Dr. Richard Moss - Complete Biography
Islam and Bangladesh
I was probably treated with more kindness and graciousness in Bangladesh, a Muslim nation, than any place I traveled to during those three years. This, despite them knowing I was Jewish. I was frequently asked my religion. Perhaps, because of my swarthy appearance (I’m a Sephardic Jew) they suspected that I was one of them.
The last thing they were expecting to hear was that I was a Jew, especially as the first Intifada was occurring in Israel at the time and the news programs and papers were awash with stories of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Even with this, they endeavored to protect me and avoid embarrassing moments.
I have also visited other Muslim nations (Jordan, Turkey, Morocco, Indonesia, Egypt) and have been privileged to see some of the great examples of Islamic architecture, the Taj Mahal in India and the Alhambra in Spain, for example, among many others, and have admired them greatly. I have also read much on Islamic history and hold in high regard the many achievements of Islamic civilization.
Still, one cannot ignore that today’s Muslim world is in a state of utter disarray: it remains impoverished, provides little if any opportunities
for its citizens, lags behind the rest of the world in technology, economic development, human rights, freedom, and democracy, has contributed little if anything to world civilization in centuries, sends millions of its citizens running from it every year to Western nations in search of better lives, and produces large numbers of violent extremists with an appetite for murder and mayhem. The Islamic world is very much in need of repair.
To this day, however, I am in touch with many good Muslim friends. They have visited me and stayed at my house as welcome guests. We have shared respectfully our traditions and I am planning a return visit to Bangladesh.
Although I know from personal experience that there are good Muslims, like many others, I am anxiously waiting for so called “moderates” to vigorously condemn the outrages of Jihadist barbarians, reform their societies, and take back their religion.
Home again
I ran out of money. I returned home with my wife, Ying (a nurse I had met in Thailand who then accompanied and assisted me on my adventures thereafter), and pennies in my pocket. I lived with my mother for six months until I was on my feet again and set up private practice in Jasper, Indiana in 1991, where I have been since.
