Upon receiving this assignment, I was completely lost on what topic to analyze. I heard many ideas from my fellow classmates, but I wanted to do something different on this assignment. It took me some time to think what subject to address. The topic I chose is the Muslim experience in America. The book I choose to write an analytical review is on Behind the Backlash: Muslims Americans after 9/11 by Lori Peek. The title caught my interest for writing this book review. Behind the Backlash clearly shows how Muslims were harassed and verbally and physically assaulted after the event of 9/11. Lori Peeks speaks to and interviews the Muslim Americans who have been mistreated by American society. Upon reading Behind the Backlash, I noticed many stereotypical things the author has written such as, all Muslims are terrorists and so on. It also made me realize how bad my brothers and sisters were treated after the events of 9/11. Reading chapter one, one particular quote caught my eye. In President George W. Bush’s 2001 inauguration he tells the citizens of America that “Islam is an evil and wicked religion.” He speaks about how Islam is filled with “demon possessed pedophiles.” The moment I read the quote, I started to question the First Amendment. It made me question how a nation can go forward when it does not understand nor respects another religion besides Christianity. How can a nation progress when it insults and says terrible things about Islam when it does not understand the concept of the religion? The Bill of Rights states how the people have the right to practice any religion. After the attack on the Twin Towers, many Muslims Americans were targeted; many received “hate glares” or threats from other people. Many people began to stereotype Muslims as if they were only Arabs, but in reality anyone can be a Muslim, whether they are Indian, Pakistani, Russian, or Chinese, etc. After the attack, many began to assume that women in Islam were being oppressed or beaten by men, and this is not the case. As a Muslim woman, I know that abusing women is not accepted. They are treated with respect. Many of these women get an education and become doctors, lawyers, etc. Also, many authors began to publish their books on Islam and how this religion is an abomination to those who follow it. This caught me off guard when I read it; how can a person be smart, but be so narrow minded at the same time? A month later after the attack, many Muslims and non-Muslims were being targeted. Peek described that many that looked like, or that others thought they were Muslims often would be killed or threatened. Due to this, hate crimes increased by 13 percent. She explains that a Sikhman, Balbir Singh Sodhi, wearing a turban was shot and killed because the person thought he was Muslim. I was completely baffled by that statement. That moment, I was thinking, how can a person be so heartless to kill someone? At the same time, I was thinking, how
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I questioned his words. What did he mean by Arab terrorist? Those people who attacked the Twin Towers are not considered Muslims in the eyes of the Muslim community. Suicide is a major sin in Islam and it is looked down upon. This also includes harming another in the process. There is a quote in the Holy Quran which states that if, “A man kills another man, he has killed the entire human race; if that man saves one man, he has saved mankind (Quran 5:32)”. Upon this how can a Muslim slay another man or woman? Moreover, many people were receiving false information on Islam according to the book. They state that Islam is about killing in the name of God and, because of this many people stated that Muslims should return to their country. How can I go back when this is the country I was born in? Also, many Muslims could not get jobs. These people had to change their names in order be hired somewhere. Furthermore, many Muslims were targeted in airports. Even though security was doing their jobs, it does not mean that they should check every Muslim that is about to board the
I questioned his words. What did he mean by Arab terrorist? Those people who attacked the Twin Towers are not considered Muslims in the eyes of the Muslim community. Suicide is a major sin in Islam and it is looked down upon. This also includes harming another in the process. There is a quote in the Holy Quran which states that if, “A man kills another man, he has killed the entire human race; if that man saves one man, he has saved mankind (Quran 5:32)”. Upon this how can a Muslim slay another man or woman? Moreover, many people were receiving false information on Islam according to the book. They state that Islam is about killing in the name of God and, because of this many people stated that Muslims should return to their country. How can I go back when this is the country I was born in? Also, many Muslims could not get jobs. These people had to change their names in order be hired somewhere. Furthermore, many Muslims were targeted in airports. Even though security was doing their jobs, it does not mean that they should check every Muslim that is about to board the