Hey everyone!
I’m new to this place, but I was wondering if some people wouldn’t mind answering a few questions about Islam for me. I am taking a Middle Eastern Humanities course and for our final project to present to the class my group decided to interview Muslims and Non-Muslims to talk about some common misconceptions about Islam in the United States practically. But I am interested in hearing from some people who do not live in the United States as well. Fill free to answer or skip as many questions as you want. Thanks.


For Muslims:

1) How long have you practiced Islam?

2) Where do you live (country only)?

3) What was it like to be a Muslim during the terrorism attack on 9-11 in New York? What was your local Muslim community's reaction to the attacks?

4) How do you feel the media has portrayed Islam, before 9-11, right after 9-11
and today, 5 years later?

5) Do you think the reaction/violence around the world in response to the
cartoons of Prophet Muhammad was justified?

6) Do you feel like Islamic women (in your country or in general) are oppressed?

7) For those of you who practice Islam in the Middle East: How do you feel about Muslims practicing in the United States?

8) And for those of you who practice in the United States: What difficulties (if any) have you experienced being a Muslim in the United States?

9) Do you think the United States/or other countries should spend more time/effort on public awareness about Islam, the Middle East, Arabs, etc?

10) Have you or someone you know been persecuted because you are a Muslim?


For Non-Muslims:


1) How much do you know about Islam and the Middle East?

2) How do you feel the media has portrayed Islam, before 9-11, right after 9-11
and today, 5 years later?

3) Do you think the reaction/violence around the world in response to the
cartoons of Prophet Muhammad was justified?

4) Do you feel like Islamic women (in your country or in general) are oppressed?

5) Do you think the United States/or other countries should spend more time/effort on public awareness about Islam, the Middle East, Arabs, etc?

6) Do you feel that your community is sufficiently educated about Islam, or do they tend to be misled by stereotypes?


Thanks again for your help.

Thanks to all those that replied, your answers were really interesting.

I also wanted to apologize for posting the same thing on multiple boards. I had limited time, and wanted as many people to see it as possible.
I won't do it again.

Anyways thanks again

quote:

1) How much do you know about Islam and the Middle East?

As far as geography, political, and history, I possess a rudimentary education on the issue. There are some aspects of which I take more interest in, being military history in general, and the military history of the Islamic Empire does not escape me.

2) How do you feel the media has portrayed Islam, before 9-11, right after 9-11
and today, 5 years later?

Unfortunately, the Western media has gone out of its way to portray Islamic Fundamentalism in an overwhelmingly positive light, much to the detriment of the accuracy in reporting and fairness. The media favors the Islamic aggressors, and often enough contemplates just why the West deserved x-terrorist attack. They attempt to justify terrorism in increasingly perverse manners, at the expense of the innocent who merely seek fair and accurate reporting of the world's events. The media caters to the precious sensibilities of the Islamo-Fascists, and it ought not be tolerated.

3) Do you think the reaction/violence around the world in response to the
cartoons of Prophet Muhammad was justified?

It was utterly and completely uncalled for. So what if a couple of Danish cartoonists decide to lambast Mohammad? It happens multiple times every day around Western civilization. We've learnt (for better or worse) to get over it. Especially, we've learnt not to violently strike back at those who mock Christianity. Peaceful protest is one of the cornerstones of Democracy, but the Islamo Fascists wouldn't know what Peace or Democracy (God forbid the two mixed together) would be like.

4) Do you feel like Islamic women (in your country or in general) are oppressed?

Mostly, no. But that, in my estimation, is just because of the place in which they are living. If this question had said, "Do you feel like Islamic women are oppressed?" I would have said most certainly yes. They do not have the right to basic human rights and are abused, being justified under a twisted interpetation of the Quran. Not to mention the increasing "Honor Killings" of female family members for the slightest embarrassment, such as the female looking at a male non relative, or getting raped.

5) Do you think the United States/or other countries should spend more time/effort on public awareness about Islam, the Middle East, Arabs, etc?

Yes. Schools, in teaching of cultures/diversity/current events need to highlight not only the good things about Islamic culture/religion but also what's wrong with it, and how it has directly lead to the War on Terrorism and the rise of global Islamo Fascism.

6) Do you feel that your community is sufficiently educated about Islam, or do they tend to be misled by stereotypes?

On the whole, things are mostly suitable. There are occassional bigots who slander Islamic religion with no basis at all. However by and large, the community is gentle and educated enough to speak when its needed.

