Yeah, I've gotten that too, Diane. People call my house looking for my uncle and I can only catch a little bit of what they're saying. Sometimes being Mexican is hard. And then you get the really rude people who, even though you're American born and bred, will ask you if you're legal before they hire you. I've gotten that more than once. It really makes me mad.

Wiow, Nina, is it really that bad? I hate it when your opinion starts a verbal war. EVERYONE is entitled to their own opinion. I tell them that, and then if they press the matter further I tell 'em to suck it and they go away. XD

Ha, good for you! On the second part, I mean, the first part really isn't so cool, lots of people of arabic origin have that problem here too.

It's not terribly bad, as in it is mostly tolerable. I'm just a little revolted by the fact that so many people seem to implicitely conform to a norm composed of certain opinions on so many things (religion, politics etc.)

Having a lay state has led to religion being frowned upon by many, simply because they're completely ignorant of it. Some of all religion, some of all save their own.
There's even talk of out right banning the burkha. Head scarves are all ready prohibited in schools, as is any religous symbol, including a cross or star worn as a pendant.

Are you kidding me?

I mean, they have separation of church and state here, but people at school wear crosses and stars. They're not as noticeable as the burkha, but they aren't banning it, either. You just can't wear hats. That, and my school had a whole two people who were Muslim, and one graduated. Although, her middle name was Muhammed, after her father, and they refused to say it at the graduation ceremony. It pissed me off so bad. Her dad owns a fish store, for crying out loud.

What is happening to the world? I think because of Bush's "war on terror," the emphasis he put on the middle east bearing "weapons of mass destruction" caused the generalization that all Muslims are terrorists, and that couldn't be further from the truth. Every religion has its extremists. That why you got that cult in Jonestown that ended up wiping themselves out with poisoned Kool-Aid - a religious extremist took it too far. But that's one person out of hundreds of thousands that worship religion. And it really saddens me to see the world blame innocent people.

Yeah. One black sheep in Scotland therefore all the sheep in Scotland must be black.

I think I must be the only peron on this forum whose never had their door knocked on by a Witness before...

Oh, you remembered that? Potgenie says Witnesses are banned in her area so you're not really alone. Just you wait, once the ban lifts you'll be surprised there are lots of Witnesses in your area without the authorities knowing...

It is an unusual occurrence, Aana, but not very strange. I've had many households invite me and the person I'm with. Most of them were already acquainted with our work and were taking Bible studies with Witnesses who, for varying reasons had to leave for another place. It's always a nice surprise especially considering the number of people who I really can't open up a conversation with. It must be the first time the Witnesses who visited your friends to have been invited in.

It's not a big deal, really. I'm always glad to have someone to talk to about such things and online I don't have the same butterflies I get when actually going to other people's houses.

At first, yes. As you do it more often you'll find that you get nervous only on certain situations (like when a bald fat guy who's clearly been drinking stumbles out the door, slurring cuss words; that puts me out of rhythm for the next three houses).

Yeah, I'd only ever heard of Witnesses before. I've never actually met one though so this was very interesting. Thank you Andre.