The Views Of The Middle East

Islam in two Americas is a delayed thesis argument about the state of Islāmic/American relations in the US, post 9-11. As a delayed thesis, the author, Ross Douthat, opens the debate with a brief explanation of the “two Americas” as he sees it. Within the current political climate that is America today, it would be hard to argue that this divide does not exist.

The images of the 9/11 attacks are still fresh and vivid in the minds of Americans who were alive to witness that tragic day. As a result of these attacks, the United States has undergone a transformation socially and politically as it seeks a remedy to the threat of Islamic terror. The years following the events were not great for the United States and for the West countries either. Even though the attacks almost 16 years ago, witnesses still remember it, like if were yesterday. The attacks also changed stereotypes for Muslims in general, which Al Qaeda was responsible.

On September 11, 2001, the terror attacks that struck upon the American people etched a wound so deep that will take years to repair. The whole world watched and mourned as 2,977 innocent lives were taken mercilessly away by the clutches of vile people. The group responsible for these attacks had malicious intent and animosity toward the people of the free world. They took their accumulated hatred and attacked the American people. The way the American people responded was not what the terrorist group had expected.Instead of cowering in fear from the attacks as presumed, the American people began to display more patriotism and exhibit a sense of unity. While 9/11 is a day we remember the innocent lives lost to terrorism and the new sense of togetherness it founded, it is also a day that birth the term Islamophobia and gave rise to mistaken-identity hate crimes.

The prominent effect Islam had on Muslims everyday thoughts and actions, portrays how essential the impact of God was in social and governmental relations. Muslim religion was influenced by both the Christians and Jews. Under the guidance of Muhammad the Prophet, Islam became both a meaningful faith and way of life. Unlike just simply “adding” a church like the Christian religion, Islam society was expected to be governed. Their political and religious views and decisions had to be intertwined as one, proving the effect Islam had on everyday lives. For example, the history book The Making of The West, had written, “Arabs had long been used to

September 11th, 2001 is a day that left deep scars on Americans and America’s history. Extremists from a terrorist group, called al-Qaeda, whose main goal is to make countries that are predominantly Islamic get rid of all non-Islamic influences, hijacked four commercial airplanes, full of innocent passengers, and then smashed one into each of the Twin Towers or the World Trade Center in New York. Shortly after, there was another attack on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Back in New york, both of the twin towers collapsed. The fourth hijacked airplane did not do much damage. It landed on an open field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. All together 2,996 innocent individuals died. An emotional impact was left because many people lost their family

On September 11, 2001, 19 Islamic extremists planned and carried out terrorist attacks against the U.S., murdering about three-thousand innocent American citizens as a result. They specifically targeted the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Virginia, and were planning on attacking the White House as well. The extremists hijacked four planes; two of the planes were flown into the Twin Towers and one plane crashed into the Pentagon. America had not seen such a world changing, eye opening terrorist led event since the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The terrorist attacks on 9/11 changed and shaped not only America, but the world as a whole. The effects of the attack are still evident in today’s world: socially, economically, and politically.

After all the damage was done though, everyone realized the heartbreaking truth that what they witnessed was indeed a terrorist attack with fatal results. Several people were injured and killed from the attack. Those who witnessed it, live in front of them, or live through the news on television, would never be the same. For these reasons, 9/11 will forever be remembered. It was a traumatic day where families were torn apart. It was a day that no American saw coming. And, lastly, it was the day that changed the lives of Americans forever. Ever since the terrorist attacks, extensive security of transportation, especially air travel, involved meticulous and thorough examination of passengers to prevent threats to the safety of Americans. Additionally, most Americans who were not previously apprehensive about flying on planes for travel now feared it due to what had happened on September 11, 2001. In conclusion, 9/11 will be forever remembered due to its devastating aftermath and will forever affect the daily life of an

