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Palomar College discussion aims to raise awareness about Islam
By: NOELLE IBRAHIM - Associated Press | ∞
Edgar Hopida, spokesman for the San Diego Council on American-Islamic Relations, spoke to the crowd at Palomar College on Tuesday evening. He was a guest speaker as part of the Muslim Student Association's Islam Awareness Week on campus.
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SAN MARCOS -- "Islamophobia," or prejudice against Islam or Muslims, stems from fearing the unknown, Edgar Hopida, spokesman for the San Diego Council on American-Islamic Relations told a group of Palomar College students Wednesday.
"It's a very problematic mentality which takes root from centuries of misunderstanding," Hopida told the crowd after projecting some statistics on a screen.
Almost 60 percent of Americans are "not very knowledgeable" or "not at all knowledgeable" about Islam and nearly one-fifth admit to intolerant feelings toward Muslims, according to the council's 2006 survey of public opinion about Islam and Muslims.
Hopida said people who don't have any contact with Muslims tend to have a more negative view of Islam than those who have friends or coworkers who are Muslim.
About 30 students and community members gathered on Palomar's main campus Wednesday night to learn more about the religion and the concept of Islamophobia during Islam Awareness Week, jointly sponsored by Palomar and MiraCosta's chapters of the Muslim Student Association, which has more than 500 chapters at colleges and universities across the United States and Canada.
The dialogue was part of a series of discussions and question-and-answer sessions on topics ranging from the basics of the religion to Muslim and non-Muslim relations, which were held on campus this week to combat common misconceptions through education, said Hafifa Siddiq, president of MiraCosta's chapter who organized the event.
"We want people to make their judgements based on knowledge, not opinions and what they see in media," said Siddiq. "The Islamic perspective rarely gets much attention. We want to provide that representation."
During the discussion, Hopida outlined the roots of Islamophobia from the religion's inception to modern times.
"Islam was seen as a major challenge to Christianity from the beginning, not because it was new and different, but because it was too similar to the traditions of Christianity and Judaism," he said.
The prejudice against Islam and Muslims stems from misconceptions that have built up over time, including the ideas that the religion is monolithic and does not have any values in common with other religions, Hopida said. Muslims are wrongly viewed as violent, aggressive and supportive of terrorism, he said, images that have saturated mainstream media after Sept. 11, 2001.
"When 9/11 happened, people said, 'you see, they're barbaric, they're inhuman," Hopida said. "There's this perception that if one Muslim is bad, all Muslims are bad."
Palomar student Matt Fleming asked Hopida why organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations don't do more to publically denounce terrorist organizations.
"If you do the research and look online, you'll see we've condemned terrorism ... if you're harming an innocent life, that is wrong to us," Hopida responded. "The problem is no one listens. There's a truism in media -- if it bleeds, it leads."
Hopida then encouraged audience members to research mainstream Islam in books and online before applying broad judgements.
"We need to get beyond these stereotypes and rhetoric," he said, adding that the best tool to battle Islamophobia is knowledge.
Palomar student Jonathan Moore, 19, said he came to the discussion to understand Islam from the people who practice it.
"College is supposed to teach us to critically think" said Moore. "(Islamophobia) is based out of ignorance, misunderstanding and an unwillingness to listen, despite claiming open-mindedness."
Professor Sharon Allen of Palomar's multicultural studies department will lead a discussion on "Women in Islam" from 4:30 to 6 p.m. today in front of the student cafeteria to close out the week's activities.
-- Contact staff writer Noelle Ibrahim at (760) 740-3517 or nibrahim@nctimes.com.
