In the days of the Second World War, the American people cast out two groups of people besides the already affected parties. The German and the Japanese people were cast out, placed in camps, hanged, and so on for the actions of their home countries over seas. For a long time after that, the term German coincided with the term Nazi. For years, German American and Japanese American people had their civil liberties cut if not all together taken away because of a war that could have been prevented in the First World War.
With that in mind, Americans are seeing something similar today as was seen decades ago. Because of the history and current events in the Middle East, Muslims have become misunderstood by anyone that does not take the time to understand the culture. When a man with walks in wearing a thobe or bisht; it is now common for people in the room to be openly nervous. The same can be said when a woman wears a hijab out in public or especially an abaya to which conceals a woman’s identity for cultural reasons. These sets of clothing may seem strange to anyone outside of the culture; but in fact are simply part of the culture. The issue of fear by appearance is not only with clothing; but facial hair and skin color play definite role in it as well. At this point, it is seen what indicates the people. However, what are people afraid of?
A note to keep in mind is what Islam actually means. The translation means submission as in submission to God. It is difficult to explain the entire religion of Islam without giving pages of explanation, so allow me to give an explanation directed in a different path. Islam in short is similar to Christianity and Judaism in belief. The three share similar history, including Islam and Christianity both believing that Jesus was a real person and include a bit of history about him. Judaism and Islam both believe in Moses as well.
Moving back to a conversation closer to home, moving to more of the point. Americans of this day have a deep-seated fear and notion of discrimination towards groups that are at their core different. Because of this, when a member of a minority carries out an act of terror or violence; it is easy to blame the community and culture as a whole. People generally point to blame before thinking, never taking time to realize another culture’s pain. Take for example the recent Orlando shooting. When first committed on a Sunday, it was fully understood that the shooter whom will not be named worshipped Islam and was aligned with ISIL. For many people that the final point, blame the group across the ocean and have another reason to fear a community of people here in America. However, that was not the case. It was later found out that the man carried out the attack was not as black and white as he seemed. That being said, the immediate response from the parents, community, and those representing the religion was an apology. There was an out pouring support for the side that was attacked; but very little done to understand the grief from the side that had one bad seed so to speak. That route then moves to the American society as a whole. The American society has several different groups, many more than most societies near and far. It could be said that with these several different groups comes more strength when united.
