It is a hot and muggy afternoon in New York City. As most summer days there are many people combing the streets either as tourists or native inhabitants of the area. Large office structures loom over the city, watching the humans scurry about far below. The roadways are jammed with automobiles traveling every which direction, causing a great delay of traffic. A yellow colored Ford Taurus sits vacated outside a Savings and Loan building, seemingly awaiting for it’s owner to arrive and drive it away. Unfortunately, disaster strikes. The car explodes into the air tearing into numerous pieces. Shrapnel flies everywhere and the piercing screams of injured people can be heard blocks away. As the police swarm the crime scene and aid in treating the wounded, anger and curiosity consumes the minds of the onlookers. Who would commit such an atrocity? Immediately, news of the catastrophe reached the rest of the country and later that night many turned on either the radio or television to find the current developments in the investigation. Broadcasting from the mouths of countless "terrorist" experts were allegations involving Islamic Fundamentalists, convincing the public of their malicious nature. However, as time progressed citizens of the United States found that it was not Islamic Fundamentalists but rather a deranged lunatic who had "supposedly" been cheated out of money by the Savings and Loan corporation.
This story is typical of the stereotype interwoven with Islamic culture. Political leaders and the West have focused much attention on the threat of Islam. While extremism exists in Islam, it does not represent the teachings of the Koran nor the views of most Muslims or Arabic’s. Unfortunately, the press tends to focus it’s attention on the infamous behavior of a select few, creating a barrier and preventing a complete understanding of this ethnic group. The demonization of these people is similar to the negative portrayal of Japanese and Vietnamese in World War II and the Vietnam War respectively. Terrorism is not limited to Islamic militants, as evidenced in Northern Ireland and Oklahoma City. It is a travesty when society affiliates these barbarians with the innocent, law abiding individuals who work with each other, bringing piece to their country. Moreover, the vast majority of Muslims are offended when extremists carry out acts of violence in the name of Islam.
It is crucial to obtain a brief history of the Islamic religion in order to comprehend the disparity between the common Muslim or Arabian and savage militant. Islam was founded in the seventh century AD by the apostle, Muhammad, and emphasized an uncompromising monotheism and a strict adherence to certain religious practices. While there have been numerous movements within the religion, and prominent cultural and religious difference among the various nations of the Islamic world, all the followers of Islam are bound by a common faith and sense of belonging to a single community. For these individuals, the Koran is the word of God and Muhammad serves as the instrument in accurately depicting it’s message. Because Muhammad is deemed as God’s most perfect messenger, he is also deserving of obedience. The Qur’anic theology states that men are to obey God’s will and that a special responsibility is laid on them. Muslims are directed to believe in one God, in angels, in the revealed books, in the prophets, and in the Day of Judgment. The most important religious concept of Islam is that of the Shari’ah, or the Law. This idea welcomes the total way of life as commanded by God (Lapidus, Ira M., Pg.3). It is this notion that is constantly misinterpreted by Islamic fundamentalists inclined on reeking violence and destruction throughout the world. Peaceful individuals decipher God’s words as promoting harmony with one another and the embracing the way of life commanded by Him. Others misconstrue God’s purpose as forcefully showing His power by acts of terrorism. They believe that God would want mass death and destruction to emphasize His teachings.
Because of it’s disparaging connotation, many Muslims consider the term, Islamic Fundamentalism, to be an offense to their faith and often regard it as a deliberate Western attempt to "distort and misrepresent the contemporary Islamic resurgence"(Rajashekar, Paul, Pg.65). Within the past decade or so, there has been a strong resurgence and revival of Islam. Muslim societies are being built centered on Islamic values. Today’s Islam battles modernism. While Muslims have constantly struggled to join the breach between faith and practice, some are now integrating Western ideas with the foundation of Islam. The modernist attempt to reform Islamic values has led to a split of those preferring the adoption of Westernism and "those gravitating toward pre-modernist revivalism"(4). As the threat of Western infiltration into Muslim societies continued, some reacted with a purification program, using the slogan "back to Islam." Thus, creating the "Muslim Brotherhood." There have been numerous acts of terrorism performed in the name of Islamic Fundamentalism. These individuals have claimed "Holy Wars" on western civilization, in an attempt to abolish it’s growing influence and return Islam to it’s natural state. One such instance occurred in New York City. Two Islamic militants placed a bomb inside the World Trade Center, which later killed and injured many innocent people. It is through similar actions that these savages have cast a negative shadow on all that is good with Islamic fundamentalism. While many Muslims feel ashamed and disgraced by the their fellow brethren, they believe that Westerners intentionally deem all Muslims evil. This assertion is not entirely false. The fear of Westerners to Muslims is well founded. It is impossible to forget the repeated vicious and malevolent behavior of Islamic extremists. Therefore, as it is obvious not every Islamic fundamentalist engages in terrorist warfare on western civilization, there will always be a wary attitude towards Muslims and their intentions.
