Cultural Discrimination: In Recent Years with Muslims
October 10, 2008 by
Essentialist identity is a type of identity evident in some way and recognizable within society, and has collective ramifications.
One of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted identities in the United States are the religion of Islam. Since World War II, America has struggled with understanding Islam because of the relationship that exists between the Islamic world and the
west. Terrorists and repressive states have helped to paint Islam as a religion of hate and war. However, it was not until September 11th, 2001 that these deep-ceded feelings really start to boil over. Americans took their "hatred" they had for the terrorists and transformed it onto all Muslims.
The history of the United States was founded on Judeo-Christian values and principles. Whether they were religious values or legal codes for many Americans, Islam and being Muslim represent the opposite of these values. By declaring someone as opposing your values it is easier to paint Islam and Muslims in a bad light. It is this uneducated view that leads many to identify Islam and Muslims as a jihadist religion with terrorist worshipers.
Much like discrimination the Japanese faced after Pearl Harbor, Muslims or people of Arab descent and those who look "Muslim" have faced discrimination following September 11th. This anti-Muslim feeling following September 11th has been caused by Americans knowing little of Islam and thus misidentifying and misinterpreting the religion of Islam and those practicing it. This lack of knowledge has resulted in not only Muslims but also Indians, Sikhs and non-Muslim Arabs facing death threats, discrimination, racial profiling and harassment.
Last year, days after a terrorist attack in India killed 207 people, a women name Motaz Elshafi a software engineer for Cisco Systems in North Carolina opened an internal work email that began with, "Dear Terrorist." The email went on to say that those kinds of attacks would not intimidate people but only strengthen their resolve (Elias 2006).
One of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted identities in the United States are the religion of Islam. Since World War II, America has struggled with understanding Islam because of the relationship that exists between the Islamic world and the
The history of the United States was founded on Judeo-Christian values and principles. Whether they were religious values or legal codes for many Americans, Islam and being Muslim represent the opposite of these values. By declaring someone as opposing your values it is easier to paint Islam and Muslims in a bad light. It is this uneducated view that leads many to identify Islam and Muslims as a jihadist religion with terrorist worshipers.
Much like discrimination the Japanese faced after Pearl Harbor, Muslims or people of Arab descent and those who look "Muslim" have faced discrimination following September 11th. This anti-Muslim feeling following September 11th has been caused by Americans knowing little of Islam and thus misidentifying and misinterpreting the religion of Islam and those practicing it. This lack of knowledge has resulted in not only Muslims but also Indians, Sikhs and non-Muslim Arabs facing death threats, discrimination, racial profiling and harassment.
Last year, days after a terrorist attack in India killed 207 people, a women name Motaz Elshafi a software engineer for Cisco Systems in North Carolina opened an internal work email that began with, "Dear Terrorist." The email went on to say that those kinds of attacks would not intimidate people but only strengthen their resolve (Elias 2006).
Questioning the Teaching of Ethnic Studies and Cultural Judgments Directed at Past Political Figures
A letter to my ethnic studies professor in response to problems and misrepresentations in the curriculum. It contains strong arguments questioning the teaching of ethnic studies and cultural judgments directed at past political figures.
By Solomon Rothman | Published 10/4/2005 | Read more »
Anthropology struggled for years to be accepted as a science - and then promptly began denouncing it's scientific credentials once they'd been accepted. This paper represents a young graduate student's views as to the future for scientific anthropology.
By Abigail Viall | Published 10/18/2005 | Read more »
Throughout history different religions have fought against one another, competing for both power and popularity. As seen in the past, conflicts such as religious discrimination have always resulted negatively, creating tension between nations and causing wars.
By zaindada | Published 1/10/2007 | Read more »
A discussion of discrimination against Asians
By Ftablogger | Published 3/2/2007 | Read more »
After over a century after the abolition of Black slavery, discrimination is still alive in subtle forms.
By Rashel Dan | Published 3/22/2007 | Read more »
Is it permissible for a school to allow one religous symbol and not another? What about the display of ashes on the forehead for Ash Wednesday or the hejab by Muslim girls? At what point is it outright discrimination?
By Miss Faith | Published 5/3/2007 | Read more »
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