Unhappy Holidays

By Natalie Paul, 10.06.06

Muslims are celebrating this year’s Ramadan with saddened hearts – a consequence, some believe, of the negative light Muslims have been basked in since 9/11.

“The media has singled out Muslims from among civilization groups by attaching religious adjectives to the terrorists,” said Ahmad Noor, a trustee of the Mosque and Islamic Center in Hampton Roads, Va.

Ramadan is intended to be a time of fasting and celebration for Muslim liberation and historical victories. But the grief some are feeling is part of a bigger picture. According to Noor, the Islamic faith in general is viewed negatively by some Americans because the media associates it with terrorism.

“It is a disfavor to all Muslims when they often attach ‘Muslim’ to the words ‘terrorist, extremist, radicals’ or the newly adopted term ‘IslamoFascists’ intermittently used by President Bush,” Noor said.

Contrary to what he believes is being portrayed, Noor does not think that the majority of practicing Muslims agree with Middle Eastern terrorist leaders.

“The overwhelming majority of the practicing Muslims, those who essentially follow what is in the Qur’an and in traditions of the prophet Muhammad, will not be supporting any of the terrorist acts,” Noor said. “This is diametrically opposite to our essential beliefs.”

Sherri Goodrich, a Muslim student at Old Dominion University in Virginia, is also frustrated that some Americans believe all Muslims are terrorists.

“When you tell people that you’re celebrating [Ramadan], Christians look at you like you’re in a jihad or something,” Goodrich said. “Just because I’m a Muslim you can’t put me in the same category. People use the word [terrorist] too loosely.”

Like Noor, Goodrich believes the media is responsible for portraying Muslims as terrorists. Because of this, Goodrich refrains from watching television for fear of becoming angry.

“That’s just the media, they’re going to lie,” Goodrich said. “They’re going to say what they want to say anyway.”

Like many Muslims living in the U.S., Goodrich is determined to maintain her beliefs regardless of how Muslims are viewed. She focuses on peaceful times to come in order to not lose heart.

“It’s really hard right now,” Goodrich said. “But I’m doing it.”