Controversy Over Photo of Muslim Prayer Group At Wakulla Beach

[KamaAina]

http://www.wtxl.com/news/controversy-over-photo-of-muslim-prayer-group-at-wakulla-beach/article_f9a6aa46-6c48-11e5-9009-cb5b9e728c53.html

Tears were shed and accusations were made at a Commission Meeting in Wakulla County on Monday. Community members expressed deep, divided opinions to Commissioners and audience members at the meeting, all because of a controversial photo posted to Facebook.

The photo, which was taken and posted by Commission Chairperson Ralph Thomas, depicts what appears to be a group of Muslims praying on Mashes Sands Beach with the caption, "Walked up on this at Mashes Sands this evening! First time seeing this in Wakulla County."

Comments were left on the photo with very conflicting messages; some upset that the beach was being used for Muslim prayer, others accusing commenters of being xenophobic. Xenophobia is the, "intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries."...

One speaker, Wakulla County Sheriff's Candidate Will Dance, stated to Commissioners, "I'm raising the question of whether or not a group of military aged Muslim men... are praying on our beach, well label me whatever you want... The reason I brought this up is because my daughters use that beach, my wife uses that beach and gentlemen, under Sharia Law, the cutoff shorts and tee-shirts... that my family wears on that beach are considered offensive under Sharia and any Muslim man may carry out what he feels is fit punishment. And I'm sorry but that type of behavior cannot happen here."

[Fred Sanders]

1. Americans in some parts are childishly ignorant and xenophobic...it is a sad spectacle to behold.

The RW media, given succour by the main stream media, have really done a number on weak minds.

[DashOneBravo]

5. +1

I agree

[uppityperson]

2. Here's the link. What a fool, glad some are calling him out.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154237334878502&set=pb.566698501.-2207520000.1444421873.&type=3&theater

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

12. My Dog! There are Brazillions of Muslims on that beach!

Half a dozen people praying is not the end of the world.

Half a dozen people doing yoga will not convert us all to Hinduism.

Half a dozen people doing tai-chi will not re-orient all of us.

Half a dozen people doing shots of rum will not make us all drunk.

Indeed, what a fool.

[NonMetro]

3. The Trouble is...

There is some truth to what the sheriff said. Note in the photo that these were all Muslim men - and they do not allow women any freedom. They're not even equal in faith matters.

Now, if it is fair to criticize men for discriminating against women here, what is unfair about criticizing Muslim men - who are even worse? How come Muslim men are not called sexist? They are. So, why is that?

[KamaAina]

4. First off, he's only running for sheriff.

Second of all, sexist they may be, but that hardly means they're about to go Shari'a on Mr. Dance in his cutoffs.

[Generic Other]

6. Sharia law is no different than what Christian Promisekeepers say about women

Or what Westboro Baptist says. Those anti-abortion Bible thumping protesters who block clinics also talk of controlling women. They are free to believe any stupid shit they want. If they try and force those beliefs on me, that is a different story. I prefer to laugh at the lot of them.

[NonMetro]

13. Absolutely!

All religions have treated women like crap. And in this respect, religion really is a conspiracy against women - and everything the Republican Party has been doing to restrict the reproductive freedom of women is because of religion - all of it! And like that guy you've pictured above, Muslim men don't "know" what "God", or in their case "Allah" wants, either, nor has "God" or "Allah" ever talked to any human being - ever!

[Cal Carpenter]

7. Have you ever met a Muslim?

I would love to see you tell that to the face of a particular Muslim woman I know well. She'd school your ass, and her Muslim husband (who converted on HER behalf) would applaud while she did it.

These men are praying. Nothing more, nothing less.

I am appalled at the proud displays of ignorance I see here, there and everywhere about Islam. Are there some misogynist extremists in Islam? Sure, just like nearly every other major fucking religion on this planet. And for every extremist in Islam there are thousands who are working to modernize the worst of the traditions to be more egalitarian. Just like nearly every other major fucking religion on the planet.

This assumptions about these men who are doing nothing but praying is just so fucking offensive.

Ignorance and fear. So sad.

[Arugula Latte]

9. The problem isn't Islam in particular, it's religion and patriarchy in general.

Personally if I could wave a magic wand and cause all religion to disappear from the planet I would do it in a heartbeat.

[Cal Carpenter]

10. I agree fully with your subject line

What bothers me is the assumptions about these particular men when all they are doing is praying, and what bothers me is the absolutist statements about all Muslims. I know a lot of Muslims due to where I live and work, and these stereotypes I see even here on DU about Islam in particular are offensive, xenophobic, and ultimately racist, afaic.

(as an aside - I don't fully agree with the rest of your post but I appreciate where you are coming from. I suppose I feel lucky, even as an atheist, to have seen amazing people do amazing things driven by their faith, so I can't write religion off completely, and I don't judge people on their religion but what they do with it and whether or not they impose it on others)

[NonMetro]

11. Yes. Lot's Of Them When I Was Stationed In Turkey In The Air Force

And the hypocracy there is the same the world over. They treat women like crap, women submit to being second class, and that's about it. They're friendly, at least mostly, and not much different in that respect than most people. But, the only ones I knew were Turkiish men, other than one or two upper class Turkish women I talked to at a Turkish/American dinner. Women of the lower classes are not permitted to participate in such things. Upper class women are a lot freer.

But they are hypocrites about women, too. Women are not permitted to go to a beer hall with men, or at all. They must keep their bodies and their hair covered when they are in public, and they're not permitted to wear perfume, makeup, or other such things - except at home. Then they can do all that stuff - but only for their husbands.

If women in this country were treated that way, even in isolated circumstances, there would be an uproar so loud we'd all have to buy ear plugs!

[Arugula Latte]

8. Xtian and Jewish fundies are completely sexist too. A pox on them all.

Religion