This is a delicate time we are living in. One that is fearful and suspicious of anything Middle Eastern or Islamic. It is hard to turn on the news without seeing images of violent protesting crowds or shell shocked cities in that part of the world. These images are concerning to everyone. The obvious decision is to stay away from the subject because of the growing intensity that is surrounding the Middle East. However, this behavior does not make the situation any better. When someone has a fear for something, a psychiatrist will advise them to face their fear to get over it. When you understand something, inside and out, knowing all its complexities, then the fear goes away. When the truth comes to the surface, it becomes second nature to question your whole belief system and everything you have ever been afraid of. Many students, like myself, have grown up being told stories of the horrors that occur in the Middle East through the media. As a young child, 9/11 did not effect me as much as it bewildered me. Who could want to attack my country? Why would people who live hundreds of thousands of miles away want to destroy me and my family? Fear is rooted in misunderstanding. I believed what I was told because I did not know any better. I listened to and absorbed the fear of those around me. As I grew up the fear that was instilled in me as a child, made less and less sense. I had met many people from the Middle East, and they did not want to hurt me or my family. The exact opposite actually. They were friendly and inviting. I could not understand how these kind and generous people could be the same as those I saw on TV and heard about from my grandparents. It did not add up. The first step to rationalizing one's fear is to face it and embrace it. Through this class I have gained an understanding of the Islamic culture that I never imagined I would. When I selected this class, I had every intention of learning something new about the culture that I knew nothing about except the violence I saw on TV. This class has shown me that the perception we have of the Middle East in the US, was created by our own imaginations. The hyper-exoticized stereotype was created as fictional pleasure and adventure by Europeans, who had not even traveled to that part of the world. The identity constructed by the Muslim people is rich in history and beauty. Their art speaks for itself. The intricate and delicate designs displays patience and knowledge of what is beautiful. Their art is more than pretty geometric designs, it is a goal. They surround themselves with beautiful things to keep their minds set toward paradise, peace, and harmony. This is the image of Muslim peoples we should try to understand; not the big-nosed, greedy tyrant wielding a scimitar, holding a half-naked belly dancer hostage for gold and riches. If Americans could see through the image they created of Middle Eastern people, then they would begin to appreciate the culture.  |
| Christians faced outward and joined hands in a circle to protect a Muslim group of protesters as they prayed in Egypt |
This is what this class has taught me: to look past the veil the media has held over Islam my entire life. I want to know the entire story, rather than America's side. I want to know more about the decisions that are made by everyday people that follow Islam. This class has made me want to stand up for Muslims and say, “Enough is enough”. I am more inclined to ignore the media's representation of the Middle East and read what I can about the truth, without slants or bias. This class has given me a new stance to take when it comes to the treatment of Muslims around the world. When there is something you do not understand, you should try to learn everything you can about it before you draw conclusions. I have certainly learned a lot about the Islamic cultures around the world, and I am not stopping. I hope to take more classes about the history of Islam and want to travel to the Middle East or Southeast Asia to experience the culture hands-on. This class has made me hungry to learn more about the people that have fought so hard against the negative image the media shows and remain proud of who they are. It has made me want to stand with them.
