hmm, i was shocked too initially, and "never thought",but now, i dont think its so bad seeing junglee wahabis with their little brother's pyjama on, holding signs with lies printed on them, chanting all of their insecurities out...

kinda gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside...

Well being here at naseeb and experiencing what I did with silkysword and sunni_shia ... I am not really shocked anymore ... I have to tell you I have never experienced it personally but I have experienced it via the media ... it is really a crying shame to see within our GREAT religion that we have to treat each other like this ... cursing ... killing abusing ... demeaning ... its so shameful ...because I remember growing up and asking my mom why the entire world can't be muslims so we could all be happy as I was back then ..... hmmmmm back then it was a dream ... now its just wishful thinking and near IMPOSSIBLE

I saw the video of what happened. I thought it was pretty standard Wahabi behavior. I was disgusted, but certainly not surprised or shocked. You would think New Yorkers would realize by now that anything can happen in New York.

I really don't care so much what they do; it hurts them and their image more than us - until people respond to it poorly and dig themselves down into the hole by sinking to their level or freaking out, etc.

It is unfortunate that the "islamic thinkers society" had those signs. However, it is also unfortunate that individuals perpetuate this culture of us and them and fail to step forward into the arena of dialogue. I am going to keep this concise. With regards to sectarianism and all that non-sense, this is a clear inherited and misguided notion that some muslims have accepted with a lack of critical thought and study.

With regards to shia membership is "mainstream sunni groups" this is a weak excuse, due to the fact that many shia's do no even try to involve themselves in such groups. The first UMAA conference was propagating a booklet which essentially confined every "sunni" group you can think of as being wahhabbi, anti-shia, saudi funded and supporters of extremism. We have these slick craftsman like stephen schwartz who stroke the emotionalism and ignorance of different muslims to formulate an US VS. THEM mentality.

About the survey that was conducted: much of what individuals percieve is what we indicate to them. When you have the Yahoo photo gallery on Moharram/Ashura containing an estimated 183 pics with no less that 65% of it containing pictures of bloodied men with chains and swords partaking in self-flagellation, What do you expect people to say and thnk?

When you fail to implement and abide by the teachings of the ahlul bait, when you fail to take everything said at face value without verifying it with the Quran and the sunnah of the Prophet(peace be upon him and his family) What do you expect?? We need to take a good hard look at ourselves and ask what is it that we are doing wrong, and what can we do to better pave the rocky road that we have been conditioned and forced to travel on.

When we start thinking of ourselves as muslims, rather than shia and sunni, then we can start seeing change.

Allah knows best.