[Cyph0n]

As a Muslim American, I am absolutely in awe, and simply shocked that something like this has come up at all. If this trend continues, I will definitely leave the US as soon as I finish up my degree.

Last week, my state Georgia tried to pass a bill that would effectively ban wearing the hijab (headscarf) in public. Thankfully, there was a huge amount of backlash and the bill was withdrawn.

[hackuser]

FWIW, most other Americans support you and share your shock and outrage. Clinton won a majority, remember, despite being targeted by domestic and foreign security agencies, as well as by the Murdoch/Fox empire and the rest of the right-wing demonization machine. Obama is very popular. (EDIT: That's not meant to be partisan; it's just clear data that many people oppose religious hatred - many Republicans do too.)

I hope people get organized now. I hope bad things don't happen, but only by being organized can people act to protect their rights. As a simple example, look at the NRA.

[charlesism]

    > FWIW, most other Americans support you 
    > and share your shock and outrage.

It's nice to have faith in humanity and everything, but "half" is more accurate than "most"

[hackuser]

As far as I know, your comment is wrong. Many Republicans have openly repudiated Trump and racial/ethnic/religious discrimination. If you mean that Trump won nearly half the vote, remember that Trump is extraordinarily unpopular - IIRC around two-thirds of Americans strongly dislike him - and not every one who likes him will support all his policies. Also, about 40% of Americans don't vote.

Finally, I strongly believe the great majority would do the right thing, believe in the golden rule, and object to hurting others. They need to be manipulated into supporting oppression through fear and propaganda and through dehumanizing the victims.

[dominotw]

I am a Muslim too. I faced more everyday discrimination and derision in my native India than I ever faced here in the United States. Sure is an occasional bigot who calls me a terrorist and asks me to go back , but that is nothing compared to state-sponsored ethnic cleansing pogrom in Gujarat only a couple of years ago. I have friends here from the middle east who claim the same and know shia vs sunni vs whatever animosity is much worse that a registry could ever be. You just need to look at post war Iraq where fundamental US mistake was underestimating how much these people hate each other and everyone else.

I remember when I was a kid people wouldn't rent a place to us because we were muslims, something that is still widely practiced in India. Vast majority of Americans are not bigots and as a society they have enacted anti-discriminatory laws that are heavily enforced at all levels of society. You have legal recourse here if you are discriminated against, something that's unimaginable in India.

[Cyph0n]

I am aware of the atrocities that are committed against Muslim/Sunni/Shia/Ahmadi/etc. minorities all over the world and in no way do I condone such policies. I am truly sorry for what you had to go through, brother/sister. There is always someone who had it worse, I guess.

And yes, I completely agree; it's much better in the US right now. But if this "plan" goes through, what do you think will happen next? Do you really think that they'll stop there and call it a day? Probably not.

[aikah]

> If this trend continues, I will definitely leave the US as soon as I finish up my degree.

To go where? because you think things are better abroad?

[Cyph0n]

A place that doesn't have a Muslim registry? My current goal is Sweden, if I can find a suitable research position in my field after I graduate.

Worst case scenario, I can go back to my home country Tunisia. I'm proud that Tunisia is making progress towards becoming the Middle East's first post-Arab Spring success story.

For now, I'm happy in the US. It's a great country and I'm proud to be an American :)

[aikah]

> My current goal is Sweden,

I fail to understand why a Muslim would think Sweden is more welcoming toward the Islamic culture and than the US. It isn't. People need to stop thinking Northern European countries as havens of tolerance and multiculturalism. Because aside from England, they are not. Especially Sweden and Denmark.

[Cyph0n]

Currently, perhaps not, what with the refugee crisis and all. I still think it's not as bad as you describe it; I know of several Muslims who live there and really like it. But if the US ends up continuing on this path, I think Sweden would be a great option.

[charlesism]

Wouldn't Canada make more sense? Weather's no worse.

[Cyph0n]

Yep, that's also a great option, but I like the proximity of Sweden to Europe and to my country of origin Tunisia. It makes visiting family much less of a hassle.

[internaut]

You are surely trolling us or are splendidly unaware of what is going on in Europe.

[Cyph0n]

I'm not trolling, but I'm not sure I follow. I know that some European countries are embracing the far-right, but I have not heard anything about Sweden specifically.

[drinchev]

> As a Muslim American

Well this is kinda contradicting. Are you Tunisian or American?

If I were american ( I'm not ) I would probably either fight against a law in a democratic way ( elections, groups, protests, etc. ) or obey it.

Leaving a country, because you don't agree with a law is not a significant reason for me.

[Cyph0n]

I'm a citizen of both countries.

Obviously, that's what democracy is for. But if the laws are passed and the damage is done, I would choose to leave; in a sense, that is my form of protesting. I refuse to contribute to a society that has decided - by rule of law - that I'm not welcome because of my beliefs.

[dominotw]

> Are you Tunisian or American?

Tunisia allows Dual citizenship, afaik.

[dominotw]

Wait.. you want to go back to a country where women cannot travel without their husband's permission because some state tried to pass a law against head scarves. I am guessing you are a man?

[Cyph0n]

You're very skilled at drawing hasty conclusions, it seems!

I said that I will probably leave the US if the trend of anti-Islam policies continues, not solely because of the proposed headscarf ban.

And nowhere did I state that Tunisia is perfect. It still is a fledgling democracy after all, and there is much left to do to get there. But this doesn't mean I wouldn't live there if I had no other option.

[dominotw]

>I will probably leave the US if the trend of anti-Islam policies continues, not solely because of the proposed headscarf ban.

Sorry didn't mean it to be a 'gotcha' comment. I am just surprised that you would even propose Tunisia. US would have to propose and pass hundreds of absurd laws against women/Muslims to get anywhere close to Tunisia. Do you really believe US is going down the path which would lead to banning Muslim women from public sphere. Would you still go back to Tunisia if you were a woman?

You act so surprised at proposed head scarf ban( which did not pass even in red Georgia) yet you see nothing wrong with Tunisians trying to ban Islamic political parties[1].

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/09/07/...

[Cyph0n]

> I am just surprised that you would even propose Tunisia.

In case you missed it, I am a Tunisian myself, so it's only natural that one of my options is Tunisia.

Do you have something against Tunisia in particular, or what exactly? You seem to be personally offended that someone would consider living in Tunisia, which is quite odd to be honest. Tunisia is way ahead of virtually any other Middle Eastern country.

> Would you still go back to Tunisia if you were a woman?

Tunisia is one of the best countries in the Middle East when it comes to women's rights. It is ranked 46th in the world when it comes to gender equality. We have around 30% female participation in parliament. Women have had the right to vote since Tunisia's independence from France in 1956. Abortion was legalized in 1965, almost a decade before the US. Female birth control was legalized in '62. I can continue if you like ;)

Are you mixing up Tunisia and Saudi Arabia?

And by the way, I visit Tunisia every summer, so it's not like I've been away for years or something.

> you see nothing wrong with Tunisians trying to ban Islamic political parties

Tunisia is in a very sensitive spot right now. Domestic terrorism and extremism is a huge threat right now. Two political figures have been assassinated since the revolution. The government is therefore trying its best to control potential threats.

[jwhitlark]

I would suggest switching states before switching countries.

[Cyph0n]

Yes, that's a reasonable step 1.