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wisher wrote on Oct 18, 2007 6:20 AM:what do you mean that the proplem is a lack of knoledge and misunderstanding of islam.The people understand what they read and not what you say . Do you want to say that the people does not understand what is written in the Quraan.Could you explain " thatGod instructed the profit to KILL who is not following him".Please respect the intelligence of others
Nick wrote on Oct 18, 2007 8:22 AM:They say they teach their followers about tolerance. That means that they are supposed to be tolerant to all us infidels who don't believe in Islam? Last time I checked, this Country was not founded on Islam and it's Americans who are being forced to be tolerant of Islam and Muslims. Muslims were in an uproar over a cartoon of Mohammad. The guy consecrated his marriage to a 9 year old girl. It's in the Qaran and is public knowledge. This is who all these loonies look up to. Give me a break. Islam has NO place in America!
tell the truth wrote on Oct 18, 2007 9:02 AM:The reason that Islam is similar to Christianity and Judaism is because it's a made up religion from someone who wanted fame. "Allah" is not the same god as in Christianity and Judaism. There are a lot of lies told about Islam. It is not peaceful.
if wrote on Oct 18, 2007 9:43 AM:if you attended the presentation on tuesday. that question would have been answered...
OceanWind wrote on Oct 18, 2007 10:12 AM:Quran, like all other scriptures, has to be taken in proper exegetic and historical context. If one were to just pick and choose, while ignoring the context as well as the comprehensive teachings, then anything can be deduced from any scripture. That is why it is important for a person to not let lack of knowledge or misunderstanding of another faith lead to prejudice and hate. It is best to ask questions at such opportunities from people who actually practice the faith instead of making generalizations based on ignorance.
GURU53 wrote on Oct 18, 2007 11:07 AM:The Muslims in Oakland who ran a bakery as a drug front gave the religion a bad name.
TSOE wrote on Oct 18, 2007 11:41 AM:It is not that people of other faiths should be aware of Islam, but it is Islamists who must be considerate to people of other religions or non-religion. This is probably the worst religion of all. How can any woman with a couple of brain cells be a minion of this faith? They are practically second class citizens.
Why? wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:10 PM:Didnt the NCT post my comment? It was not innappropriate in any way.
John E wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:34 PM:The real problem is religious zealotry, intolerance, and tribalism. Enlightened 21st Century Jews do not literally follow all of the laws in the Old Testament, and I know rational modern (and devout) Muslims who strongly support freedom and human rights, including suffrage for women. We Christians should not be too smug, given our own history of Crusades and Inquisitions. I like Huston Smith's recommendation that all of us search earnestly for the highest and noblest teachings and goals of each of the world's religions. The result is a good collection of sensible guidelines for living responsibly and ethically.
Concerned-1 wrote on Oct 18, 2007 1:48 PM:Islamaphobic? You bet I am and for good reason. These heretics have done nothing but harm for centuries. Look at the vast majority of troubled areas on this globe and you will find one common denominator; muslims trying to force their religion on the public.
OceanWind wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:14 PM:Actually the Islam bashing of today is not unusual, the Jews, Blacks, Japanese Americans, Latinos, Italians, Polish have all had their share of hate and bigotry in the past based on prejudice and generalizations. The great thing is that the vast majority of Americans are tolerant of others and can see through this hate, bigotry and generalizations. Islam bashers like to focus on the preachings of their counter extremists rather than the over a billion, peaceful and hardworking Muslims worldwide including millions in America.
The Truth wrote on Oct 18, 2007 4:20 PM:Extremists have ABSOLUTLY NO place in Islam...so stop acting soooo IGNORANT and saying that Islam is not peceful && try to look beyond just what you hear on the media!!! Its like saying that you Christians are RASIST, DISCRIMINATE && KILL people based on lookin at the KKK...i mean they ARE christian after all. BUT NO...im not going to be ignorant like you all and believe that...
Two attacks wrote on Oct 18, 2007 7:06 PM:Of the two major terrorist attacks in the U.S....One terrorist attack was by radical evangelicals, Oklahoma City, and the other by radical Muslims, 9/11. I think religion is the problem not the people.
WhoWhat wrote on Oct 18, 2007 7:49 PM:I understand that there are many peaceful coexisting Muslims and that we should not be singling out everyone Muslim as extremists. You must also be honest and see what havoc this religion is bringing upon the world, look at the terror and inhumanity. Until I hear a GREAT chorus of disdain and anger from the moderate Muslim world towards the extremists I will continue to see them as tactfully and quietly supporting the extremists, thus making them evil by complicity, they can not have it both ways.....
