"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." 

                                                                                                                                    - Nelson Mandela

Would education be the solution to resolve the problem regarding religious discrimination?

Education is indeed one of the most powerful weapon that every individuals should have in order to overcome poverty . As other people say, in education all individuals are being equalized whether your rich or poor, fat or thin, tall or short there is no such thing as discrimination when it comes to it.

It is the key to success as they were saying.  As a student, I definitely value my education for the reason that ever since I was young my parents nurtured me to give importance to it and at the same time I knew from the very beginning that if I study very well then certainly I could able to reach my goals and dreams gradually. Moreover, I know as early as now that if I take my studies seriously then surely I can be a successful person in the near future. If the said sentences above will happen then I can help my parents financially which is one of my missions in life. Likewise, I can help less fortunate people which I wanted to do. 

That’s why as early as now  I really focused myself in my subject in order for me not to repeat it.  I tried as much as possible to review my lessons each and every day in order for me to fully understand those stuffs.

On my opinion about the said topic is that it goes beyond limit meaning to say that it encompasses all most especially hindrance to become successful in life. On that idea, it came a point on me that it could certainly one of the factors for the Muslims to surpass illiberality based on what I have said earlier and also for the fact that "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." according to Nelson Mandela. On the said quotation I was kinda curious that's why I searched in order for me to find out if it could really be happened especially in my research study which is Muslim discrimination. 

        Dr. Sabeel Ahmed uses education to fight the dual extremes of Islamophobia and violent extremism.

As I browsed the net I found an article that could help me to figure out my questions on mind. This link http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=206213 wherein "Dr.Sabeel Ahmed, 36, is the director of the Gain Peace project, an Islamic outreach program based in Chicago. Ahmed blames misinterpretations of the Quran and Islam for the dual extremes of Islamophobia and violent Islamist radicalism. He sees education as the way forward to both break down stereotypes and counter terrorist groups looking to recruit Muslim- Americans to commit acts of violence."

In that article, the most that convince me is the sincerity that I saw when he answered the question  "What is the ultimate goal of Gain Peace? What would you like to achieve in 10, or 20 years?". His answer that I like the most was "Our objective is not to convert anyone; the objective is to educate people and to show them the peaceful principles of Islam. These are the essential parts of building a peaceful society. If people are educated about Islam, we can hopefully extract solutions to violence and other problems within society. We also want to defend religious freedom and help people to understand Shariah. There are so many misconceptions about Shariah born from fear. This campaign goes against fear; no one should fear Islam."

I totally agree with what he said because for me if all people were well-educated and well-informed about something they won't perhaps judge things right away. Furthermore, through educating non-Muslim people about  principles of Islam it is not impossible for them to reach their goals of solving the discrimination eventually . At the same time it could lead to a peaceful society.

Lastly, because of knowledge and wisdom that a person gained in terms of ideas about religion most perhaps, sooner or later they will have war -free country.

Anti-Muslim Discrimination on rise

As I researched I found an article Muslims Widely Seen As Facing Discrimination  by the help of this it can  the prove that there is a rising discrimination in Muslims.


Quantitative Analysis

Based on that fact, Muslim has the highest percentage of discrimination against religious group garnering a 58%. Because of this, I could say that the said religious group felt inequality in different places. Likewise,58 % is definitely too far from the lowest percentage which totals 24 %. Hence, we can say that there is unfortunately a bigotry in Muslim. It could be a simple statistics about discrimination that is currently existing nowadays. It is very useful in order for me to prove that Muslim is being undermined.  

                                                                                            Comparative Analysis

This comparative analysis is very subjective but somehow as I go along my research perhaps it could help me. In that, you just have to compare your perceptions about religious differences to others. It could also test if you indeed know your religion well. Because of the figures given above, you  most probably have an idea about its approximation when it comes to similarities and differences. It is like a survey.


