I am an atheist, and if you think you can only live in Australia as an atheist, you have a phobia. Just so you know :)

Hmm, it's one thing when the rest of the world thinks Americans are crazy or "the bad guys" it's another thing when Americans think Americans are "the bad guys."

Honestly if this terror stuff happened before Geneva 1949 that whole area would be a series of holes and neuclear winter would probably be wrapping up around now.

"Most likely". Considering the great number of countries in the world where I would be persecuted. I don't think thats a phobia. Sure if I was born in the west, or in many parts of asia then yes I wouldn't have any trouble. But if I was born in Somalia then I'd be having a bit of trouble at the moment. Or if I was born in any other century. I certainly do not have a phobia in regards to being persecuted for my position on religion because I've never been persecuted. But you'd be stupid to not resist any move towards theocracy and sectarianism. But of course, none of this really has anything to do with this thread.

Yea, everything is backwards. We now think the bad guys are the good guys, and the good guys are the bad guys.

I am of Jewish decent and an atheist, and live in a small town that's over 98% white, and very Christian, in the Midwest.

I went to a ball game once, and thought it was funny, that of the 800 or so people I saw, I could not find one person with black hair, let alone my skin color.

Anyway, I have been here 5 years, and have yet to feel like I am not included. Not once. Never got a funny look. Never not invited to an event outside work, nothing.

To call the people who treat me with such equality the bag guys, is just sickening.

Oh yea, there are many many countries you don't want to live in, but I would think NZ, US, and all of Europe you would be fine. You did say " if I didn't live in my country I would be persecuted for it most likely".

This implies to me that you think in any country that's not your country, you would most likely be persecuted. At least that's how I read it.

Yeah it was poor wording on my part. Not at all what I meant. Will re-edit it because its not worth derailing this thread. I thought the "most likely" was clear, but nothing ever sounds as good as it does in your head.

Oh man I've gotten tired of hearing how it's always America's fault. This neo-liberal bs is just taking the easy way out.

Some people seem to be in love with this idea that generalizing a thought then leaving it there as fact means that they know anything. Chew on this:

"A man without enemies is a man that has never stood for anything in his life."

I prefer to listen to what actual people say in their own words and not what someone else claims they are saying. It doesn't matter if Dr. Zuhdi Jasser is a muslim or an athiest, he is not the Imam in question and clearly is wrong about what the Imam said about and obviously believes about Shariah law.

You do realize there is more than one version of Shariah law just as there are more than one type of Muslim faith? Just like Christianity is heavily divided, so too is Islam. The Shariah laws found in Saudi Arabia are different than Iran and both of them are far less strict that the version the Taliban uses. This Imam clearly focuses on what is actually in the Quran vs Hadiths and he clearly thinks it essentially the same as the Declaration of Independence and the values of freedoms we as Americans cherish. I for one completely agree with him and made that connect over 12 years ago when I first started studying Islam right after spending years studying Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddism.

Again, you are just cherry picking information that agrees with your already biased view on Muslim world and since there exists a muslim who agrees with you, just as the Taliban would agree with nobodyspecial, you feel content and justified in your misguided thoughts.

I don't think he nor I think American's are the bad guys. However, only an person ignorant of history or simply blind to the way in which powerful countries remain powerful would conclude that America is not partially to blame for its own ills as well as those of many other nations. There is a reason so many nations hate us and it has nothing to do with religion or jealousy and everything do with empirical behavior and support for evil dictatorships.

Your missing the point. Standing for what is right and having people against you such as human rights with China etc, is one thing, directly supporting dictators across the globe and selling them the arms to keep their power in exchange for regional control of their resources and discounted goods is an entirely different situation.