QUESTION

OBJECTIVE:

You need to submit a 2-4 page reflection paper answering the question below. Please use Times New Roman size 12 Font, Double Spaced, and use the standard margins. The Heading should only have your name.

The successful completion of this reflection will give you a 88/88 (100%) score. Not doing the assignment, or not submitting it on time, or attempts to email the assignment to me, will result in a 0. You will also lose points for not using examples from the objectives from Module 4.

Here is the question to reflect on –

Accurately define Ethnocentrism at the beginning of your paper, and then answer the following:

How does Ethnocentrism adversely affect perceptions on ‘Who counts as American’? Use examples from The Islamic Pacifism Packet, and the documentaries The Unwelcome Muslims Next Door and Divided We Fall from Module 4 in your writing.

Feel free to cite and use information, lectures, documentaries, guest lectures and your own opinion to support your argument. However, you DO NOT have to cite.

Module 4

OBJECTIVES:

Complete the following tasks in this order –

1) First, read through this article about how Islam is a pacifist religion. This comes from Arsalan Iftikhar’s book, Islamic Pacifism: Global Muslims in the Post-Osama Era

2) Watch Divided We Fall online by click on the blue hyperlink.

3) Watch The Unwelcome Muslims Next Door online by click on the blue hyperlink.

LECTURE NOTES:

For this Module you do not have a graded assignment… except that the assignment for Module 5 is that you will write a reflection paper which will ask you to use your knowledge from the 4 listed assignments above. In other words, without reading and watching the assignments above, you will not be able to properly respond to Module 5’s essay question.

Divided We Fall is an award winning documentary that was filmed by a Valarie Kaur while she was in college at Harvard. After 9/11, she took a camera and drove to NYC to begin filming and ended up creating an incredible documentary about Islamophobic hate crimes and murders that were being committed to Sikh people across the country because they wear turbans. The documentary does a great job of exploring how America has a historical legacy of persecuting minorities during times of national duress or crisis.

The Unwelcome Muslims Next Door is a CNN documentary by Soledad O’brien and she came here to Murfreesboro, TN to document the protests and hate crimes being committed against our Muslim community as they tried to exercise their constitutional right to build a house of worship. I believe it was filmed and released in 2009/2010.

ANSWER

 The Adverse Effects of Ethnocentrism on Perceptions of “Who Counts as American”: Examples from Module 4

Ethnocentrism is a concept that refers to the tendency of individuals or groups to judge other cultures or ethnic groups based on their own cultural standards, beliefs, and values. It involves perceiving one’s own culture as superior or the “right” way of doing things, while devaluing or dismissing other cultures as inferior or deviant. Ethnocentrism can have adverse effects on perceptions of “Who counts as American,” particularly when it comes to minority groups such as Muslims in the United States. In this reflection paper, I will explore how ethnocentrism manifests in the context of American society, drawing examples from the Islamic Pacifism Packet, as well as the documentaries The Unwelcome Muslims Next Door and Divided We Fall.

In the Islamic Pacifism Packet, Arsalan Iftikhar presents a comprehensive argument highlighting the peaceful teachings of Islam. He emphasizes that Islam is a pacifist religion, advocating for peace, justice, and the preservation of human life. However, ethnocentrism often leads to a narrow understanding of Islam, perpetuating stereotypes and misconceptions. Many Americans hold ethnocentric views that associate Islam with violence, terrorism, and extremism (Iftikhar, 2017). This ethnocentric lens creates a biased perception of Muslims as potential threats to American society. Instead of recognizing the diversity within the Muslim community and appreciating their contributions to the fabric of American society, ethnocentrism fosters prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion.

The documentaries, The Unwelcome Muslims Next Door and Divided We Fall, further illustrate the adverse impact of ethnocentrism on the perceptions of Muslims in America. Divided We Fall, filmed by Valarie Kaur, sheds light on the Islamophobic hate crimes and murders committed against Sikh individuals after the 9/11 attacks (Oskooii et al., 2019). Sikhs, often mistaken for Muslims due to their distinctive turbans, became victims of ethnocentric assumptions that equated their appearance with terrorism. This tragic example demonstrates how ethnocentrism fuels discrimination and violence against innocent individuals who do not fit the stereotypical image of an “American.”

Similarly, The Unwelcome Muslims Next Door, a CNN documentary by Soledad O’brien, exposes the protests and hate crimes faced by the Muslim community in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as they sought to exercise their constitutional right to build a mosque. Ethnocentric viewpoints portrayed Islam as an alien and threatening presence, disregarding the rights and contributions of American Muslims. The documentary highlights the impact of ethnocentrism in dividing communities and fostering hostility towards those perceived as different or “un-American.”

Ethnocentrism not only distorts perceptions of who counts as American but also hinders the realization of a diverse and inclusive society (Redefining Multicultural Education, 3rd Edition, n.d.). By judging others solely through the lens of one’s own culture, ethnocentrism stifles empathy, cultural understanding, and social cohesion. It perpetuates stereotypes, fuels discrimination, and restricts the full participation of marginalized groups, such as Muslims, in American society.

In conclusion, ethnocentrism adversely affects perceptions of “Who counts as American” by promoting biased and discriminatory attitudes towards minority groups, specifically Muslims. The examples provided from the Islamic Pacifism Packet and the documentaries The Unwelcome Muslims Next Door and Divided We Fall demonstrate how ethnocentrism perpetuates stereotypes, marginalizes communities, and fosters divisions within society. Overcoming ethnocentrism requires embracing cultural diversity, fostering intercultural dialogue, and challenging preconceived notions. By recognizing the equal worth and contributions of all individuals, irrespective of their cultural or ethnic backgrounds, we can foster a more inclusive and united vision of American identity.

References

Iftikhar, A. (2017). Islamic Pacifism: Global Muslims in a Post-Osama Era | ISPU. Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. https://www.ispu.org/islamic-pacifism-global-muslims-in-a-post-osama-era/ 

Oskooii, K. a. R., Dana, K., & Barreto, M. A. (2019). Beyond generalized ethnocentrism: Islam-specific beliefs and prejudice toward Muslim Americans. Politics, Groups & Identities, 9(3), 538–565. https://doi.org/10.1080/21565503.2019.1623053

Redefining Multicultural Education, 3rd Edition. (n.d.). Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=aLIbBAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Ethnocentrism+not+only+distorts+perceptions+of+who+counts+as+American+but+also+hinders+the+realization+of+a+diverse+and+inclusive+society.+By+judging+others+solely+through+the+lens+of+one%27s+own+culture,+ethnocentrism+stifles+empathy,+cultural+understanding&ots=Jk9NiVG5CF&sig=80eAKedvHRAI9XcVBFmBTFx-HUI