Autoethnography

Mogahed is an Egyptian-American that started her career as an engineer. She’s a Muslim that decided to wear her head covering by the age of seventeen. In the Ted Talk “What Do You Think When You Look At Me?”, Dalia Mogahed discusses the predicaments and accusations Muslims have encountered, including her personal experiences. Through the use of all three rhetorical appeals, pathos being the dominant appeal, Mogahed skillfully conveys her message to the audience that 1.6 billion Muslims shouldn’t be shunned because of the actions of a minority.

The “mold of a Muslim post 9/11 was anyone fitting the description of a Muslim, which was wearing a hijab for women and wearing a turban for men. If you went to a mosque, which was the Muslim house of worship, you were considered a Muslim. Anyone who fit that “mold” had a red flag put on them. For example, Rasha and her family were arrested and detained by the FBI in the middle of the night, “because they were being investigated for possible terrorism connections” (21). Due to the heightened level of security after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 committed by Muslim extremist; this family was targeted because of their religious beliefs. Ironically, the Muslim extremism that the terrorists of 9/11 depicted was a direct contrast of the true core Muslim values of honesty and compassion that Muslims are taught in their families. For instance, when she was young, Rasha’s parents taught her “the simple values of honesty, compassion and protecting her honor” (17). Readers can see that Rasha’s family valued their Muslim heritage and brought her up to value them as

2. I love the fact that I've met you during the craziest time of my life and you changed it all in just a mili-second.

Most people when they hear the word "Muslim" they only think about the Middle East, without realizing that there are Muslims everywhere. A Muslim is someone who follows the religion of Islam, but it does not necessary need to be people from the Middle East. There are a lot of people around the world that decide to become Muslims for many reasons. These three young women Nousheen Yousuf-Sadiq, Maria M. Ebrahimji, and Kameelah Janan Rasheed come from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, but considered themselves as Muslims. In their individual short stories, they talk about the difficulties that they have being an American and a Muslim woman at the same time. It is difficult for them because having these two identities interferes

First some information about the person I interviewed. She grew up in the Middle East in Muscat, Oman. She grew up speaking Arabic and learned English in school so she could come to America and learn. She had two younger sisters and a younger brother. She also practices Islam and follows the religion very well. She has also traveled around the Middle East with her family for vacations.

We had the interview on Craven Community College campus in her office. We spoke for approximately one hour and twenty minutes. I asked the questions that are in the syllabus and we spoke of other things about her religion. The site study and interview that I have chosen is that of the Muslim religion.

For my outside experience project for TRS 101, I visited the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent, which is located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Prior to my experience, I had little to no knowledge about the Islamic faith, other than what popular culture and the news has engrained into the public’s minds. I already recognized that there was a major difference between radical Muslims such as Al-Queda and Isis, but I did not have much of an understanding of what the normal, more conservative Muslim faith was really like. One of my high school friends, Youseff, was one of the very few Muslims at my Jesuit high school. He is an extremely personable and bright kid, and is able to speak extremely articulately about his faith and its numerous misunderstandings and stereotypes. I had hoped that the community at the mosque would be made up of people like him, but I truly had no idea.

X. Why did you choose the faith tradition you now practice? • My Catholic/Baptist tradition was chosen for me and I choose to practice the same dogma hence, the tradition is what I am accustomed to. • In what ways has incorporating faith into your life changed your life? • Incorporating faith into my life changed my lifestyle by enabling me to have peace in my mind and soul, when I am faced with hardships and despair.

I always try to treat people as just that, a person. I would soon find out that I had some fears and concerns about Arabs who were Muslim. In 2011, my niece met a man on an online dating site. She kept him a secret until she had plans to visit him in Morocco. She confided in me and told me about her plans to visit, but still kept this man a mystery. I was fine until I brought this news up to some friends, instantly they become fearful and instructed me to do some research. I set out to learn all I could about Moroccan people and the country. I didn’t know much about the country, except the men were exceptionally handsome. The U.S Department of State traveling information had a ton of information on Morocco, I was overwhelmed and scared reading how dangerous it was. They covered everything you could possible want to know if traveling there. After reading everything I could I was now engulfed with fear and worry. I emailed my niece, and in a panic I told her everything I learned on this website. This couldn’t be happening, out of the entire family she was the one who is the smartest, and how could she go do something so reckless, without any concerns for her safety. I let her know my concerns and she was distraught wondering why I didn’t voice my opinion a little sooner than the day before she had to leave. I had to remind her she is the smart

“Why are you lying to me? If everything was fine, you wouldn’t be crying.” If I offered to walk him back to his house, he might be willing to go inside.

I learned about my faith as well as other faiths. Knowledge allowed me to become a willing and competent teacher to those with misconceptions about my religion. As I grew older, I became more involved with the future generation of Islam. I became a teacher at the Religious Education Center (REC) at my mosque, teaching the students Islamic ethics and history. I believe that education is essential for my generation and the following generations to be leaders of a more tolerant society. Along with education I have made following ethics of kindness, respect, and compassion a priority. I have also become a member of I-CERV. I-CERV is an Islamic organization that volunteers around our community. The group performs a variety of activities such as volunteering at the food bank and Santa’s Cause. By teaching, volunteering, and following the ethics of Islam I have attempted establish a more accurate image of my

Understanding God's requirements of compliance, obedience, and submission, helped me to recognise several lies I have accepted and believed were true. Explaining motives. Offering hope. Unlocking feminisms powerful influence over my mind. Leading to re-examine many decisions made.

At one time, we were having a general conversation with my friend when the topic of terrorism and religion arose. We are both Muslims. This is how the conversation went on.

whenever I needed her. She also has the ability to understand me, and my feelings.

views in her religion. When I was younger, every day and night, she would bring prayer