Pluralism In The Muslim Community

The understanding of the concept “Pluralism” is when different people from different class, religions, race, culture, organizations, etc., are living together in a society and they continue to practice their different traditions or interest, rather than just one group or culture determining how things go. Pluralism recognized the fact that different religious or cultures have equal right to voice their ideas or opinions. No one particular religion or worldview is privileged over others, therefore the truth is beyond the ability of one group to capture.

Pluralism is a state in which racial and ethnic categories, though distinct, have equal social standing. (Macionis, 2012 pg.84) So in stating what it is we are looking to foster gives us a better idea of what to expect if we do foster a climate of acceptance and cultural pluralism in the United States. Though to get there we need to teach, I mean really teach each other and about one another in every way form what we eat to how we celebrate traditions. We need to get everyone involved as much as possible, which means in schools, jobs, and community. By doing all of this we will have a better understanding of one another which well level out the minorities with the majorities and make acceptance easier all around.

Muslims are one of the most marginalized people in the U.S for their beliefs and their religion but after 9/11 discrimination and hate crimes against them had become even worse.Throughout the U.S people have been “Anti-Islam” and believed that the Muslim’s religion is absurd, want muslims to change their beliefs or, leave the country.According to “Anti-Islman Discourse in the United States in the Decade After 9/11:The Role of Social Conservatives and Cultural Politics”by David D.Belt on page 211-212, talks about how a post on Charisma News with an article title “Why I am Absolutely Islamophobic” was urging at the fact that Muslim-Americans needed to be deported as soon as possible ,or go under sterilization.Also Belt talks about one of Bush’s family friend being,Franklin Graham saying that he thinks the muslim’s religion is “very evil “and “wicked”.One last example a man named Gabriel had said Islam is the real enemy of America and that we supposedly “we will be doomed in war if we don’t realize it”. People are so brainwashed it honestly insane and very ignorant at the things people think about Muslims, its barbaric.They believe what Muslims believe in and their religion is wrong and they should switch to “Christianity” because it is the “American way “ or have them deported because the do not belong there and are “terrorist”.

Historically, the United States of America has a long history of shaping its ideology from a series of significant events that hold unspeakable brutality. This leads Americans to draw conclusions, which often leads to denouncing a particular body of people. For example, the enslavement of African Americans, the decimation of Native Americans, and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Currently, while enduring several years in the U.S., Muslim Americans face similar difficulties as a human being would. However, these hardships differ because they include U.S. discrimination triggered by 9/11, current terrorist events, and negative reinforcement from the media and the general public. Muslim Americans experience the harmful effects of terrorism because acts of terrorism influence the way the U.S. views and thinks about Muslims.

Zeba Khan writes this article in response to the absence of Muslim Americans in politics and in an effort to remedy the issue. The author builds her argument and convinces her audience through the use of an anecdote, evidence and statistics, as well as rhetorical questioning and vivid language.

Muslim Americans are people whose religious belief is Islam, but they were born in America. Before September 11, 2001, Muslim Americans were rarely a discussion or a problem. However after September 11, 2001, Muslim Americans were the main topic. Even though Islam is a religious belief, people are fearful of anything associated with it. Some people discriminate against people who resemble those who are practice the religion. Even though it is not relevant to race, the difference between racism; and religious discrimination is often unclear to people. People believe that terrorists are Muslim activists, but that’s wrong because not all terrorists are Muslims.

Muslims now, suffer from discrimination in America ever since the 9-11 Era. Some people believe that muslims were the reason why 9-11 and other terrorists attacks happened. The hate for American-Muslims has increased by 78%. Even our president, Donald Trump, wanted a ban on immigration by Muslims. The anti-Muslim hate and violence have reportedly increased rapidly after Donald Trump’s comments on the Muslims. Social media and the news for months

Sociologists believe that there are two main types of pluralism: cultural pluralism and structural pluralism. Cultural pluralism was coined by Horace M. Kallen in 1915 to denote ' 'American democracy and ethnic identity ' ' (Toll 58). Cultural pluralism actually indicates the participation of a minority group in the dominant culture of the host country while maintaining their cultural difference. In fact, cultural pluralism is indispensable in a multicultural society, since, as Francis Muchenge points out, it ' 'leads to the appreciation and tolerance of others who are culturally different leading to sustainable living ' ' (71). In order to avoid conflict among groups, who are culturally different, ethnic diversity should be accommodated. In other words, each ethnic group can preserve its culture, but it should adjust to the dominant culture. According to Chandra Vennopoosa :

“All Muslims are now suspects” expressed Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. After 9/11 ethnic profiling was directed heavily toward people of Muslim or Arabic descent. Discrimination toward Muslims occurs in many settings and is often degrading and evil. The irrational fear and public mindset swing around the country was a huge consequence of 9/11. Politics, communities, and culture has shifted to where citizens do a double take on those who are Muslims because of the flashback they get when they remember where they were on 9/11. For some, just the sight of a Muslim in our country sends a shockwave though their mind. On September 11, 2001, the United States froze in fear as terrorist attacks

