Reasonable Accomodation
Today in my Sociology class, our teacher had us watch a show called 30 days. The show was created by Morgan Spurlock, that guy who made Supersize Me where he ate McDonalds for a month. This particular episode that we watched was called 30 days as a Muslim. How it worked was this man in his thirties, a devout practicing Christian from West Virginia agreed to live with a Muslim family in an Islamic community somewhere in Michigan for 30 days. The town has one of the highest concentrations of Muslims in the United States. The guy learned about their customs and practices, and even attended prayer services in the Mosque.
The show really opened my mind to how closed minded some people can be. During the show, at some points Morgan Spurlock would be shown interviewing random people on the streets about Islam. I find it amazing how most people to whom he asked the question, "How would you react if someone in muslim dress sat down beside you?" responded with they would be scared, or they would think the person has terrorist connections. People need to be more open minded about other religions, especially Islam. There are roughly billions of muslims world wide, to hold them all responsible for the terrorist actions of a small group is absolutely ridiculous.
This brings me to my point of reasonable accomodation. If you don't know, It's an islamic law that one must pray five times a day, so in this town in Michigan, there would be a call to prayer transmitted over a speaker on the outside of the Mosque alerting people that it was time to pray. The Islamic community had gotten so many angry emails and even death threats about this. People were saying that this was America, they shouldn't have to hear other religions if they didn't want to, blah blah blah.
Well excuse me but the last time I checked, no one was MAKING you listen to the arabic prayer on the speaker (which lasted all of 10 seconds). These people aren't forcing ANYTHING down your throats. They can believe what they like, you can belive what you like.
When a people immigrate to a new country, they should be allowed to continue practicing their own religion and language and customs without conflict. I'm not saying that somehow American customs should be lost, you guys keep playing your baseball and eating your apple pie. Cultures shouldn't be assimilated completely, but accomodated for.
My point is, I think there are a lot of people who need to open their minds. Perhaps I'm biased, coming from a very multicultural city; apparently more Montrealers are chosen for the UN than any other group because of our exposure and therefore openess to other cultures. All I'm saying is there's no hurt in learning.
The show really opened my mind to how closed minded some people can be. During the show, at some points Morgan Spurlock would be shown interviewing random people on the streets about Islam. I find it amazing how most people to whom he asked the question, "How would you react if someone in muslim dress sat down beside you?" responded with they would be scared, or they would think the person has terrorist connections. People need to be more open minded about other religions, especially Islam. There are roughly billions of muslims world wide, to hold them all responsible for the terrorist actions of a small group is absolutely ridiculous.
This brings me to my point of reasonable accomodation. If you don't know, It's an islamic law that one must pray five times a day, so in this town in Michigan, there would be a call to prayer transmitted over a speaker on the outside of the Mosque alerting people that it was time to pray. The Islamic community had gotten so many angry emails and even death threats about this. People were saying that this was America, they shouldn't have to hear other religions if they didn't want to, blah blah blah.
Well excuse me but the last time I checked, no one was MAKING you listen to the arabic prayer on the speaker (which lasted all of 10 seconds). These people aren't forcing ANYTHING down your throats. They can believe what they like, you can belive what you like.
When a people immigrate to a new country, they should be allowed to continue practicing their own religion and language and customs without conflict. I'm not saying that somehow American customs should be lost, you guys keep playing your baseball and eating your apple pie. Cultures shouldn't be assimilated completely, but accomodated for.
My point is, I think there are a lot of people who need to open their minds. Perhaps I'm biased, coming from a very multicultural city; apparently more Montrealers are chosen for the UN than any other group because of our exposure and therefore openess to other cultures. All I'm saying is there's no hurt in learning.
I totally agree with your blog.
The reason I don't have a religion is becuase I think it makes me more accepting of all religions, instead of thinking one is "better" than the others.
I totally agree with open-mindedness.
I've had a muslim person sit next to me, and I actually talked to him. He told me about this book he was reading because I told him I was going to school for English and Lit. He told me about his son being a doctor.
He was a nice guy...
Sorry, this blog made me think of him. x]
Shorty of Suburbia, February 11th, 2010 at 06:09:00pm
Fourplay: I didn't include this in the blog so I'll elaborate more on the prayer thing. The islamic community said that it's the same as hearing church bells several times a day, to which a woman retorted that church bells don't force a message down anyone's throat, they're just music.
My thinking is that, if you don't speak arabic, well then it's just noise...It shouldn't mean anything to you.
but thanks for the comments guys I appreciate it!
wanderlust, February 11th, 2010 at 04:38:38pm
I totally agree :) I'm a devout Christian but in my opinion people can belive in what they want too :) did you know that most Muslims don't accept the suicide bombers as true Muslims as it's says in the Koran that you mustn't kill :) Jesus is also a Muslim prophet. All religions are intertwined :)
DingDongDhavee, February 11th, 2010 at 04:29:09pm
I understand why people would find it slightly annoying to hear that five times a day, and yes, they are being forced too, arent they?
But really thats a very silly thing to get upset about.
America: the land of the free.
I love reminding Americans that they're all immigrants anyway, so get off your high horse and show some respect.
BREASTS, February 11th, 2010 at 12:26:35am
I agree with you. Especially the point you made that talked about not all Islamic people being radical. That's something that a lot of people don't get. That most Islamic people are peaceful and unfortunatley there is a small concentration that is not. I think that most people are just too narrow-minded and succumb to what society holds these people as: either being a terrorist or working at the Dunkin' Donuts down the street. And to me that's not at all fair.
Good blog!
Not Alison, February 10th, 2010 at 11:58:22pm