Freedom Of Religion Analysis

Although we consider ourselves to be a cultural melting pot, and our constitutional rights give all citizens the comfort of religious freedom; this is largely a theoretical idea rather than the truth. One particularly concerning example is the religion of Islam and the Muslim community face, years of marginalization and stigmatization have contributed to a significant amount of Muslim Americans feeling uncomfortable in their home country. That being said, the typical American’s idea of freedom of religion only extends as far as their comfort level and is primarily based on stereotypical perceptions of the average ‘Muslim’ person, media and other mainstream sources only further misguide our perceptions of what the religion of Islam is actually like. Despite Islam being the world’s second most practiced religion with 1.6 billion followers, many people have little to no knowledge of the religion, its people, nor its true intentions. One of the largest problems facing this idea are the media depictions inaccurately produced by mainstream U.S. media. New York filmmaker and writer, Laura Durkay criticizes a popular prime time show Homeland, for its inaccuracy and stereotyping of the religion and its people. Durkay says this about the show, “the entire structure of Homeland is built on mashing together every manifestation of political Islam, Arabs, Muslims and the whole Middle East into a Frankenstein-monster global terrorist threat that simply doesn’t exist” (Durkay). Unfortunately, Homeland is just one of many media outlets that lead Americans to view, acknowledge and most horrifyingly, believe that these misconceptions and dramatizations apply to the group at large. The media continues to perpetuate the ideas sparked by few individuals of the Muslim community; Durkay further argues that “a device that perpetuates racist ideas have real consequences for ordinary people’s lives” (Durkay). …show more content…
These images provide an illogical and unsound basis for the argument that Islam is a religion of violence or that all Muslim people are terrorists. Scott Gentries, an American man, represents a population of American people that identify with, a population that relies solely on the idea that Muslim 's fall into one category. Gentries further articulates that “all Muslims are at war with America” (theonion.com). He goes on further to say that he refuses to believe an “illuminating facts” that could contradict his opinion (theonion.com). Pamela Geller is a political activist known for anti- Islamic writings and advocacy. Her movements and campaigns have changed the mindset of plenty of American people. People like Gentries and Pamela Geller are just a few of many people that foresee Islam as a ‘threat’ to all American people. It is not just average American people driving this anti-Muslim force, but recent reports have found …show more content…
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has provided an optional training seminar on the potential dangers of Muslim people and has told their agents to conduct “surveillance operations broadly targeting the Muslim-American community, from infiltrating mosques with agents provocateur to racial – and ethnic-mapping programs” (Ackerman). Such activities by American government officials can be detrimental in their effects on the American population. A view that many Muslim Americans hold is that their freedoms are not the same as other non-Muslim Americans. Furthermore, their “Constitutionally protected religious faith of millions of Americans is portrayed as an indicator of terrorist activity” (Ackerman). Rather than looking for any “nefarious” activity or potential threats against America, people start to fear “Islam-as-Islam” (Ackerman). Which as many have pointed out is the dangerous trap that radicals have wanted to happen all along to