Americans strongly affirm the principles of religious freedom, religious tolerance, and separation of church and state. Nearly 9-in-10 (88 percent) Americans agree that America was founded on the idea of religious freedom for everyone, including religious groups that are unpopular. Ninety-five percent of Americans agree that all religious books should be treated with respect even if we don’t share the religious beliefs of those who use them. Nearly two-thirds (66 percent) of Americans agree that we must maintain a strict separation of church and state. Americans’ views of Muslims and Islam are mixed, however. As with other previously marginalized religious groups in U.S. history, Americans are grappling with the questions Islam poses to

Although Middle-East Politics Club numbers fewer than 10, my hope is that our little organization can help my high school community embrace Muslim-Americans in the same way Americans have embraced so many other ethnic and religious groups. Addressing the issue will not be easy. Meetings and discussion groups are taking place to explore the possible reasons why Americans have a deep-seeded hostility towards Muslims. Our ultimate goal is to stem the ever-increasing antagonism towards Muslims through education. As Helen Keller said in her essay Optimism, “The highest result of education is tolerance.”

How was world history depicted in the past? Was it depicted the same way as it is now? Hitherto, people believe world history is the history of the entire globe, including every country. However, the perceptions and definitions of world history have changed over time. In the past, world history meant Western history and Islam was not included. History was biased and still continues to be due to various factors as Bentley discusses. Understanding the meaning of orientalism and its true definition assists one to understand how imperative world history is to the study of the “Global Middle East.” In addition, the “Global Middle East” is a more efficient and accurate name than the socially constructed reference name, the “Middle East” because Islam exists globally, not only in the Middle East. The aforementioned point also proves the significance of the author’s view and perspective on history; it determines how readers will depict the event or era. Understanding a few Islamic historical events will clarify why world history is important and why the Global Middle East is being studied. The three events/eras that will be discussed are: the Roman Empire and its effect on the Global Middle East (306-337 CE), Ottoman religious propaganda in the 1530s, and the French invading Egypt in 1798. (class discussion 9/29)

Not many events during my lifetime are as memorable as September 11, 2001. Al Qaeda attacked the Twin Towers and the Pentagon to spread fear for the terrorist group. This act of terrorism is why or one of the major causes for the Afghanistan war. September 11, 2001 will leave scars on people’s memories that they will never forget.

The region of the Middle East and its inhabitants have always been a wonder to the Europeans, dating back to the years before the advent of Islam and the years following the Arab conquest. Today, the Islamic world spreads from the corners of the Philippines to the far edges of Spain and Central Africa. Various cultures have adopted the Islamic faith, and this blending of many different cultures has strengthened the universal Islamic culture. The religion of Islam has provided a new meaning to the lives of many people around the world. In the Islamic world, the religion defines and enriches culture and as a result the culture gives meaning to the individual. Islam is not only a religion, it is in its own way a culture. It may be this very

Historians, specifically American historians of the 21st century have demonstrated an interest in the Middle East in Islam, due to Americans frequent contact with the Middle East in the early 1960s. Islam and the Middle East have played a remarkable role in Americans discussion and reaction to the events that took place on September 11th, 2001. During this time Americans were beginning to regard the Middle East, Muslims, and Islam as one entity. Americans and the world regarded the Middle East as Islam and Islam as the Middle East. Thus, this correlation between the two made Muslims say Muslim Americans and Muslims in America as less western and more of another, but they were also seen as untrustworthy individuals. Additionally, prior to the September 11th, attacks and an after effect of September 11, was that Muslim men were violent and Muslim women as oppressed individuals. Thus, the perception of Islamophobia and the threat it brings to western society has impacted the discussion of Islamophobia in America.

The Western and Middle Eastern world have historically opposed each other in religion and politics. The United States has had an exclusive presence in the Middle East; mainly concerned with oil, the protection of Israel and the containment of communism. Tensions became significantly more strained between these two during the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, the capital of Iran. The hostage crisis took place during the chaotic aftermath of Iran’s Islamic revolution and its overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy. This particular event was the initial cause for long-lasting, dramatic effects on domestic politics within the United States and poisoned U.S.-Iranian relations for many years to come.

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).