The True American Character Analysis

The True American is a book that details the story of a Bangladeshi Air Force Officer, Rais Bhuiyan, who immigrates to the Texas for a better life. In the midst of widespread post-9/11 paranoia, a white supremacist by the name of Mark Stroman, attacked and attempted to kill Bhuiyan while he worked in his store in Dallas. Throughout the novel, both individual’s lives are examined as to how they reached this point and how we as Americans view both Islam and immigrants in general. In this analysis, the importance of mental and physical health attempts to connect the meaning behind Stroman’s life and his violent xenophobic attacks. It would seem relatively difficult to examine the meaning behind Stroman’s attack and murders as more than just …show more content…
By adopting a social identity as an American and a white male, he feels his need to preserve his group and progress their societal standings. With the occurrence of 9/11 at the time, the increased presence of outgroup homogeneity effect becomes relatively clear in that the notion “all Muslims are terrorist”. At the same time, Stroman among others, sought to utilize this as means of a scapegoat to allow the elimination of some perceived threat to the “True Americans” that fit Stroman’s beliefs. I believe that there will always be people like Stroman in our world. To some, its easy blame others for their shortcomings and it’s easy to allow oneself to fall into the “them vs. us” view on the world. In regards to Rais Bhuiyan opinion on Mark Stroman, I find highly commendable that he could forgive a man that not only sought to kill him, but had already killed several others deemed “terrorists” under the guise of “patriotism”. For myself, I’m not sure I could do the same in forgiving and even trying to save the life of a man who attempted to kill me. Although Mark Stroman sought to seek forgiveness and repent for his actions, I for one am uncertain if one can ever go back from a person such as he was. I think in regards to Islamophobia specifically, the lack of knowledge and understanding of the general culture and the faces of those that make up most a religion should be better seen and shown in our society. By allowing for change here and there and expanding on our knowledge of the world outside of our own isolated space, we can start to better understand and coexist with the rest of the people in the world and progress in ways of personal and human