Executive Summary
The Muslim society in the West and in America is quite small as compared to other groups of people. These groups often live under the close observation of the society which in a way sees them as potential trouble makers. Their religious orientation and the culture often make them sidelined since they cannot easily merge with the others. This essay seeks to explain how this social ice can be broken, thereby incorporating the Muslims fully into the society.
Introduction
In the current times, development in science and technology has seen to the improvement of many aspects of life. Transport and communication facilities have greatly improved and movement of people around the globe is now very easy. As such, the issue of globalization brings out an aspect where all people are exposed, and therefore no single community can live in exclusion from the others. However, even as the issue of integration comes up, it so happens that people do not fully neglect their way of life in order to assimilate the new standards. Rather, the people take the best from both sides so as to enrich their lives. However, there are some cultures that are very rigid, such as the Muslim culture. This makes the people from the West, who are quite liberal, have a problem assimilating the Muslims. This creates a kind of social barrier between the two, where their ideologies do not match.
However, there are various avenues that can be used in order to ensure that there is the social inclusion of the Muslims into the Western society. This can be achieved through the efforts of the government, social institutions as well as the learning institutions. Furthermore, the individuals should be ready to neglect the existence prejudices and to value the cultures of others. Only then can the social inclusion of the Muslims be realized. The essay below looks at the manner in which this inclusion can be achieved by involving the different responsible parties.
Relationship between the Muslims and the West
According to Hardy (2003, para. 3) the Muslims and the Western people live ‘worlds apart’. In the eyes of the Western people look at the Muslims from a perspective of untrustworthy and trouble liking people. This is associated with the various terrorist groups such as the Al-Qaeda and Taliban which have their roots in the Muslim world, specifically the Middle East. The West also believes the Muslims to be behind the various atrocities perpetrated in various parts of the world. Most notable is the 9/11 attack that was carried out by the Al-Qaeda. The Muslim is also associated with a stream of attacks in Mombasa and Bali, Riyadh, Casablanca and Jakarta. These crimes, aimed at the Americans have sprung a wave of fear against the Muslims in the West. The people feel that the presence of the Muslims is an indication that danger is looming. This has led to the maligning of the Muslims in the west where they live as minorities.
On the other hand, the Muslims have distaste for the West as well. They feel that the western countries are in a bid to create a new world order in which the Muslims are not part of. Pace (2009, p.1) examines this issue further by posing a question as to whether the West is promoting liberal democracy or simply spreading the social agenda. This comes in the light of the European Unions’ mission to promote liberal democracy in the world, including the Middle East which is the cradle of Islam. However, the EU itself refuses to earn other means of political organizations, such as the one observed by the Muslim countries. Rather, the EU is just keen on spreading its ideologies as seen in Palestine and Egypt. Of course, this makes the Muslims feel a bit threatened since there is a question as to whether their values and ideologies will soon become obsolete.
The Government
In any setting, the government should be on the forefront in ensuring that the people living in its area of jurisdiction are in good relations. One of the ways in which the government can propagate the social inclusion is by organizing forums which call for the unity of the people (Ali, N.d., p. 2). He observe that through such forums, the people can come together and share their ideologies, such that some of the prejudices that people have against each other can be dissolved. However, this can only happen if there is the proper avenue through which the people can interact and exchange their ideas on different life’s issues.
This might sound like a tall order for the governments, but it is actually very possible. For instance, the government of Australia has shown the way in which social inclusion can be enhanced within a region (Roose, 2012, p.1). This paper shows how the social inclusion of Islam in the Australian multi-cultural setting has influenced the people such that there are many Muslim public figures in the region. The Islam has interacted with many other social influences, which has gone a long way in shaping the civic and religious practice I the region. Some of the Islam practices that have been assimilated include the essential role of the family, female influences and roles of models, the quality of employment, educational and cultural capital among others. All these aspects have led to the inclusion of the Islam cultures. Fro this example, it is clear that if the government is committed to ensuring that there is an inclusion of the Muslims, then this can be easily realized. All that is needed is a prompting by the government and the people automatically follow suit. This is one effective way through which the exclusion problem can be resolved.
Non-Muslim Organizations
Organizations within the community have a very major role to play in determining to which extent the social inclusion of the Muslims can be realized. Among such organizations are the learning institutions within the country. One excellent example is the Harvard University (Harvard.edu, 2010). In the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the institution has introduced a program that aims at promoting an understanding the Islamic culture. From the objectives of the program, it is clear that it is tailored towards ensuring that there is more social inclusion of Muslims in the society. It aims at increasing the understanding of Islam and its standing on various issues, both locally and internationally. It also compares the Islam in Europe and America, giving an innovative interdisciplinary approach which helps in understanding the dynamics of Islam in the West. Through such programs, it is definite that the people can get to better understand how the Muslim culture operates. As such, the suspicion that exists would be dissolved and the people would live more at peace with each other. It is also worth mentioning that the learning institutions are places where social bonds are nurtured. As such, if they follow the example set by Harvard, then there is a possibility that there would be more Muslim inclusion.
