Why America is Afraid of Something We Don't Understand
Written by Michael Mangin
Published on November 23, 2010

Due to recent events, such as those of September 11, increased security in the United States became progressively apparent, but why? The answer remains controversial and debatable. Directly from the main stream media to the comfort of one's home, the influences of politics surround the monolithic and ruthless atrocities of such events. Islamophobia, as a term and as a phenomenon, exists in the mind of individuals with anti-Muslim attitudes. In America, these attitudes widely spread with harsh and irrational bigotry towards the Muslim religion that continues to shape itself over the decades. Long running wars recorded in history include many instances of prejudice, suspicion and fear towards Muslims which still remain visible today. Despite the war for equality and justice, Muslims remain "embedded in stereotypical assumptions and misguided pronouncements regarding beliefs, attitudes and customs" (Council on American-Islamic Relations). This sentimental point of view becomes ideal in American culture because biased Islamic views invoke themselves into the hearts and minds of Americans.

To begin with, Americans fear Muslims because of paranoia integrated into American culture. In other words, media and political influences shift American Muslims towards exclusion. After the attacks of September 11, peoples paranoia that Muslims attack on the United States will occur again; however, "Islam is the most peaceful religion of the world that not only talks about peace but also guides us how to bring peace in the world" (Ahsan). Now, this idea becomes controversial due to the media's manipulation. Most people do not know that one common Islamic slogan expresses, "Welcome with peace, be in peace, leave in peace" (Islam101). "The media's consistent disinterest in nonviolent Muslim perspectives hardened this view . . . Perspectives involved allows some to opportunistically manipulate Islamophobia for their own advancement" ( Gotschalk, and Greenberg 2). Most Americans, blinded by the radical ideologies of this religion, know nothing about tits customs or beliefs. In fact, a study conducted by Peter Gotschalk and Gabriel Greenberg, in which people wrote down words that reminded them of Islam, concluded that, "Most Americans who we asked to do this exercise have given an almost routine set of answers" (Gotschalk, and Greenberg 3). Those answers included such words as "terrorists," "Osama Bin-Laden," and "suicide bombings." Therefore, America remains blind to an ideology that they believe they know so much about. Due to the fear of extremists, Americans decide to shun the religion entirely.

This brings one to the idea that Americans show fear towards Islam due to clueless knowledge about the religion. To explain further, people fear what they do not understand. When they do not know very much about a region, culture or norm, people tend to fear the secrecy of the idea. For instance, people may not know how similar Christianity and Islam relate. In essence, they share the same God, just with different beliefs and principles followed with that relationship. "If the revelation, nature and expression of Allah in the Qur'an does not coincide with those of the Bible, the Qur'anic Allah is not Jahweh Elohim, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Israel, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Answering Islam). With that, the Islamic religion seems inferior to western culture because of its "irrational" beliefs. Furthermore, Americans disagree with certain religious practice such as wearing the hijab. Some believe this represents sexist points of view, but to a woman who wears it, "'I am appreciated for who I am. It's not just about religion; it's also about who I want to represent myself as'" (Pektas). This kind of exploited behavior exists in society, but only because of societies' misunderstanding of the customs and beliefs of another.

Islamophobia furthermore threatens American norms. Thus, people fear Muslims due to the difference in culture. In this case, most people fear the "islamation" of America. To explain further, an article written in the Hills Congressional Blog states, "The demand for a mosque at Ground Zero is just one of many tests to see how far America will go to accommodate Muslims" (Bernstein). This excerpt shows the negativity shown towards "islamation" and fear that Muslims will "take over." Most people believe in common ideals, beliefs, and customs. They do not want "'Islam . . . to dominate the world with its teachings . . . and to have domination of all other religions militarily'" (Ghosh). Chiefly, America attempts to act as an equal opportunity country; however, this obviously recedes as one intellectualizes. No right or wrong religion prevails; the fact that stereotypes suggest one's prime existence remains inaccurate.

"Like a vicious cyclone feeding off of its own energy, these sentiments cumulatively feed policies that in turn produce reactions that reinforce the original sentiments. Certainly Americans suspicions and their rage regarding September 11 eased popular acceptance" (Gotschalk, and Greenberg 7). The history of Islamic discrimination stretches over hundreds of years. Just like any other religion or culture in history. Rapid growth in the Muslim community results "because the western reaction to war and terrorism had strengthened their sense of identity" (Kerbaj). Some Cooperation in Western culture must surpass its differences to survive and combat this problem. "The threat of communism has been replaced with the threat of Islam" (Driel 18). Muslims attempt to fit into society like the rest of humanity. Islamophobia acts as a disease in the mind of Americans that gives reason to hate, discriminate, and persecute those for which they know nothing about; no different from the persecution of the Jews in World War II. To allow the alienation of one group of people allows the alienation of all groups of people.

 

Works Cited:
Bernstein, Richard. "The incremental Islamization of America." The Hills Congressesional Blog (2010): Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/religious-rights/115085-the-incremental-islamization-of-america>.

Cashmore, Ellis. Encyclopedia of Race and Ethnic Studies. New York, NY: Routledge, 2004. Print.

Council on American-Islamic Relations, "Islamophobia." Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism Book Excerpts (2010): Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://www.cair.com/Issues/Islamophobia/Islamophobia.aspx#_edn2>

Driel, Barry Van. Confronting Islamophobia in Educational Practice. Sterling, VA: Trentham Books Limited, 2004. Print.

Gottscalk, Peter, and Gabriel Greenberg. Islamophobia: Making Muslims the Enemy. Lanham,
MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2008. Print.

Islam 101. The Sabr Foundation, 2010. Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://islam101.net/>.
Kerbaj , Richard. "Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society'." Sunday Times (2009): Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5621482.ece>.

Pektas, Delal. "Muslims on Islamophobia: It's only our problem because it's your problem." Medill Reports (2010): Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=171198>.

"The God of Islam." Answering Islam (1993): Web. 24 Oct 2010. <http://www.answering-islam.org/Nehls/tt1/tt5.html>.

Originally written for Ms. Ruttum's Composition 1020 College level class at Coronado High School