The liberal psyche wants to protect minorities, to apologize for imperialism, colonialism, slavery, and the appalling treatment of black people during the civil rights movement. At the same time, they want to continue to defend the rights of individuals.

My first experience in the Netherlands was very pleasant, extremely pleasant. I mean, I got my residence permit, refugee status, within four weeks of arrival. People treated me extremely well.

They decided to let immigrants in and I am an immigrant. They gave us a chance to participate in this country's life and I took it.

I was a Muslim once, remember, and it was when I was most devout that I was most full of hate.

I'd like Muslims to look at their religion as a set of beliefs that they can appraise critically and pick and choose from.

In a sense, my grandmother was living in the Iron Age. There was no system of writing among the nomads. Metal artifacts were rare and precious.... The first time she saw a white person my grandmother was in her thirties: she thought this person's skin had burned off.

I do not believe in God, angels and the hereafter.