Response to Alex Burma's Presentation

A few weeks ago Alex Barna, from the University of Chicago's Center for Middle Eastern Studies, gave the Glenbrook Academy of International Studies a presentation on American stereotypes on the religion of Islam and Muslim people. His goal was to educate us on how the Middle East is viewed and how these views affect how future generations view it. After seeing the first day of the presentation, these were the most important things that I took away:

1. It is imperative to realize that Islam is a peaceful religion, and only certain Muslim groups are extremists
All too often people associate Muslims with terrorism. This is a dangerous stereotype and completely untrue. Not all Muslims are extremists, and not all extremists are Muslims. Grouping all Muslims together as terrorists would be like saying all Americans are blond with blue eyes. I told my family the other day I would love to travel to Egypt or a Middle Eastern country to study abroad one day and they immediately said no. There is a fear of the Middle East in general because of the violence that is concentrated in certain areas. The whole entire area is not characterized by this.

2. Islam is not a monolithic religion
There are multiple factions of Islam, and grouping them together as one would be incorrect. First of all, there is the Sunni-Shiite split. Then within these two groups there are even more divisions based on what people individually believe.

Living in the North Shore area, I can honestly say I do not know many Muslim people. I think the problem is that people around where I live do not know many people who practice Islam. We characterize people of the religion because we do not know many of them. I think that if we knew more Muslims, we wouldn't be so quick to judge or stereotype them because we would have a more personal connection.

3. Breaking the stereotype is difficult
Mr. Barna's job is incredibly important and what he does helps people realize that their way of thinking, or other people's way of thinking, is wrong and needs to be changed. But sadly, educating a small group of people about Islam isn't going to change the general perception of the religion and middle eastern area. Because of the Arab Spring and Muslim extremists, people associate Muslims with these negative images. These images reinforce how people already feel. Unfortunately, I don't think these stereotypes are going away anytime soon.