What is Discrimination?

Promoted -- GH. Originally posted 2008-05-12 21:03:07 -0500.

What is discrimination? Discrimination is defined as the act or an instance of distinguishing one person unjustly over another according to aspects unrelated to their ability, based on age, disability, religion, sex, or national origin. Within the past years, discrimination is a word that has adapted the nature of a negative subtext in society. From the beginning of the Equal Rights Movement, the denotation of the word “discrimination” has been modified from a practical asset to an act of insult. In my utmost opinion, the discrimination of one’s faith/way of life is a quite serious notion that has taken over the lives of Americans since the attack of 9/11.

The unconscionable disaster that has overwhelmed the nation of America on September 11th has touched the hearts of almost every single person throughout the world, including Muslims. The destruction of the beloved Twin Towers along with the many innocent lives victimized by this terror has brought grief-stricken tears to the eyes of countless individuals. The images of violence traveling the globe have proved how powerless the world is to terrorism and its immorality.

Nevertheless, as the shock of the tragedy turned into detestation, a dangerous combination of emotions began to settle throughout America. As we all know, 9/11 has began many supposed beneficial things among the world—the endless war against Iraq, the hunt of Osama Bin Laden, the attack on Saddam Hussein, airport tight security measures, the crackdown against terrorists (bearded men), and the daily increase of Islamic hatred. And seven years after 19 men hijacked four packed planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania, a majority of Americans has still kept their loathing against Muslims activated. As for Muslims, it has opened the gates of constant discrimination. In unison, Americans found a reason to attack us, police to pester us, politicians and journalists to insult our religion.

As an American Muslim living in New York, who respects and admires the teaching of Islam, I must say that listening to various radio stations, shortly after the attacks, while callers filled the phone lines venting their anger, spitting “We need to kill them all!” and “Throws all those damn Muslims out of this country,” labeling the religion as "a bloody, bloody, brutal type of religion," completely took a stab at my heart, brought tears to my eyes, and broke my peace of silence. Television mainstream broadcasts were constantly interviewing supposed experts of Islam discussing the disposition of terrorists, the Islamic teaching of terrorism; concluding that every Muslim possess a characteristic link with terrorism.

The host Pat Robertson stated, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have to recognize that Islam is not a religion. It is a worldwide political movement meant on domination of the world. And it is meant to subjugate all people under Islamic law." He characterized the American Muslim community as "Islam light" and went on to say Muslims "want to take over and we want to impose Sharia on you. And before long, ladies are going to be dressed in burqas and whatever garments they would put on them, and next thing you know, men are going to be allowed to have wife-beating and you'll be beheading adulterers and so on and so forth.” These hurtful remarks were the backbone that swept all Muslims into pain. Masjids were then vandalized; Muslim women were harassed for wearing scarves; and bearded men were targets for having a quality resembling a terrorist.

Being a target for someone’s own vendetta against Muslims, I can assure you that it the most horrible thing to remember. In all the years attending an Islamic private school, never had I ever been terrified of entering the gates of what was thought to be my second home. Soon after the 9/11 attacks occurred, the school was expected to be opened regularly, but no one had ever dreamt of walking into a dead zone that day. The school was in their second period of the day, beginning the day with usual prayers, and discussing the developments of the attacks that has hit the nation, when a bomb threat was made to the school. Several were made prior to this one, but for some reason this one took the attention of the staff extensively. The caller claimed to be on the grounds of the school, with 3 loaded guns, and was ready to attack simply because he thought the school somehow participated in planning the attack of 9/11. Also because the threatener has just lost his mother in the Twin Towers he is now seeking revenge on those responsible. The school went into a panic-attack but somehow managed to contact all of the student’s parents, and one by one crawling on our knees to stay out of sight (accompanied by a police officer) took us safely into the arms of our terrified parents. The school was then closed for a total of 10 days because of the intense and series of threats made. When the school was subject to reopen, a police car was stationed in front of the school during school hours for several days.

From that day forward, I was fearful of stepping into the world knowing that such cruel people exists day in and day out. I was simply terrified that I would be a bull’s-eye for others to vent their anger upon for simply loving my religion. In my judgment, no religious group should be blamed for a few disturbed individuals’ mistakes. Blaming religion for this disaster only draws more innocent lives into a cycle of hatred that tends to hurt others throughout its path.

Despite the mainstream’s attempt to ruin the peace of my religion, I still do believe that it has the utmost peaceful teachings as a way of life. As Americans, we should look beyond the media’s outlook on things and search for answers and explanations to Islam instead of merely detesting the religion and its followers. As Americans, we should take a moment to remember the foundation in which this country stands upon—with liberty and justice for all—and allow it to consider the way we treat others based on race, ethnicity, or religion.