Mujahed “M.J.” Ahmad, current student body vice president, was an 11-year-old student sitting in Mrs. Blackburn’s sixth grade classroom at Central Academy in Ann Arbor, Michigan when Arabic-Muslim extremists attacked the Twin Towers on 9/11. It was the first time he had ever heard the word “terrorist.” In the weeks to follow, it would be the first time he was ever made to feel as a foreigner and even a suspect in his own country because he is of “Arab” descent.

“Without doubt, it saddens me that a group of 19 men were able to stereotype a population of over a billion Muslims,” said Ahmad, born in the United States to parents from Palestine and Brazil. “Before September of 2001, I doubt many Americans knew what Islam or Muslim are, and after September of 2001, I believe more Americans than ever are misled and given the wrong impression about Islam by the media.”

According to studies by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC),  non-Muslim Americans who buy into stereotypical media hype have a fear of American Muslims because they believe all people of the Islamic religion to be conspirators of destruction against all other religious faiths. Arab-Americans, due to these misconceptions, fear that their civil rights and safety are in jeopardy.

Ahmad believes that Americans have opportunities to learn about the daily lives of Arab-Americans. One such opportunity exists at Southeastern in a class offered by Dr. James Kirylo.

Kirylo, professor in the Teaching and Learning Department of Education, offers a course entitled “Dimensions of Diversity for Education: Students, Families, Cultures, and Communities.” He encourages students to explore and discuss ways a pluralistic society can celebrate their differences and thus live in a unified way. He requires his students to take a “cultural plunge” into something they fear or makes them feel uncomfortable.

“Engage in authentic communication,” said Kirylo. “Go to a mosque and you’ll be surprised at the commonalities that we do have.”

During the course, Kirylo discusses some little-known commonalities. For example, Islam,  Christianity and Judaism all share the figure of Father Abraham. In addition, all religions have varying degrees of extremists, radicals and conservatives. Finally, a common thread among people of all faith is the universal concept of “love.”

Kirylo’s class also explains that a common misconception about Islam stems from various interpretations of the Arabic word “jihad.” Members of the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge explained that “jihad,” meaning “holy war, ” actually refers to the effort to practice Islam despite oppression or persecution. The “effort” refers to either a battle within oneself against sin or against a dictator. Military involvement would be used as a last resort rather than a means of “spreading Islam.”

Ahmad’s advice supports Kirylo’s idea of a cultural plunge.

“People need to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media,” said Ahmad.­­

For United States military who have fought in the Middle East, they have learned that the actions of few do not represent the whole.

“You can’t blame, hate or question everyone in one race,” said Kevin Shirley, a 22-year-old marine who has been stationed in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.

“If you’re American, then you’re good with me. Some people just move to America simply to have a better life,” said Shirley.

– Courtesy of Alicia Enloe