Line graph
















In this line graph, it merely shown to us that as the year passed by there is a gradual rise of rate wherein it tells us that Islam encourage violence more than other faiths but the flow changed on 2009 in which it fall 7 %  of the recent percentage. While on the other hand, there is a successive downfall of rate wherein it implied that Muslim people didn't encourage to do a violence more than other faith but the flow also changed when it was 2009 because it rose 6% of the previous percentage. Thus, it just simply indicate that it took a year for the people to progressively change their perspective about Islams. Moreover, it also shown to us that compare to the answer of yes or no, many people answered no meaning to say that majority's point of view is that the said religion didn't able to encourage violence.

Throughout the past few years, the U.S Democratic Party has embraced many different demographic groups. One of the newest is Muslim Democrats. Four years ago, a group of new Muslim voters formed a caucus within the party.

                                                                                                                   -Charlotte, North Carolina

                                                                                 Ohio Delegate Cathina Hourani

If US Muslims join together to impact politics could this be the way to gradually end discrimination?

Muslim people have been criticizing about their belief ever since the 9/11 attack happened.  Particularly in US many Muslims were being involved in different lawsuits because of that reason. Moreover, I have read many reports in different country  regarding about being harassed. As I searched the net I came across this article http://www.voanews.com/content/muslims-us-religion-discrimination/1503404.html wherein there are two Muslims trying to change the perceptions of everybody about there faith. Their named were Cathina Hourani and Keith Ellison. According on that article, "Ohio Delegate Cathina Hourini is a native American who converted to Islam years ago. She says having a large voting bloc could change the way other Americans view Muslims." 

I could say that I agree to her, because for me don't judge a book by its cover. They should know the person first before underestimating their capabilities. She could certainly create changes to have good relationship between Muslim and non-Muslim people.

The sentence that had an impact to me is when she said that "If we band together and vote. Start voting for thise representatives that have our best interest at heart, that represent us as Muslims in our community, we would no longer have the hate and the fear" because I can see on it her sincerity to make a difference and to have a peace fo all individuals.

Lastly, given an opportunity for a Muslims to have a position in the government  I am hoping that it will gradually convince all people to be fair and  to stop discriminating them. Because of that chance precisely people could forget the 9/11 attack and might as well to they could start things differently without hurting the feelings of others.

" You can be young without money, but you can't be old without it."

                                                                                                                     -Tennessee Williams



Does being discriminated can win $5 Million ?



Money is the root of all evil as there is a saying. It is something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment as what the definition of Merriam Webster. Because of that, a lot of people really give importance on it. It's hard to obtain that's why many of us work hard for it and they spend it wisely so that they couldn't repent later on. Some said that it makes the world go round. Well, on that I think it doesn't totally work because sometimes it become a reason why people quarrel and take advantage to someone. That's actually one of the factor why it is defined as root of all evil.


On the above, it says that "You can be young without money, but you can be old without it."
which means for me that if we don't have money then there is nothing you have to problem about then in that less stress on you so probably it made you to become young however if you don't have it then you can't afford to sustain your needs that's why you will die early. Well, the bottom line here is money is very essential in our daily life because it is a medium used to buy our primary needs in order to survive.


There's a lot of ways to gain our own money and become a millionaire and as I browsed the net I encountered the one that made me curios is this article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2140252/Muslim-woman-wins-5million-discrimination-lawsuit-AT-T-harassment-workers-religion.html by Daily Mail Reporter on which it was shown that a Muslim woman named Sussann Bashir won a $5 million discrimination lawsuit against AT&T for what she called was repeated harassment of her religious beliefs. "She was used  to work at the company office in Kansas City, Missouri said the abuse at her job began after she converted to Islam in 2005, and that it boiled over in 2008 when her boss snatched her head scarf and exposed her hair." 

When I read it I was shocked because she won $5 million for being discriminated. She was an instant millionaire because of winning the case. I couldn't expect that there's an incident of that. As what I quoted earlier, it was one of a those ways to gain money and become rich as soon as possible.


I felt badly for another issue that I read because it means that there is unequal employment. For me, religious should set aside in work. They should be professional in terms of that. They shouldn't too personal. Based on what I observed some of people there had a narrow way of thinking.


