am the only one who sees something ironic about a white Canadian woman who converted speaking for American Muslims? It doesn’t seem like she can possibly relate to the experiences of the mostly brown American Muslim community.

I don’t think that the fact that the American Muslim community is largely brown has a great impact on her ability to represent it and relate to it’s problems. Most of the issues affecting the Muslim community today – both external, as in prejudice, hate crimes, etc and internal, as in discrimination against women, lack of organization and unity, and so on) cannot be reduced to very easily to racial ones. The main obstacle that she might encounter is her nationality – as a Canadian, she might not be fully familiar with the unique environment that American Muslims live in. Unless, of course, you know, she emigrated to the US a long time ago.

Of course, I’m sure you didn’t miss the irony of your statement given that most figures find the plurality of American Muslims to be black.

Thanks Ravi, good post. . .

I don’t know about the numbers but I am an extremely religious Hindu (and Vaishnav) who wears my faith on my sleeve much of the time. And I am also very proud to be a liberal and a Democrat.

Why not simply say “I’d like to add to the irony of the moment by wishing all the Hindus out there a very happy Janmashtami.”

Pointedly referring to Vaishnavs seems to imply that they are not a subset of Hindus.

yes, surely that is what ravi was saying – especially when he points it out in the context of the irony of no hindu representation.

next time when he says shivaratri is celebrated by saivites, he will be saying siva followers are not hindus. and of course, let’s not even start talking about ganesh chaturthi…

i am glad the umbrage faction is out in full force. garv se kaho hum buddhu hain!

I’d like to add to the irony of the moment by wishing all the Vaishnavs out there a very happy Janmashtami

Janmashtami isn’t a “Vaishnav” holiday. I don’t even know what the difference between Shaivite and Vaishnav IS! As if North Indians have less respect for Shiva than Vishnu?

where did he say anything about north indians? and if some indians worship shiva, and others worship vishnu, it doesnt exactly mean that indians on average have less respect for one or the other.

In a post that is bemoaning the lack of Hindu religious presence, in an official capacity, Ravi seems to be pointing out that Hindus are divided over the Hindu Trinity (Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva). Janmashtami is in fact celebrated by a very large percentage of Hindus that also celebrate Shivaratri. Pointedly referring to Vaishnavs seems to imply that they are not a subset of Hindus.

As if North Indians have less respect for Shiva than Vishnu?

where did he say anything about north indians? and if some indians worship shiva, and others worship vishnu, it doesnt exactly mean that indians on average have less respect for one or the other.

God you guys really pose as intellectuals on this site.

thankfully, you don’t feign any intellect in any of your comments. kudos.