Does the Islamic faith have splintered groups like the so-called Christians?

Dear Mr. Setanta, in my opinion, you seem to have a great need to expound on my character. My character has nothing to do with most people, since I live a very solitary existence. So, your concern over my feelings towards others is just being intrusive, in my opinion. I hurt no one with my bigotry. I just don't associate with people because of it. And, as you know, the ethnocentrism many of us live amongst is really bigotry. I think many people's respective group practices a discriminating attitude towards many others. Like NYC has a long history of clannish subcultures. There was no love lost between the Irish immigrants and some other groups. Was that acceptable? Or, now you are promoting a more universal attitude and others should follow suit? Sorry, I live in a society where under the surface there still exists a lot of prejudice, even though the overt bigotry is usually hidden. My bigotry, in my opinion, is just a reaction to the hypocritical caring I found in society. Most people just care for their own kind, even though that may overlap with some other groups.

By the way, you do remember all the four leaf clovers in the windows of NYC pubs/taverns/bars in a city where one-third of the population was Irish or Irish-American. Well, I know the people weren't all drunkards inside; however, many Jews knew to cross the street, rather than pass in front of the establishment, since there was always a chance (based on prior experience) when one individual might exit, and exclaim to the Jew, "I don't like your face." That scenario lasted for a good seventy years, and now you want me to think there is no inherent anti-Semitism in the Irish-American community? And, I am the bigot? You are asking me almost to believe those German Jews were really going to only take a shower! Such naivety I don't have, simply since my father was born around 1890 and my mother was born just past the turn of the 20th century, and they did explain how NYC was a much less friendly place in the early 20th century. And, my conclusion is that it is still not very friendly; the lack of friendliness is just more covert, and not acted out, since Rikers Island is not a place a white boy wants to visit anymore. So, in my opinion, there are fewer white ethnics "acting out" their hostility. Just my opinion from a second (born in NYC) generation New Yorker.

Since I admit my discriminating attitude can be defined as "bigotry," you should stop using it as "name calling," since I hurt no one with my bigotry. I just snub some people. You can also refer to me as a snob, since I snub some people based on their being "under-educated," or too ethnic for my tastes, or they speak poor English, or they associate with others I do not care to know.

But, do not think I am bigoted against you for your ethnic identity. I would just avoid you in person since you seem to me too willing to show off your knowledge about this or that. I avoid those that I perceive as alpha males or alpha females. My experience in the service allowed me to understand how my own ethnic group can be perceived as obnoxious due to an oftentimes need to show off their knowledge. In effect, I think of you as very New York Jewish. You should take that as a compliment, or don't you travel in those circles?

I've not seen you demonstrate much in the way of knowledge, you have demonstrated quite profound levels of ignorance though.

I was born in New York, too, and my paternal grandparents were bigoted, racist pigs, just like you. You don't know anything about me, but you make assumptions. That's because you don't see people, you see cardboard mock-ups, and they're all conveniently labeled with your favorite bigotry.

Well, if you were born in New York you are well aware of the degree of ethnic contempt that existed between groups, and still exists covertly. So, I am not going to pretend that the society I live in has transcended its limitations. Why would I like people who have a culture that denigrates formal education? (I am not speaking about the Irish, you know.) Why would I like people that think that white is inherently better than non-white? Why would I like a culture that is sure that they have God in their hip pocket, so to speak, and their way is the only correct way to live a spiritual life?

I am surrounded by prejudice and bigotry. So, I am supposed to like all these people that have opinions on this or that, but have little education to back up their opinions, except the popular culture they are steeped in? I am daily reminded of Forest Gump's comment, "Stupid is, as stupid does."

The only difference today, is that many people try hard to put on a face of tolerance, even though in their hearts they are as bigoted as their ancestors in some respects, in my opinion.

I just like to know the "score"; otherwise, I might think I am winning in a game that I am actually losing.

You continue to call me a bigot, and now a racist pig. I am no more a racist pig than many other people I meet. But, there is nothing wrong with that, since as a private citizen, I have every right to dislike people for whatever reason, as long as I do not act out my dislike. For some reason, you are stuck, in my opinion, with the belief that it is acceptable to call names regarding my discriminating attitudes. We are all not the same. Do you not subscribe to the reality that in certain ways we are all superior or inferior? Based on that reality many people are my superior. I accept that happily. I know my place in society. I am inferior to some; superior to some. Do you not like that dichotomy? Remember, I was not raised in a Catholic home, where one is taught that we are all God's children.

Interestingly, you do not specify why I am a bigot? So much is open to interpretation. One can even make an argument that Jews are bigoted against Jesus, since they do not convert to Christianity. Now, that would be silly, but the argument can be made. My point is, you need to specify why you use the word bigot.