1) How much do you know about Islam and the Middle East?

I took a comparative religions class at my high school that concentrated quite a bit on Islam, and because of that, I've been trying to learn as much as I can to put current events in perspective.

2) How do you feel the media has portrayed Islam, before 9-11, right after 9-11
and today, 5 years later?

Before 9/11, Islam was just another religion to most people. However, it has always seemed more extreme than, say, Christianity because in the latter half of the 20th century, most extremist terrorism has been by Islamist groups. The 1993 WTC bombing was orchestrated and pulled off by a fundamentalist Muslim, for example. However, since most of those attacks weren't extremely devestating (in terms of loss of life or damage), extremist Muslims were seen as a fringe along the rest of Islam. After 9/11, however, all of Islam was grouped with the fundamentalists. Immediately following 9/11, tensions were running high, and the media was quick to blame Muslim terrorists. The public took that to mean that all Muslims were somehow involved. Five years later, things have cooled down, but Islam is still connected with terrorism in the public's mind, and the Western media is not helping at all.

3) Do you think the reaction/violence around the world in response to the
cartoons of Prophet Muhammad was justified?

Violence, no. But one cannot blame Islamnic communities for the outcry resulting from a slander of their Prophet. In Muslim culture, religion is something not to be toyed with. Western culture is much different, where religion, especially Christianity, is lambasted daily and few object. However, the moderate Muslims got it right in objecting peacefully, instead of violently.

4) Do you feel like Islamic women (in your country or in general) are oppressed?

I don't think they are. The majority if Muslim women don't object to the restrictions they are sometimes subject to, like the burka. A few do, but then, the United States had women in the '70s who refused to wear bras. Same sort of conflict. The views of a few do not necessarily represent the views of the many. However, the restrictions against women do seem harsher in more fundamentalist countries such as Iran or Afghanistan than, say, in the United States or Great Britain.

5) Do you think the United States/or other countries should spend more time/effort on public awareness about Islam, the Middle East, Arabs, etc?

Definitely. People don't know enough, and they lash out at what they don't know. Since the majority of the United States' enemies originate from the Middle East, the people need to know what they're up against, especially so they know that not all Muslims are terrorists, and that Islam is not all about death.


6) Do you feel that your community is sufficiently educated about Islam, or do they tend to be misled by stereotypes?

I don't think I've ever met a Muslim in my community, so I can't really say for sure, but from what I've seen regarding current events, people are generally smart enough to realize that Islam is not evil. Of course, there are the rednecks who think all Muslims are out to blow things up, proving that there are always exceptions to reason.

kid it's late at night people aren't going to be on this late in general so give it some time, Also try not to camp your thread, let a few people respond then respond yourself, don't have it be you, me, you ,someone else, you and so forth

1) How much do you know about Islam and the Middle East?
Geographically a little, I know that in general the middle east is sandy as all get out, has a ton of oil and has american blood drenching a ton of the sand

2) How do you feel the media has portrayed Islam, before 9-11, right after 9-11 and today, 5 years later?

Over all rather poorly, They make the whole muslim community out to be terrorists or terrorists supporters when in reality the terrorists are largely outcasts from their own people

3) Do you think the reaction/violence around the world in response to the cartoons of Prophet Muhammad was justified?
The reaction yes, the violence no. The demark paper violated a rather serious law of islam so they were asking for a response and they deserved it. However the Muslim community on a whole reacted in poor taste, a protest yes, letters to the editor of the paper expressing distaste and asking for them to punish the cartoonist in some way but not violence

4) Do you feel like Islamic women (in your country or in general) are oppressed?
I happen to know a few here in the US and they don't seem oppressed (both of them are excellent martial artists) as to other nations I wouldn't really know, what people need to understand is that people have diffrent views in diffrent places what seems like oppression here (the Burka for example) is just normal there

5) Do you think the United States/or other countries should spend more time/effort on public awareness about Islam, the Middle East, Arabs, etc?
the psotive aspects yes of course we should all understand as much as we can about others, however I don't think that we should educate about race, I think we should teach kids that the only race is the human race

6) Do you feel that your community is sufficiently educated about Islam, or do they tend to be misled by stereotypes?
I would like to think that my community is majorly the former but I'm certain that the latter is every where ignorance does not need much encouragement to grow

Anybody???
Well, I know its touchy, but is anyone willing to give it a shot? Or maybe just talk about their experiences, you don't have to answer the question at all. I'd really appreciate any help.
Thanks.