WhoWhat to OceanWind wrote on Oct 18, 2007 8:09 PM:OceanWind, I think your point is foolish, the people and races you refer to (other than the Japanese) had no proclivity towards GENOCIDE nor had a complete and total hatred towards anyone who disagreed with their race or religion. Maybe you should take some time to learn and understand history. I agree that all Muslims are not terrorists but the 1% that are, create 100% of the problems, and until the majority of Muslims stand up with the rest of the world and fight the extremists, the prejudice and hatred toward Muslims will continue.
HEY wrote on Oct 18, 2007 9:43 PM:"I agree that all Muslims are not terrorists but the 1% that are, create 100% of the problems, and until the majority of Muslims stand up with the rest of the world and fight the extremists, the prejudice and hatred toward Muslims will continue." This is why the media is Islam's worse enemy. They filter out what the public can or cannot see. BLEEDS-FEEDS. People wana hear about drama. About crazy so-called Muslims who have NO qualifications and NO right to even represent 1.8 BILLION people. "Until I hear a GREAT chorus of disdain and anger from the moderate Muslim world towards the extremists I will continue to see them as tactfully and quietly supporting the extremists, thus making them evil by complicity, they can not have it both ways..... " -HHMMM... you might want to go outside mainstream media.
Yeah Right wrote on Oct 18, 2007 9:47 PM:Keep trying all you Islamic practitioners. Maybe one day you will be able to convince us Christians that your treatment of women as third class citizens, the lack of tolerance of other religions and your denial of the violence brought upon non-believers by fundamentalists should be overlooked. Until then realize that we are far too wise to such illogical beliefs that your religion looks upon as basic tenets.
To Hey or OceanWind wrote on Oct 18, 2007 10:16 PM:I am hugely aware of the slanted media I DO NOT rely on them. I do however understand inaction due to the tenants of Islam and the fear they incite. Please give me some examples of your moderates "GREAT" outrage against the extremists, enlighten me. Those that I have read give lip service but little more, they seem timid, maybe they are afraid of being targeted by their extremist brethren.
OceanWind wrote on Oct 21, 2007 12:37 AM:Search google for "CAIR's Anti-Terrorism campaigns" or the fatwa by the Fiqh council of North America or "A Word From Us to You" by 138 leading Muslims scholars or look at the work of any other major Muslim organization such as MPAC or ISNA or ICNA. Muslims are not quite about terrorism, in fact most victims of terrorism are Muslims. But you need to go beyond the major media coverage to look at something that is not as sensational as blood and killing.
WhoWhat wrote on Oct 21, 2007 7:57 PM:Examples of great outrage must be more than words, they are often too few too late and mean very little when spoken to the infidels in the infidels language. The biggest issue is we hear words of trust and acceptance from OBL himself who are we to trust? We need to see demonstrations in the street by moderates against the evil perpetrated against any innocents, We need to hear dialog between Muslims and see actions where Muslims are reporting these evil doers to the authorities, there needs to be arrests where it is known that Muslims are truly against the extremists. Actions speak much louder than words.
HEY "yearight" wrote on Oct 30, 2007 9:32 PM:"Keep trying all you Islamic practitioners. Maybe one day you will be able to convince us Christians that your treatment of women as third class citizens, the lack of tolerance of other religions and your denial of the violence brought upon non-believers by fundamentalists should be overlooked" Your answer to that is in the quran honey. Why don't you just look for yourself rather than frantically talk... about facts you don't know anything about.
Kelly wrote on Mar 7, 2008 3:08 PM:I think this is great that Palomar College has offered this class. Our country is known for people who discriminated agaisnt others for race, religion, and sex. I always wonder what kind of people would side with slavery and from the posts above I guess now I know. Thank you Palomar and I will be proud if my children chose your college to attend. Peace
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