After the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, a wave of chaos hit the United States. People began to blame an entire religious group for the actions of just a few people. Anyone who identified with the Muslim faith was immediately targeted and feared or hated. Instead of America being a welcoming nation for religious diversity, it had become a place where speaking out for religious freedom meant endless prosecution. To combat this, people like Eboo Patel started to make their messages of pluralism known. Eboo Patel, founder of Interfaith Youth Core, wanted his country to understand that his religion was in no way hate-centered or evil, as many citizens of the United States believed after witnessing 9/11. In his novel, Sacred Ground,
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Education is the first step in this long process. Uneducated people are the most threatening to universal pluralism, as they are ignorant to the truths of many religions. Generally, uneducated people believe that their own religions are superior to others´, and it can be extremely hard to convince them otherwise. Patel argues that the youth of this generation are vital in shortening the gap between educated and uneducated people. He knows that prejudice is taught, and is not an inherent quality among young minds. The youth of this generation have the opportunity to learn the importance of religious freedom and make prejudice a thing of the past. Specifically in his novel, Patel highlights the essential role that colleges play in aiding the growth of pluralism in America. He mentions that colleges encompass ¨all the positive social capital in our broader society- faith-based groups, volunteer programs, educational opportunities, [and] forums for discussion and exchange¨ (123). Students at college are free to express themselves religiously and socially, without the fear of uneducated people questioning their beliefs. In the past, students were not given this chance. Rather than discuss religion, people used to push it aside, allowing for wrongful assumptions to be made. In most places in the United States, this is no longer an issue. Citizens like Eboo Patel are making it difficult for uneducated people who are the keepers of generations of prejudice to be heard. In the struggle to end prejudice, youth are immensely important as they hold the key to making pluralism universal in
Education is the first step in this long process. Uneducated people are the most threatening to universal pluralism, as they are ignorant to the truths of many religions. Generally, uneducated people believe that their own religions are superior to others´, and it can be extremely hard to convince them otherwise. Patel argues that the youth of this generation are vital in shortening the gap between educated and uneducated people. He knows that prejudice is taught, and is not an inherent quality among young minds. The youth of this generation have the opportunity to learn the importance of religious freedom and make prejudice a thing of the past. Specifically in his novel, Patel highlights the essential role that colleges play in aiding the growth of pluralism in America. He mentions that colleges encompass ¨all the positive social capital in our broader society- faith-based groups, volunteer programs, educational opportunities, [and] forums for discussion and exchange¨ (123). Students at college are free to express themselves religiously and socially, without the fear of uneducated people questioning their beliefs. In the past, students were not given this chance. Rather than discuss religion, people used to push it aside, allowing for wrongful assumptions to be made. In most places in the United States, this is no longer an issue. Citizens like Eboo Patel are making it difficult for uneducated people who are the keepers of generations of prejudice to be heard. In the struggle to end prejudice, youth are immensely important as they hold the key to making pluralism universal in