Being Muslim in America comes with many challenges and hurdles, but the struggle has just begun. American Muslims have faced a great deal of discrimination from the public and the American government, as well as anti-Muslim sentiment from media outlets that depict Muslims in a negative light. Islamophobia has increased since the 9/11 attacks and Muslims have experience an array of hate crime throughout the years. Unfortunately, due to the ignorance of some and the lack of understanding of others, Muslims have become prime targets and the face of all that’s evil in the world. However, if Americans learn to put their differences aside and try to understand Islam for what it truly is, a religion founded upon peace and justice, they will see that

The main complaint about Islam is that it is "incompatible" with democracy and is inherently violent (Sundstorm, 2013). Many of the policies enacted after September 11th targeted Muslims based on this idea of Islam's apparent association with violence and terrorism. The 2003 directive from the DOJ to the FBI about taking inventory of mosques caused many Muslims to stop attending (Jadallah, 2010). Since the mosques were the center of activity for most communities this policy affected the social and political functions of the mosques (Jadallah, 2010). Many Muslims began distancing themselves from events or people that associated with Islam out of the fear of "guilt by association." For example, some women took off their hijab after the September 11th attacks to distance themselves from the image of terrorists (Jadallah, 2010). These policies displayed how American society began to discriminate not solely on ethnicity but also based on religious

The recent election of Trump in particular has increased the violence and conflict agianst Muslims and Muslim Americans. Even before the Election of Trump, Muslims were looke at in suspicion because of the attacks on American soil on September 11, 2001. The easy identifications of followers of Islam is their head dresses and clothing, this makes them a easy target for violence. One example of the increasing tensions is attacks of Muslims and anything affiliated with Islam. On March 27, 2002 in Florida, a man drove his truck into Mosque attempting to kill anyone in his way. This is just one example of how Muslim American are de-humanized and targeted for their religous beliefs. This is a very apparent way that they are targetted but another way is politically. Some political catidatees are trying to seclude and edge Muslims out of inherent rights. Because of one event, the attacks on Setember11, 2001 a whole culture and people group have recieved immence seclution and agression. Though some Muslims are involved in terrosist groups not all are and it is actually a statistic that there is only a small amount of Muslim Terrorist compared to the whole people

People became fearful and they still are. They walk in fears, people can’t get in the same plane with on who is in a muslim attire. But these Muslim Americans were most affected. After 9/11 Muslim teenagers began to hid themselves from the real world to avoid discrimination and violence. American see Muslims as allies in a fight for freedom and peace than American citizens. According to research, 50% Muslim American mom let the children break their religious beliefs to keep them safe. Example, bear shaved, scarf is not wore. A boy even said a teacher never ask him questions in class or even look him straight in the face. These teenagers felt like they are in different planet in which they are not welcomed to live on. After the 9/11 incident, hatred has been developed in schools and neighborhood. Any friend of a Muslim American is less friendly to him or her. Teens are been bullied, called a lot of names. When that happens, either they drop out of school or run into drugs. Ayla Beydoun, 17 Muslim American, straight A student who wanted to be a president. Her biggest problem toward her goal, according to Ben Carson, is the fact that is a Muslim. After 9/11 lot of Muslim teenagers’ dreams were crashed due to their identities. Anti-Muslim hate is still existing. Lot of teenagers still feel like they are outcast in school and

The agonizing terrorist attacks of September 9th, 2001 left the country in emotional distress. The United States of America decided to prepare for tragic attacks like this and reevaluated its immigration and foreign policies, the citizens of the US also became united and stronger from these attacks. This ideology that the US has become more united after an attack that killed nearly 3,000 people has become mainstream and may be true in some cases, but many people overlook the impact it had on the millions of Muslim Americans. The Muslim generation before us had its own problems dealing with racial discrimination and hate crimes, many people believed it stop their but this contempt was passed on to my generation. The discrimination I have received has caused me to change my aspirations in order to ensure that no one else receives the treatment I had gotten.

This survey reveals that the problem with the Islam faith is not racial: The Muslim people are welcomed, the Islam faith is not. The violence that has been perpetrated against America, whether executed or planned, has brought to fruition religious persecution not seen since the persecution of the Jews in W.W.II. This “trust no Arab” attitude has brought shame to the Constitutional intentions of freedom of religion intended by our forefathers, and has set religious tolerance back 200 years. Looking at media representation of Muslim Americans prior to 9-11, it shows religious diversity in America, depicting Muslim America as just another religious community seeking to advance and protect their interests, not unlike other Americans. After 9-11 the media portrayed representations of threat and fear, creating boundaries between Muslims and other Americans. Such depiction transforms the identity of Muslims and American religious pluralism (Byng, M. pg. 3).