In Hindi linguistic classifications, the term Paradesi/Videshi is used to indicate words that were derived from languages like include Persian, Turkish or Arabic. So etymologically speaking … you are Paradesi !

Anyway, I will stop offering my non sequiturs on this thread.

I have mentioned my heritage a couple times now in posts. You are right that Alina is a Slavic name, but it is also Arabic. It is particularly common amongst Pashtun people of Pakistan/Afghanistan (my family is Pashtun and there is an Alina every generation). I am 100% South Asian and speak Urdu, Dari (Farsi) Pashto, and Arabic. Sorry to go off-topic but I wanted to tell you this, because I don’t want to be perceived as a Pardesi here.

@Dev – I am being honest, I said I have never “met” one I’m definitely aware there are some nutters, like the ones in the news frequently, but I don’t think those nutters should be representative of the bunch. Thanks for the compliment.

Answer 1. http://www.minaret.org/index.html Answer 2. A lot Answer 3. Prove me otherwise

Observation 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Converse_accident Observation 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignoratio_elenchi Observation 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy_of_composition

Simmer down folks. Someone might end up yelling “Hindutva” soon.

You are not being honest. You participated in the recent thread about the protests against a popular sharia-loving speaker at a mostly desi muslim meeting in Orange County, so you are indeed aware that there are many such muslim americans. How many muslims dare to speak out against sharia?

I just want to mention that despite the heat of the arguments I think you are quite a rational, intelligent and decent person and I think you are a breath of fresh air in this forum.

Quite saddened by this senseless act of hate. It is depressing.

In his defense, I didn’t think you were Muslim either; every Alina/Alena I’ve ever met was Eastern European

And yet, it appears most of the world is nowhere close to that, which incidents like this demonstrate. If we could reach even a moderate level of tolerance within the next 50 years, that alone would be a major human accomplishment.

That’s not the argument I’m making at all. I suggest you go back and re-read my posts because I’m not going to respond to personal attacks based on an argument you made up. If you disagree, so be it, but don’t make up BS or put words in others mouths; that’s trolling.

My point is, it’s very easy to be “tolerant” of all religions when all religions are the same to you (i.e. bullshit/fictitious/imaginary.)

Why are you assuming all philosophies are equal? Newsflash: they’re not. They each have individual aspects, some with merit and others not. You’re the one collectively lumping everything into an “imaginary” box. No one thinks Islam = Christianity = Flying Spaghetti Monster = Shintoism. You have a very Black-and-White sense of thinking here which is incompatible with reality.

If you actually have no stake in the debate then regardless of who wins the argument you’re still dealing with imaginary stuff.

If you don’t think that a non-religious person of South Asian descent with a Muslim name has a stake in a debate about Muslim Americans (or mistaken Muslims) getting attacked, then either you’re an idiot, or just not paying attention.

You don’t make a persuasive argument to such people by telling them “both of y’all are full of shit so stop fighting already.”

No one is making that argument here. You’re literally becoming hostile for no reason and consequently misinterpreting everything and putting words in people’s mouths. Not worth responding to anymore.

” If you DO actually have a strongly held opinion or belief, however, you are going to get more riled up about people disagreeing and flaunting their disagreement.” http://volokh.com/2010/08/04/brilliant-people-agree-with-me/