muslims as well.

Individuality isn't liked amoung Desi Muslims in my experience; you either get made fun of, talked down to for not putting family reputation before yourself, accused of being a turncoat or even all three. The expectation to follow the Stepford mentality is irritating, and if you don't follow the "only Desi Muslims and their values are important" mindset, you are looked at with disdain.

I once encountered an especially obnoxious woman who WANTED me to be afraid of white non-Muslims as much as she was, and who got defensive and angry when she learned I didn't have friends from the Desi Muslim community. When I recalled this character to an ex-Muslim friend, she pointed out that the woman's attitude was "only we [desi Muslims] like you, they [non-desi muslims and non-muslims] HATE you". It's honestly pathetic.
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Hi! My introduction
Reply #6 - January 23, 2016, 05:50 PM

Welcome, Fahad. I'm sure you may also be able to find some murtads in your neck of the woods

Before it gets too late, you will find escape.
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Hi! My introduction
Reply #7 - January 23, 2016, 08:01 PM

Welcome to the forum Fahad_R, have a rabbit!

Quote from: yeezevee on February 11, 2016, 02:05 PM
how fuck works without shit??

Let's Play Chess!

harakaat, friend, RIP
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