In a rapidly integrating world, people are fighting harder than ever to separate themselves and maintain their comfort zones. This holds true for Americans, Arabs, Europeans — everyone is pulling away while constantly being swept closer together. I think it’s only natural that we run from or retaliate against things that are different from us, but it is reaching a level of inexcusable proportions. Everyone seems to be freaking out at the prospect of integrating their respective cultures, religions, viewpoints and lifestyles.
People are dealing with this in very different ways. Some wage wars to make sure they are always in control. Some aren’t well off enough to do that, and resort to blowing themselves up. Some form hate groups and practice racism. But everyone tends to pull away from those around them, whether because they are afraid or simply don’t understand.
This is a very important phenomenon that I’ve picked up on since moving back from the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is a comfort zone for Muslims. When I went out in public there, I wasn’t stared at or treated differently because of my hijab, because everyone else was wearing one too. I didn’t have to worry about drinking alcohol at gatherings because my fellow Muslims didn’t drink. I could pray without feeling completely awkward from people watching me, because everything was closed for prayer time. I did not have to censor my opinions and phrase things over-cautiously out of fear that someone would twist my words or take offense.
I’m not sure how many people have noticed, but present-day America is not a comfort zone for Muslims. Our values and beliefs are very different from those of Western culture. We have powerful negative stereotypes constantly working against us. And we are in constant fear of ever expressing ourselves because we don’t want to end up in Guantamano. (I hear it’s not very hard to get in; many aren’t even charged with anything. But they all have one thing in common — they are Muslim.) America has a funny way of dealing with Muslims and Arabs, like spying on them and carting them offshore. Hell, if I relied on the media for my understanding of Muslims, I would think they were all murderous, hating, insane psychos, too. I don’t blame Americans for their view of Islam; it’s hard to get unbiased information, and you have to really want to understand Muslims to get a fair view of them.
Many Americans refuse to leave their comfort zones. They would never even dream of visiting an Arab country. I have asked why this is the case and they excuse themselves by saying Arab nations are unstable and unsafe. But many of them don’t mind visiting Israel, and that’s not exactly safe, either. Countries like Syria or Lebanon are about as safe or even more so, but Americans know they are lands of Muslims, which sadly screams, “Don’t even think about it.” Perhaps this aversion is understandable; I wouldn’t advise a bull-headed Republican whitey to visit a small village in Iran, just as I wouldn’t advise a radical Muslim to visit some redneck village in the deep South. I’m not advising that we all just try and be best buddies — it obviously wouldn’t work. I’m just saying that we should try to be a little more open.
For example, I could have gone to university in the Middle East and my life would have been a heck of a lot easier. But I chose to come to university back here. Similarly, I would urge Americans to travel to a Muslim nation. From what I have seen, the majority of us have a lot to learn about Islam.
This does not only apply to Muslims and Americans. It applies to everyone. We are all living side by side, working together and going to school together. But we are resisting each other with so much force that it’s becoming worrisome. If we don’t start to open up we will eventually not have any more corners to run to. The integration between cultures can be civil or it can be violent (like we are seeing now), but I’m sure we have all had enough wars and heard enough insane ideas. The choice is ours: We can either accept the reality of cultural integration, or let our interactions continue to deteriorate.
Sufia Khalid, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, is a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. She can be reached at [email protected].