Central to the stereotype accompanying Islamic fundamentalism, is the press which creates a biased viewpoint and influences the public. Like most aspects of media portraying current events, there is a particular focus on unfavorable aspects of society. Rarely is there an article in a newspaper describing the good of various communities, nations, ethnicity’s, or creeds. Rather, the attention surrounds violent happenings such as arson, murder, and war. The public is so interested in confrontation that it fails to recognize the beauty of the world and those who inhabit it. Consequently, taking for granite the magnificent differences between cultures and nations. There are countless magazines dedicated to portraying the latest scandals and conflicts around the world. The press’ obsession with controversy produces a barrier in regularizing relations between opposing countries and the Islamic kingdom. It constantly demonizes Muslims as a whole through depicting terrorism and failing to illustrate their many admirable characteristics. The public then reads of the violence from a select group "representing" Islam and forms their own opinions based on the given information. Moreover, society expresses it’s disapproval of Islam which not only affects the actions of representatives in the government, but proves detrimental to the relations between various ethnicity’s in the community.
When reviewing the prominence of terrorism and it’s unjust affiliation with the entire nation of Islam, it is important to understand that this lawlessness is not limited to Muslim extremists. Terrorism resides in many countries including the United States, England, Ireland, Japan and infinite amount of others. However, with almost every occurrence society tends to blame the Islamic Fundamentalists. One current example portrays this idea. When a bomb exploded outside the Oklahoma City Federal Building, killing and injuring hundreds of innocent civilians, everyone was quick to point fingers at the nation of Islam (Berthrong, John, Pg. 144). Allegations leaked to the media suggesting a crew of Muslim terrorists had carried out the mission. While it was true that Islamic activists had been involved in past situations, there was no evidence proving their involvement. Nonetheless, television stations across the country broadcasted that this act of inhumanity was the fault of Islamic fundamentalists. As time progressed, the investigation proved otherwise. Not only was it not Muslim extremists, but rather two Americans bent on the massacre of many people. For the nation of Islam, the damage had been done. The hidden skepticism of Islamic Fundamentalists had surfaced from deep within Western natives, suggesting a strong and damaging stereotype of Muslim citizens.
There is distinct parallel between the modern view of Islamic Fundamentalists and past assumptions correlated with Japanese and Vietnamese. In World War II, a Japan air raid struck Pearl Harbor, destroying not only American battle ships but innocent lives as well. This vicious act propelled the United States into the second World War, and a long, grueling battle with Japan. Even though the conflict was overseas in countries many miles from the United States, there was an overwhelming concern of Japanese Americans. It was assumed that they were conspiring against America by acting as spies, informing the enemy of U.S. military action. The government decided to gather a vast majority of Japanese and place them jail or on isolated bodies of land such as Angel Island in San Francisco. Thus, the Japanese were under constant supervision and deemed as traitors. In the Vietnam War there were similar opinions adjoining Vietnamese. Most notably existing in the country of Vietnam, all natives were viewed with caution and apprehension. United States soldiers often assumed a village was North Vietnamese and burned it to the ground when in fact it belonged to their allies. It was hard for Americans to differentiate between opposing and friendly Vietnamese in the heat of battle. Therefore, all Vietnamese were portrayed as evil and this confusion cost many innocent lives. The corresponding conceptions of Japanese, Vietnamese, and Islamic Fundamentalists confirms a history of labeling certain ethnicity’s based on the conduct of an exclusive group.
When society views an ethnicity by it’s extremists, the public will not recognize individuals who represent righteousness and a dedication to improving their respective country. Within the Muslim world there are many less radical people than the politicians and extremists that tend to receive the majority of media. Much of the population is peaceful and lives in harmony with one another. Those who help purify their countries image are often forgotten. Such individuals could be heroes to their country if anyone paid adequate attention. It is unfortunate that their efforts are seldom noticed, for it could greatly improve the status and conception of Islamic Fundamentalists.
Western countries have to unite to fight the rise in Islamic Fundamentalism, though they should be against terrorism only and not against the religion or people. There is a prominent stereotype affiliating Muslims as a whole with Islamic extremists. While there exists a large involvement of various Fundamentalists in the world of terrorism, it is unfair to connect the actions of a select few with the intent of the Islamic nation. The term Islamic Fundamentalist is now viewed with shame not only by the Western world but by many Muslims as well. History has proved a pattern of demonizing a group because of selected individuals. It is imperative for our society to open it’s eyes to it’s faults and stop concentrating on the imperfections of others.
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