Changing the discussion

What do a flood, a research poll and a community center all have
in common?

The discourse over these events has turned Islam into a four-letter word here in
the U.S.  

This is a world that is hyper-globalized, so it is amazing that we still cower in our boots about a religion that shares roots with our own Judeo-Christian heritage. Instead of reaching out to our neighbors in humanity, we have neglected them in their time of need, using their religion of peace as a slur against them.

Take for example the damning floods in Pakistan that have washed away entire ways of life. The United Nations is scrambling for more helicopters and aid, even pleading with nations to help more.  Only 40 more helicopters are needed to help save as many as 800,000 people who can only be accessed by air — but the UN and Pakistan are left wanting.  

While the federal government has donated millions in charity to the region, citizens have not made the same commitment.  After the earthquake in Haiti, aid organizations saw a boost in funds from everyday people making a contribution via text message, but Pakistan is not seeing the same kind of charitable giving.

It’s not a hard puzzle to figure out. Haiti was an island unfamiliar to most Americans, but it was intriguing to many just tuning into the region after the devastation hit. The culture of Haiti struck a chord with the American people, and in kind they responded to the earthquake with compassion.

On the other hand, Pakistan has been plastered in headlines since 9/11. Its reputation as a country that harbors terrorist organizations such as the Taliban and al-Qaida dirties the nation in the minds of many would-be contributors. But there is also the issue of corruption in the region, notorious for ignoring transparency and funneling money away from the worst hit areas.  

Pakistan certainly has an uphill PR battle to wage when it comes to their image abroad.

But that battle cannot start in Pakistan — the region needs to focus on keeping its head above water. Mending this public relations nightmare must start here in the United States where we are in a position to do some real good.

To begin the healing process and for Americans to truly view people in Pakistan (and within the greater Muslim world with it) as fellow humans instead of enemies, we need to change the discussion.

Last week a now infamous poll came out saying that almost one-in-five Americans believe that President Barack Obama is a Muslim.

The inherent problem does not have to do with the ignorance of nearly 18 percent of the American population, but with how the conversations that surrounded the results in the days after its release
were conducted.

Many in the media agreed that being labeled as a Muslim is bad for politics. And while that might be true, it is this same kind of thinking that leads to branding a Muslim country as inhuman in the minds of many.

The same nasty rhetoric is being flamed by the ongoing debate over Park51, better known as the Ground Zero mosque. While the wisdom of choosing to build this site so close to where the Twin Towers once stood is up for respectful debate, the treatment of the conversation has been anything but civil. Instead of bowing to religious tolerance, many have risen up in arms over what has mistakenly been called a Muslim takeover of America.  

Politicians (most notably Republicans) are tossing the issue around like it is a political football.
 
With no deference given to the cultural sensitivities of a community on the fringe of our own, we are effectively pushing it away as a society. Associating terrorism with any Islamic activity creates a disconnect between the cultures which fosters an “us” and “them” attitude.

With a mindset like that, it’s no wonder that aid contributions to Pakistan are dwindling while the country continues to suffer. Lives can still be saved, but it starts with looking past current prejudices and changing the rhetoric toward the Muslim faith here in the states.


E-mail: danfleis@indiana.edu