25 July 2006
Americans Accept Muslims, Interested in Islam, Student Says
USINFO webchat with Arabic student looks at lives of Muslims in America
Washington -- Not only are Americans generally accepting of Muslims, many are interested in learning about Islamic traditions, said Muslim-American Kareema Dauod in a USINFO Webchat July 25.
"It is perfectly acceptable, appropriate and normal for me to be an American and still be a Muslim and pray and fast," Dauod said in the webchat about Muslim life in America.
Muslims as a whole do not face discrimination in the United States, although there are individual cases, she said, just as there are isolated cases of discrimination against Jews, Sikhs, Hindus and other religious groups.
"One will always find ignorant people in any culture," Dauod said. "The way to overcome ignorance is to educate by word and by example." Just as Americans must be willing to learn and understand more about Muslims, Muslims must be willing to be understanding of Americans, she said.
In the United States, Muslims are free to practice their religion in a manner that they choose, Dauod said. Many of Dauod's Muslim friends wear hijab, an Islamic head scarf. Wearing hijab is accepted, respected and even sometimes encouraged, she said.
Muslim students in America can take part in religious activities during the school day, Daoud said. "No school has ever forbade me from fasting, nor do they have that right," she said, adding that schools often provide a quiet room for students to pray if needed.
Dauod also discussed the growing number of Americans learning Arabic. Currently in Jordan on a Fulbright-Hays grant, Dauod is studying Arabic with 34 other Americans. The National Security Language Initiative, launched by President Bush in January, promotes the learning of foreign languages at all levels of education, Dauod noted. Arabic, Farsi and Chinese are among the most critical languages students are being encouraged to learn. Additional information on the language initiative is available on the State Department Web site.
Dauod is pursuing a doctorate in Arabic language, literature and linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, and works on public diplomacy initiatives involving the Middle East for the U.S. Department of State.
For additional information, see the State Department publication, Muslim Life in America and the related article, “Young Muslims Work To Improve Muslim-Western Understanding.”
The transcript of Dauod's chat will be posted on the USINFO Webchat Station.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
