As we become more and more globally interdependent, our perceptions and attitudes towards different societies manifest themselves in various ways. Misconceptions, discrimination and intolerance become pervasive when people rely on questionable sources to attain their knowledge instead of experiencing the reality for themselves. Social media gives rise to a new form of communication and is an indisputable potent force in shaping our thoughts, perceptions, and actions. In America, these technological advances in communication are progressing yet our misunderstanding and ignorance seems to grow with it. These prejudices become evident when speaking about Muslims in America who have become victim to these popular misconceptions cultivated by the media.
___________________________________________________ Muslims often have to deal with unjustified slurs being thrown at them, which include terrorists, fanatics, jihadists, etc. Portrayals of Muslims in magazines, television, and online, paint a picture of angry men out to get the world. We need to challenge these unjustified notions by showing what the majority of Muslims in America actually believe in which is peace and moderation. Muslims are not shown as having normal jobs. If we look around we can see many Muslims all over America pursuing careers in the media such as comedy, sports, music, film and television, modeling, etc. Majority of Muslims do not fit the typical stereotype; we just choose to ignore it. |