Fear of Islam Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Fear of Islam - Research Paper ExampleIslam is perhaps the most misunderstood major morality in the world today. As a Muslim, this student has experienced this truth on numerous occasions. Because of media propaganda and rumors travel around the world, Muslims ar seen as terrorists and a people who promote and condone violence. Many believe, in fact, that these are central tenants contained in their holy book, the Quran. Because of this, Muslims worldwide have spent many years trying to admirer the world understand their true faith and identity. It is true that there are some bad apples that promote their terrorist causes in the name of Islam. This student is certainly not condoning their actions. In fact, few Muslims condone the actions of terrorism. It must be pointed issue, however, that Islam is not the only religion that has committed acts of violence on people of other faiths. Yet, these events seem to be washed over and the Islamic faith receives much of the bad press in global media today. It is out of this press coverage that people have begun to have an outright fear of Islam. Moustafa Bayoumi recently remarked that every multitude has it loonies. And yet the idea that American Muslim communities are foul nests of hatred, where dark-skinned men plot Arabic violence persists (11). It begs the question as to why people are so afraid of Islam. It seems that many in the West perceive every Muslim to be a potential terrorist. The fear is so unassailable in some localities that the mentioning of Islam is not permitted in certain locations. The state of Texas, for example, recently decided that reading about Islam in the classroom was not permitted because it did not constitute education, but rather was indoctrination (Bayoumi 12). This kind of attitude on the part of adults will only serve to further widen the divide of children in terms of their information of Muslim.Finally, research and common opinions about the root of the fear of Islam appea rs to stem from an us against them mentality. If you do not accept the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, for example, then you are a supporter or Islamic terrorists. The perception should not be that wars are fought over religion, but that is exactly what is taking place in modern society. If you support and deliver a mosque to be built in your community, you are with them, not us. This kind of attitude, on both sides, has created a fear that exists in the heart of Muslim and non-Muslims alike. Farhad Dalal recently commented that Ironically both the neo-conservatives and fundamentalist Islamists are in agreement that what is occurring in the world today is indeed a clash of civilizations, and that it is a continuation of a Holy War