Speaks Out

Islamic Awareness Week just took place, giving students
the opportunity to learn about beliefs that may differ from their
own. What is your view on Islam now? Heather
Putnam Third-year International development studies
“Islamic Awareness Week has allowed me to view Islam as more
progressive than before. I’ve always had Islamic friends, so
I already have some awareness of it. But it’s good that the
students are helping others who are not aware or don’t study
it in class. A lot of people think of Islamic nations as oppressive
and detrimental to the health of minorities and women. If students
take the time to explain to others what their culture is really
like, then people’s attitudes toward these nations can
change.” Patty Lopez First-year Psychology
“Well, as a Chicana, I’m aware that there are obstacles
that I share with Islamic people. We both have to deal with not
being the norm in the United States. If we work together, though,
and become aware of the issues facing us, we can find a resolution
to conflicts more easily. However, I think that the oppression of
women is an issue that both our communities continue to face. But I
think people will learn to value women more as awareness of this
issue increases.” Jerome Yuan Fourth-year
Economics “I don’t think that these students have been
doing a good job of teaching about Islam. Even though there is a
large Islamic population in American, they tend to be a closed
community and don’t reach out to other ethnicities. This week
was like that; I felt segregated from their events. It would be
better and more informative if they were open to all people.”
Sean Young Fourth-year Ethnomusicology “I
had the opportunity to ask questions about Islam, giving me a
chance to increase my own awareness. I’m Jewish and
there’s obviously some serious conflicts between Islam and
Judaism, but talking with these people allows me to find the
similarities between our religions instead. I’m glad that
they were accepting. It made me feel good that they didn’t
exclude me because I was Jewish. They even invited me to their
meetings.” Jose Angel Torres Third-year
Chicano/o studies and International development studies “I
think Islam is really fascinating. I learned, for example, that
people in Latin America also believe in this faith; it’s not
just for people with a Middle Eastern background. I think there are
important issues around the world affecting Islamic nations that
people should be aware of, such as dealing with the dominance and
influence of the United States. For example, I just visited Cuba
and experienced first hand the effects that a blockade can have on
a country, similar to the situation in Iraq. This week reminds us
of these issues.” Nancy Hage Second-year
Psychology “I didn’t know it was Islamic Awareness
Week, but since it is, I’d like to know more about it. I
think these type of events are very important, because although you
can learn these things from a professor, first hand experiences are
very different. There are usually a lot of stereotypes associated
with Islam and taking a history of religion course has helped me to
get over a lot of them. For example, many people believe woman are
oppressed by their religion. As a woman, I used to questioned why
women would want to be in a religion that wouldn’t accept
them for who they are.” Speaks Out compiled by Cuauhtemoc
Ortega, Daily Bruin Senior Staff. Photos by Mohammad Alavi, Daily
Bruin Contributor.