Have any of you guys ever dealt with - hmm, how do I phrase this properly. Have you ever dealt with someone who tries so hard to convince you that they're understanding, that their non-judgemental and understanding of other religions/cultures, they try so hard to prove to you that they are this amazingly tolerant member of society but then, almost every word they speak, goes against the facade they've been implementing? 

Let's face it - we've all judged. We're all judgemental in one way or another. There's no point trying to deny that. We can try hard not to and I guess that's what we should all aim for. But what I don't understand, is when someone tries to convince you that they're non-judgemental when in reality, they get the biggest kick out of judging and pointing out the 'flaws' in someone's religion, culture, what have you. 

But we're not stupid - we know better. Don't we? 

If you're confused right now, let me put this into an example from my oh-so-riveting life, like I usually do. 

So there's this girl - a coworker who I've known for over three years now. Although I worked with her when I first started working, I moved to a different store, so for almost a year and a half we hadn't seen or or contacted each other. Then, she ended up moving to the same store I'm in now. 

And it was like after a year and a half, she was trying to convince me of how great a person she is and all that I mentioned above. I don't know why...maybe she wanted to feel superior or maybe it's because everyone knows me to be a person who brings up politics/religion a lot in conversations, so she was just trying to prove something to me. I don't know. 

And despite our past, and the not so subtle, racist, way in which she used to treat me, I gave her the benefit of the doubt and believed everything she said. My respect grew for her a little more and I truly believed she was a changed person. That's what time does to people, right? It changes them, either for the better or worst. And within my heart, I believed, even if it was for such a short period, that she changed for the better.

Anyway, she must have gotten too comfortable. She would constantly ask me questions about my religion and I'm absolutely fine with that - as long as you're genuine. As long as you actually, from the bottom of your heart, want to learn. But it didn't take me long to figure out that really, she wasn't. 

For example, one day at work: 

Her: "So I read this article today, that in Saudi Arabia for the Manchester United game, if a woman from another country wants to travel, she has to take her husband with her and prove it with marriage documents. On top of that, when you get there, women have to sit segregated from men! [cue smug/disgusted look]. Also, no Jew or person who has visited Israel is allowed inside. Hmm." She ended with a triumphant expression. Her face spelled out what she was thinking. 'Ha! I caught a flaw in your religion. How are you going to redeem yourself now?'

Trying to remain neutral and unaffected, I explained to her how women in Islam, if travelling long distances should have a man, such as a brother, father, husband, with them for protection, just to prevent anything from happening to the women. Then I attempted to explain the no intermingling concept. It was never about oppression. 

I'm a person who knows when they can and can't answer something and I'm not afraid to say I don't know. So I told her, that I honestly didn't know why they weren't letting in Jews/People who have visited Israel. Anyway, it's not like Saudi Arabia is any kind of proper model of Islam. 

Next up. Only twenty minutes later.

Her: "Whilst I was walking through the car park, I saw a girl with a scarf on and a guy, sitting in the car. They looked like they were doing something dodgy, but I remember Zee [name of only other Muslim worker] said that you guys don't do the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing, so I thought hmm." I asked her with a bored expression on my face whether she was sure they weren't husband and wife. She said they looked too young to be married. 

Now at this point I was utterly fed up with her obnoxious and obviously provocative statements. And that's just the thing - she's making statements, not asking questions. Maybe, just maybe, if she had genuinely asked questions like 'Oh, why do you guys sit segregated?' or 'why do you think they're not letting Jewish people attend the game?' then maybe, I wouldn't have been as angry as I was. 

But it is all too clear, when someone says something specific, just so they can get a reaction from you. They're dieing to prove you wrong in any way they can. 

After that statement she made about the boy and the girl in the car, I slammed a cupboard shut [I was searching for something in there] and said, with my most controlled expression, "some people follow religion right and some people follow it wrong, that's just how it works." I then turned around and stayed away from her for the rest of the shift. 

Tell me, am I being irrational and dramatic, taking this all out of context? Or do I have a right to be angry?  To be fed up? 

It get's to the point, where you can't stand someone's smug and judgemental looks anymore. And for the sake of Islam, you try really hard to remain proper and polite, not for your sake, but for the sake of not giving Islam a bad name. Cause, I would rather die than give Islam a bad image, when in reality, it is I who is the one to blame. 

I guess you just have to be patient - living in a Westernised country can really test your patience. *sigh*

I was mislead - but now, I've learnt my lesson.

Rant over. 

Let me know in the comments below, if you guys have ever experienced something similar to this. And if not, let me know your thoughts on this, I'd love to hear it.