This email from a new accidental reader made my day! 
Subject: Thanks for giving me hope
Hi There,
I somehow stumbled onto your blog tonight.
As an ignorant American who travels a lot on business, I started researching Islam during the “cartoon riots” several years ago, and was really shocked at what I found. Reading “The Islamist” by Ed Husain helped make sense of some of it, but the rest - women arrested over naming a teddy bear, the wars over who is practicing the “right” or “most holy” form of Islam, silencing of 800-yr old church bells in Sweden - Well, I began siding with the Geert Wilders of the world - Maybe Islam really can’t exist within the confines of a diplomatic society.
Your blog gives me hope that reason can win out, and that there’s a lot more to Islam that what we read in the papers. Thanks.
Peace,KLS.
Yay, this is cool, and really encourages me to keep moving forward.
I know blog updates have significantly lessened in recent months and this will probably continue for a few more.
But sometimes, (as much as it sucks), you just need to slow down so you can speed up again, and right now a lot is happening behind the scenes that will bear fruit soon.
Meanwhile, it would be really nice to know what kind of positive impact this blog has had on you, if any. Please share your thoughts below.
SudaneseThinker
SudaneseThinker
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Drima! Just wanted to say hi. I have always found your blog containing an interesting angle on life in the Muslim world. Having gotten to know several Sudanese in Jordan made me even more curious.
I also learn from your commentors, thinking especially of Howie and Andrew, and the other views and scholarship they add to your posts.
Thank you, Kinzi.
” I started researching Islam during the “cartoon riots” several years ago, and was really shocked at what I found.” hmm hmm… all too familiar. And yes, there ARE Muslims out there who are not jihadies, just as there are infidels out there who are not racist hedonists.
Salaam
I totally forgot how I found out about this blog. Think it must have been through BigPharaoh (where is he, btw?) or Sandmonkey.
As I temporarily did some research on Sudan for my work and knew how interesting the country, its people and its history are but also how much of it is not known or denied, the blog attracted me more. And yes, as Halalhippie already said: there ARE Muslims out there who are not jihadis. And even though I do realize that and have samples enough (friends, colleagues) it’s sometimes hard to continue to realise that. Your blog keeps me reminding that.
Which is sad in someway and should have been different. But agh. Today I read about an awful honor killing in Jordan, about another attack in Pakistan, about hate speeches in London by Muslim nutcases and many more… so.. you’re refreshing cold water drop is more than welcome in this barren desert of hatred I encounter every day.
And I (and a friend of mine) wish to invite you one time to the Netherlands, but I have no financial resources to pay your ticket
So for now, we’re just fans 
Just wanted to add to the fan mail by saying, I can’t believe you’re Sudanese and I suppose it would be too good to be true that you’re living in Sudan? Just stumbled on your blog, and am up reading it far too late to wake up for tomorrow’s early day without looking like a zombie (although I think it’ll end up being worth it). Love your openminded, philosophy-loving perspectives, and hope you’re enjoying your day!
@Openminds’r'us, “Currently I live in Southeast Asia.” http://www.sudanesethinker.com/about/
@Suzanne, thanks! You know after I posted the message I read the about section and sighed! Wishful thinking I guess. And since it applies, and I just came from there, hup Holland!
Well, I have been a silent observer of this blog for too long.
And I must say, I come from a somewhat religious/islamic background and yes at many times I found the content is offensive.
Your blog is only one among few others that I read out of trying to see a new perspective of things. Even if I dont agree to it, there are many things that are well presented and hold so much truth in it.
Your blog is making me practice not to always disagree with what you don’t like.
I think what I get from this blog is simply the pleasure of getting to know an intelligent and thoughtful person.
Coming late to this, because I’ve been without net for a couple of weeks… but what 800 years old church bells have been silenced in Sweden because of demands from Muslims? I’ve never heard of this, despite living in Sweden, and a quick google didn’t give me anything either.
@Jenny D, I do not know about Sweden, but I know about Gaza:
” I thought how this reflected the situation in Gaza in Christmas 2007 - that while the muezzin were on loudspeaker, the church bells here are played from a cassette tape.
A nervous young nun adjusted the volume - loud enough to peal through the church but not to penetrate its walls - it might risk offending Muslim Gazans passing by. ”
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7154134.stm
And that is just sad. It’s not like these Christians are newcomers or so.
@Suzanne, the e-mail specifically mentioned 800-year-old church bells silenced in Sweden. I agree that it’s sad about Gaza, and I had already heard about that - but I would still like to know what the letter writer is talking about in regards to Sweden.
Drima, if you have time to write yourself fan mail and post it on here then you definitely have time to write blog posts. ba6il dala3 and get to writing.
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