Introduction
The freedoms declared the United States’ core values are among the country’s most hotly debated topics. One of the “hot button” issues is religion, specifically the intersection between faith and American identity (“M1 Content Guide”). For decades, the problem of discrimination against non-Christian religions has persisted in society and the media, and the time after the September 11 attacks became a defining period in contentions between different religious groups. In particular, Muslim Americans were stigmatized, while other religions, such as Judaism and Indigenous faiths, were dismissed or misinterpreted.
Discussion
From what I know about the issue, many points that lead to the conflict do not make sense. As the audience in The Oprah Winfrey Show states, the lives of Muslim Americans are greatly affected not by their religious expression but by the responses from non-Muslim Americans (“One Week After 9/11”). People who follow Islam have the same responsibilities and joys in their daily lives. However, they are met with much negative pushback due to their faith, which directly contradicts the American freedom of religion. Similarly, the legal action against Muslim Americans and immigrants arriving in the US from former President Trump, as noted in several videos, is also against the country’s core values (“Muslim-American Veterans”; “Trump & Anti-Semitism”). However, viewing the media from some sources, these negative views can be explained by the negative coverage of non-Christian religions. As some news publications and shows allow or support the presentation of other faiths as dangerous to the American identity, forming such negative perceptions makes sense.
The issue of religious self-expression affects all citizens, regardless of their faith. First, although religious expression is not always tied to ethnicity, it becomes connected to one’s skin color and presentation in society. The discussion surrounding stigma and fears of non-Christian religions makes me think about how I view others and myself through the lens of faith. For example, it affects how I interpret the propaganda and whether I form my opinions without acknowledging the problems that exist in the current political sphere. Reading the article by Monet, I realized that the police’s dismissal of the demonstrators’ religious practices might be rooted in their devaluation of Indigenous religions. Similarly, the use of the phrase “melting pot” by Oprah Winfrey is also indicative of the inherent beliefs that people replicate without thinking (“One Week After 9/11”). Analyzing these sources makes me reflect on whether I unknowingly engage in the same practices and how they affect my sense of self.
Conclusion
As the course progresses, I want to look deeper into the issue’s roots and investigate how it can be approached. It is clear from the videos that the tension related to religious expression has been high since the September 11 attacks. The tragedy’s use in the media has significantly affected how people talk about all religions in their connection to the American identity. I aim to examine how society has formed the view of religious freedom from ancient to modern times. Furthermore, I want to answer how the media may affect the problem positively and negatively in the future.
Works Cited
“M1 Content Guide.” SUNY, Web.
Monet, Jenni. “For Native ‘Water Protectors,’ Standing Rock Protest Has Become Fight for Religious Freedom, Human Rights.” PBS, Web.
“Muslim-American Veterans on Islamophobia and the Military” YouTube, uploaded by FUSION, Web.
“Trump & Anti-Semitism—Jewish Americans Talk the Rise of Trump” YouTube, uploaded by FUSION, Web.
“One Week After 9/11, American Muslims Shared Their Experiences | The Oprah Winfrey Show | OWN” YouTube, uploaded by OWN, Web.