Media Should Inform Public about True Islam
Facing growing Islamophobia and correcting misconceptions about the nature of a religion many people in US may associate with terrorism, media should be informing the public about Islam.
Speaking to IQNA, Phil Pasquini, author of “Domes, Arches and Minarets, A History of Islamic-Inspired Buildings in America” added that America has become fixated since 9/11 with all things Islamic that are sensational.
He said this has been perpetuated by the constant news from mainstream media as a reaction to that very event. Unfortunately, the “painting” of Islam and Muslims has been one of vilification. Very few stories tell of a people or religion as anything other than devious or as engaged in a “conflict of civilizations.”
“Not unlike the Cold War era when “communism” and “communist” were loaded words, some now find the words, “Islam” and “Muslim” suspect in every way. This has had the unfortunate effect of polarizing various fringe elements and groups who display their ignorance and intolerance of a diverse people and religion. Painting any people or religion thusly eludes the central issues of understanding and appreciation for differences.”
Pasquini underlined that it is important to remember that many Americans are accepting of their fellow Muslim Americans and are not swayed by sensationalist media hype aimed at dividing people into ideological camps.
“As an example of how the media should be informing the public about Islam, my wife, Elaine, who writes a monthly column for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and I are currently reporting on an historic five day workshop in Berkeley, California, on the subject of environmental education in Islamic schools. The University of Vermont’s Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security, Zaytuna College – America’s first Muslim liberal arts college – and the Graduate Theological Union’s Center for Islamic Studies have come together to address the important issue of protecting our environment.”
He underlined that a major part of the subject deals with Qu’ranic text and one’s responsibility to the Earth and how you are judged respective to your stewardship in this life. Unfortunately, this event will receive little, if any, attention from our local media, let alone any national attention.
For more information about the “environmental education in Islamic schools” workshop you can visit http://www.uvm.edu/ieds/node/1124.
The author of Domes, Arches and Minarets, Phil Pasquini is a California native who has been a staff photojournalist at the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, as well as contributing to other international publications since 1999. He has also worked as a radio correspondent, reporting from Europe, the Middle East and the U.S. In 2010 he and his wife, also a journalist, received the prestigious CAIR Award for Fairness and Integrity in Media.
His book traces the over 200-year history and development of Islamic-inspired architecture in America from the earliest Spanish-Moorish buildings constructed in the 1700s to the more contemporary buildings of the 21st century.
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He said this has been perpetuated by the constant news from mainstream media as a reaction to that very event. Unfortunately, the “painting” of Islam and Muslims has been one of vilification. Very few stories tell of a people or religion as anything other than devious or as engaged in a “conflict of civilizations.”
“Not unlike the Cold War era when “communism” and “communist” were loaded words, some now find the words, “Islam” and “Muslim” suspect in every way. This has had the unfortunate effect of polarizing various fringe elements and groups who display their ignorance and intolerance of a diverse people and religion. Painting any people or religion thusly eludes the central issues of understanding and appreciation for differences.”
Pasquini underlined that it is important to remember that many Americans are accepting of their fellow Muslim Americans and are not swayed by sensationalist media hype aimed at dividing people into ideological camps.
“As an example of how the media should be informing the public about Islam, my wife, Elaine, who writes a monthly column for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and I are currently reporting on an historic five day workshop in Berkeley, California, on the subject of environmental education in Islamic schools. The University of Vermont’s Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security, Zaytuna College – America’s first Muslim liberal arts college – and the Graduate Theological Union’s Center for Islamic Studies have come together to address the important issue of protecting our environment.”
He underlined that a major part of the subject deals with Qu’ranic text and one’s responsibility to the Earth and how you are judged respective to your stewardship in this life. Unfortunately, this event will receive little, if any, attention from our local media, let alone any national attention.
For more information about the “environmental education in Islamic schools” workshop you can visit http://www.uvm.edu/ieds/node/1124.
The author of Domes, Arches and Minarets, Phil Pasquini is a California native who has been a staff photojournalist at the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, as well as contributing to other international publications since 1999. He has also worked as a radio correspondent, reporting from Europe, the Middle East and the U.S. In 2010 he and his wife, also a journalist, received the prestigious CAIR Award for Fairness and Integrity in Media.
His book traces the over 200-year history and development of Islamic-inspired architecture in America from the earliest Spanish-Moorish buildings constructed in the 1700s to the more contemporary buildings of the 21st century.
1172780