And, while you correctly say, I do not know you, I do not make assumptions, since your irate postings to me show that you take offense at my having any opinions about you. I do not think you react that way with everyone else on the forum. And, my "assumptions" are not based solely on your postings, but gleaned from other posters' comments about you. You are, like it or not, a celebrity of sorts on this forum, and people have alluded to your interest in Irish forums. So, you do not get mad at other people for making comments about you, rather than to you, as I do. You might just not like me. That's not being a bigot. It might just be an over reaction to my less than positive traits.

As far as I'm concerned you are the embodiment of English aristocracy, and their cultured ways.

You are not being specific. Not knowing much about you, I cannot be sure you are qualified to judge. Plus, I am not comfortable with discussing much with people outside of the U.S.

So, essentially your argument for your bigotry is "well, everybody else does it!" In fact, not everybody else does it, and even were that the case, it wouldn't justify your bigotry. I'm not surprised to see that kind of argument from you, though.

No cigar. My argument for bigotry is that I know no one that can like everyone equally, so therefore it makes perfect sense that some people/groups, whatever, get a lower mark for likability. In effect, liking some people more than others, and realizing that there is a reason for one's prioritizing humanity in order of likability. It just has to do with one's value system. I value formal education, so it is hard to really like large swaths of NYC that think formal education is a waste of time. I value one's assimilating into the American culture, so I like those whose families came here earlier and have already let go of much of the Old World emotional baggage. I could go one and on, but you get the idea.

Naturally, if one likes someone more than another, one of the two people don't get a red lollipop, if one only has one red lollipop to give out. And, as a private citizen, it is perfectly acceptable to make the choice, as to who gets a red lollipop, based on my own preferences (aka, bigotry/prejudice).

Your "value system" has a name--it's called bigotry. Your pathetic attempts to justify it fail. People don't reside in convenient boxes--you just place them there in your sick mind. That makes you a disgusting bigot.

But you should not mind my business, since my character affects no one negatively.

And, in my opinion, giving tacit approval to bigots is what many people do who are not themselves bigots. Meaning, someone who would have a friend that is part of an "out group" may still accept with "tacit approval" all the people in his/her life that are bigots. In effect, there are so many bigots in the world, including possibly in many people's own family, it would be very lonely for a non-bigot, unless the non-bigot compromises his/her ethics and accepts bigots "tacitly" into his/her life.

But, now that we know that you have identified me as a bigot, you can stop making additional slandering comments (i.e., "your sick mind"), since otherwise, it might appear you would not mind if I do not feel welcome as a fellow poster on A2K. I know you have been here longer than many, but you don't seem to realize, in my opinion, regarding my perspective, when you have adequately made your point. Your perspective will never be correct for me, just like I could never leave the U.S. and be an expatriate. Different strokes for different "goys and birls." (That was borrowed from a past posting of yours.) You have never explained though what a "non-bigot" is? Referencing me, you use it just as an epithet, it seems, since you use it so often, so repetitivly. There must be more to my character than my contempt for certain religions, certain ethnic cultures, certain socio-economic classes? I surely have more dimensions than just my contempt for many people? What would I be like if I didn't have those feelings of contempt? Would I be like Eleanor Roosevelt?

But, let's be on good behavior, and stop assailing me with your epithets, since I do not cat-call epithets towards you, since I would not want to act out any contempt I might have for you. I just was not raised that way and I would never want to pick up that trait from the street culture.

Lastly, it is almost St. Patrick's Day (I think I heard on the radio that it is now a St. Patrick's Day "season" - oy gevalt), so I have a hard enough time to hide my contempt for the gregarious goings on during that day, without thinking about your epithets flung in my direction. And, in the way of preventive maintenance, let me say that yes, I do have contempt for this holiday, since it has become such an over the top, in my opinion, day of extroverted carousing. And, I personally doubt it would not be half as gregarious if it was done without the refreshments.

I do think that many an Irish-American feels great pride in how many non-Irish-Americans have adopted the holiday for a grand old time. Makes one feel accepted into the mainstream culture, I would think. It could be a ruse, since Irish-Americans have a valued niche in American society, and no one wants to spoil all the effort in making a group a value.

If only Foofie could be so succinct.

I'm not "minding" your business. I'm just calling a spade a spade. As for whom you might or might not harm, we only have your word for it, and you could well be a liar. After all, you admit that you're a bigot, why should anyone assume anything positive about your character.

You may be assured that whether or not you feel welcome here is a matter of indifference to me.

In my opinion, succinct, but not cogent. [Foofie gets a 9.8 for "repartee."]