Opinion

Marginalizing Muslims needs to stop

461333672

Americans falsely believe that it’s okay to blame all Muslims for the actions of a few. | Photo courtesy of Getty images.

On September 11, 2001, I was sitting in my first grade class when my teacher turned on the news and started crying. I sat there and watched as the World Trade Center collapsed on television, but couldn’t comprehend exactly how much devastation this event was bringing to our country.

After the public was informed that Al-Qaeda was responsible for the attack, a backlash against Muslims and Middle Eastern Americans was expected. However, 14 years later, a lot of United States citizens still view all Muslims unfavorably.

“The misleading media and biased news that is widely watched here in the United States (usually portrays) Arabs and Muslims in such a negative way,” said Omar Ibrahim, 26, an Arabic language interpreter and dental student. “Unfortunately, not all Arabs and Muslims are peace makers, but I feel it’s extremely unfair to judge 1.6 billion Muslims on the actions of the inhumane few.”

According to research by the Arab American Institute, there has been continued erosion in the favorable ratings given to both communities, posing a threat to the rights of Arab Americans and American Muslims. Favorable attitudes have continued to decline from 43 percent in 2010 to 32 percent in 2014 for Arabs and from 35 percent in 2010 to 27 percent in 2014 for Muslims.

In my lifetime, I never expected to see such a powerful generalized antipathy against any race or religion in the United States.

Just last week outside of the Arabic Immersion Magnet School in Houston, protesters tarnished the environment for 132 kindergarten and pre-K students by holding up signs with offensive slurs towards Muslims and Arabic speakers.

One of the signs read “Everything I ever cared to know about Islam was taught to me by Muslims on 9-11-2001.”

Considering that these students weren’t even born when 9/11 took place, this attack is ignorant and uncalled for. Also, this is an Arabic Immersion school, not a Muslim school. Not everyone who speaks Arabic is Muslim.

With these ignorant and uneducated assumptions comes a backlash of everyday issues for Muslims and Arabs.

“I was visiting a friend recently,”  Ibrahim said.  “When I arrived at their house, they introduced me to their neighbor, that was very friendly, so he joined us in their house to chat. But soon after learning that I am a Muslim, he stormed out of the house, got a baseball bat and waited next to my car, calling me unfavorable names on my way out, making racist comments, insulting Islam and Muslims and threatening to beat me if I return.”

Not even being able to go into a neighborhood without being threatened is awful. Many don’t realize what privilege they have because of their race, ethnicity or religion, because they have never experienced this personally.

But this is discrimination that cannot be ignored. This is prejudice against a religion and culture that affects millions of Americans that have families, friends and loved ones just like everyone else.

A verse in the Bible reads:  “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen,” John 4:20-21.

We need to come together to fight against those who demonize and marginalize simply because of faith or language. America should unite in order to encourage peace and equality to exercise the religious rights each one of us has.

Everyone should be able to live without having to feel like a target for bigotry and hatred.

Opinion columnist Rebekah Barquero is a print journalism junior and may be reached at [email protected]

2 Comments

  • There are those who see no distinction between one Muslim and another, but MOST DO, and recognize that it is the radical Islamists such as ISIS who are the ones to be challenged and fought. According to some, those labeled radical are not, but in fact are the ones who are being most true to the faith. Is it any wonder we can’t distinguish when those within their own community can’t decide what is the norm and what is outside the norm?

  • Cultural Muslim professionals who have been here for decades, no problem. And, like most Americans, I deplore violence, including intimidation, against someone on account of their beliefs. Still, I do not agree with the Muslim faith. Tolerance actually means getting along with someone with whom you disagree; being cordial and respectful – for example, with regard to employment, housing, access to businesses and public facilities (buildings, parks, etc.) If, however, you are a relativist and believe that everyone should decide things for themselves, then if someone has a different belief than you, you don’t tolerate them, but rather agree with them deciding for themselves. Do you see Muslims being denied the things I’ve mentioned above? I don’t.

    How do young Muslims get radicalized and their parents, everyday American citizens or long-time resident aliens (yes, that is the name you call someone with a green card – and, I had a parent who was a resident alien for many years before becoming naturalized) find themselves so surprised? What is the origin of the MSA (Muslim Student Association)? Why, its the Muslim Brotherhood… truly (look it up if you want). Follow the money to see which type of Islam is supported. If Islam is simple and peaceful, why do Muslims fight among themselves (just asking, while acknowledging that Christians and Jews also disagree among themselves)? Ask any Muslim you meet if they have actually read the Koran in Arabic or only know their prayers in Arabic (unless, of course, they are foreign exchange students from a Middle Eastern country where Arabic is spoken). Did you know that they claim the Koran (or for that matter the Hadith) can only truly be understood in Arabic? No wonder many American born Muslims are scared of serious discussion. Ask any Muslim which is more important, right belief or right religious practice (their 5 pillars are confession of faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and almsgiving). Does Islam mean peace? Well, it does share the Arabic root “salaam”, but Islam actually means “submission”.

    Another fact: NAIT (North American Islamic Trust) favors the Wahhabi perspective on Islam and the Islamic Society of Greater Houston has all its real estate held by NAIT.

    Now, did you know that Jesus is appearing to Muslims in Dreams and Visions? Just do a You Tube search to hear some amazing stories. Also, check out a YouTube about a Muslim Inman who converted to Christianity: “Changing Tracks: Mario Joseph, Muslim Imam convert”. A Christian who truly loves his neighbor will not be afraid to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him/her. Sharing is most effective when done after establishing a personal relationship, which means things like learning and participating in cultural things like foods and music and classes….

Leave a Comment