I never dreamed I’d be so popular

This is a great time to be a Muslim, or at least have a Muslim name and have your entire world-view defined for you by association. For some reason, everyone loves us, but I’m not complaining. This will really give me an edge in the arts and publishing world, where I not only stick out like a sore thumb because I’m not White, but where I’ll be paid attention to, even if I’m rubbish.

Our popularity hasn’t given us an edge in the media, however, where we’re still under-represented. But not to worry, we’re not being left out: the majority of news is about us, anyway. God, we’re so fashionable!

Our latest brush with fame is the Gallup Coexist Index 2009: A global study of interfaith relations. I don’t know much about the study from reading the news because the coverage has concentrated only on its findings about Muslims; but then again, the study itself seems to be mainly interested in Muslims. It seems the attitudes of Muslims towards their religious identity and homosexuality is of infinitely greater interest than the same attitudes of, say, Jews or Christians. Gosh, how flattering.

Many on the right will be relieved or gutted to hear that British Muslims are more patriotic than the general population. And here we thought that they would deem their religion more important than their country. What were we thinking? Whoever thought of someone putting their religion before their country, especially in this day and age where National identity is such a major driving force in the world? A world where love for one’s country is enough to voluntarily lay down one’s life in its service. A world where no one would ever dream of leaving their country to settle in, I dunno, Spain.

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