The media also have a role to play in promoting the social inclusion, as noted by Lewis (2008, p. 3). This can be realized where the community media airs multi-cultural programs. Under such circumstances, there is no way that the people can have ideas about one culture being different from the other. This also helps to dissolve the issue of cultural competition where there is the case of a superior and an inferior culture. By dissolving the ethnocentricity aspect, the people tend to look beyond their own cultures and they have an appreciation for and the respect of the cultures of others. In essence, this leads to a greater social inclusion of al the people in the society, including the Muslims. Therefore, it can be concluded that the community media have a very important role to play in ensuring that there is cohesion among the people.
Muslim Organizations
This is the last group that can help in ensuring that there is social inclusion of the Muslims. Since there are many prejudices against the Muslims in the West, presence of the Muslim organizations can help to demystify the issue by portraying a different picture from what the prejudices claim. Roose (2010, p. 2) observes that the Muslim communities can help to strengthen the legitimate calls for Islam. For instance, there is the argument that Muslims are violent or trouble makers, with the evidence of the 9/11 attack as well as the other attacs mentioned earlier in this paper. However, if the Muslim organizations participated in the forums such as the one indicated above, they can help to show that not all the Muslims are involved in such terrorist activities. This would effectively dissolve the fear that the people have against Islam and, therefore, increase the rate of social inclusion of the Muslims.
Furthermore, these groups can collaborate with the government to a point where they can ensure that there is proper presentation of the Islam community. For instance, Bianci (2006, para. 5) indicates that the communities can participate in conferences which make the people feel much at ease with the Muslims. One such forum is on the Muslim Youth and Women in the West. By addressing issues of interest during such forums, the people can live more at peace with each other, and Muslims would be more socially accepted. This is the case that has happened in Australia, where there are Muslim organizations which have openly come up to set the records straight for the Muslims in the area. Groups such as the hip-hop group The Brothahood and the Public intellectual Waleed Aly have successfully presented the Islam on a positive light in Australia. The result is that there is more social inclusion of Muslims in the society. If other groups follow suit, there is a possibility that the issue of Islam and non-Islam divide in the west could be resolved.
References
Ali, J. n.d. Muslim Citizens in the West: Promoting Social Inclusion. [Online] Available at http://i-epistemology.net/attachments/925_ajiss-25-1-stripped%20-%20Conference%20Reports%20-%20Muslim%20Citizens%20in%20the%20West%20-%20Promoting%20Social%20Inclusion.pdf [Accessed 8th May 2012]
Bianchi. 2007. Interim Report on the Conference on “Muslim Youth and Women in the West: Source of Concern or Source of Hope?” [Online] Available at http://islamuswest.org/events_Islam_and_the_West/muslims_in_the_west/events_muslims_in_the_west_press_release.html [Accessed 8th May 2012]
Hardy, R. 2003. Islam in the West: Bridging the Divide. [Online] Available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/special/islam/3182669.stm [Accessed 8th May 2012]
Harvard University. 2010. Islam in the West Program. [Online] Available at http://cmes.hmdc.harvard.edu/research/iw [Accessed 8th May 2012]
Lewis, M.P. 2008. Promoting Social Cohesion: The Role of Community Media. [Online] Available at http://www.amarc.org/conference_europe/document/Promoting_Social_Cohesion_The_Role_of_Communit_Media.pdf [Accessed 8th May 2012]
Pace, M. 2009. Liberal or Social Democracy? Aspects of the EU’S Democracy Promotion Agenda in the Middle East. IDEA. [Online] Available at http://www.idea.int/resources/analysis/upload/Pace-2.pdf [Accessed 8th May 2012]
Roose, J. 2010. The Truth of the Matter: Conflicting Claims to Islamic Legitimacy in the Context of Australian Multiculturalism. [Online] Available at http://unimelb.academia.edu/JoshuaRoose/Talks [Accessed 8th May 2012]
Roose, J.M. 2010. The Role of Islam in Promoting Social Inclusion: The Australian Multicultural Example. [Online] Available at http://nceis.unimelb.edu.au/events/all/the_role_of_islam_in_promoting_social_inclusion_the_australian_multicultural_example [Accessed 8th May 2012]