Furthermore, individuals should learned about this news in order not to happen again and at the same time for you not to lose your money if you are on the points of view of defendant.

Also, respect begets respect. We should give respect to others belief because it will definitely  makes the world go round.  For me, if we treat others right and pleasing then most perhaps the result of this is like a golden ribbon that ties the world together.

"Your religious beliefs are your business. They are not and should not be the basis for law. If you use them as justification to discriminate against others, don't be upset when others decide you're an asshole."
                                                     
                                                                                                                                     -Jim C. Hines



Did Disneyland guilty about their issue regarding the religious discrimination ?


Disneyland is an  amusement park wherein  children in specific goes to have fun and play. I personally liked to go there as well. Each and every individual whether old or young could definitely enjoy their moments in different rides. At the end of they day, it will leave you a big smile on your face as well as your accompanied with most perhaps your love ones.  Likewise, it will give you nothing but a happy memories that you can reminisce if your lonely and bored. Moreover, it is a perfect place to go.


Whenever I think of it I could say that it is a very nice nostalgia to all people who have been there. Also, we can certainly say that it is a paradise because it create unforgettable moments. 


But does these said description above convince all? Does the place Disneyland really make all people in general happy and comfortable?.  Well,  as I researched I found an article wherein the amusement park Disneyland in Anaheim, California to be in particular had involved in religious discrimination which means that the answer on previous question is no or it disagree. In addition to this, what my description earlier contradicted this one.


The first time I saw it I felt intrigued about it that's why I clicked the link http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/269629/pinoyabroad/worldfeatures/muslim-former-employee-sues-disneyland-over-religious-discrimination wherein in that it was sued  regarding discrimination by their former employee who is a Muslim named Imane Boudlal.
In this article, according to the latter she was  subject to anti-Arab and anti-Muslim slurs, including being called "terrorist" and "camel" by co-workers and supervisors. She said she reported the incidents to managers, but they took no action.


On that matter, when I read it I can't help but to feel sad because some people are being able to limit their ways of living their life with accordance to their belief because of somebody's reason that they can't violate the company's policy for how employees "look" while on the job.


But on the other hand, I think  somehow the company has a point on it. Because  on the first place the former employee is given an option and an offer before she work. However, on my points of view this is not good enough to be the reason.

All people should fight for their rights and freedom as long as you know that your right then why should you ashamed of it. Individuals who typically used to undermined others should be learned on their mistakes in order to stop prejudiced gradually . It could lead to a betterment of a country and at the same time it could make a peace and confident to everyone.  


Lastly, for me understanding, respect, equality and faith is the key in order for all people all over the world to have a harmonious and smooth relationship. 

"God knows it did not cross our minds to attack the Towers, but after the situation became unbearable—and we witnessed the injustice and tyranny of the American-Israeli alliance against our people in Palestine and Lebanon—I thought about it. And the events that affected me directly were that of 1982 and the events that followed—when America allowed the Israelis to invade Lebanon, helped by the U.S. Sixth Fleet. As I watched the destroyed towers in Lebanon, it occurred to me punish the unjust the same way: to destroy towers in America so it could taste some of what we are tasting and to stop killing our children and women."

— Osama bin Laden, 2004

Did 9/11 attack provoke the Muslim people to feel demoralize? 

It was around seven o' clock in the evening when I watched the news in TV Patrol wherein   the  featured was incidentally  about the death of Osama bin laden.  I was so curios why he was so notorious for the reason that he had a very controversial issues and at the same time  it was my first time to hear his name. Fortunately, my inquisitiveness had answered  because the newscaster had explained and  reminisced what Bin laden did in September 9, 2001 in United States. Because of a very brief description on it, I somehow had  an idea about how cruel he is, I couldn't deny that I judge him badly in terms of  being an Arabian Muslim.

I want to know if others feel the same way that's why as I browsed the net I came across a link http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110621093329AAzE8Wt wherein  someone  had questioned like this "Why do people discriminate against Muslims?" and one of the many who answered that said question was named Jim B- the one that caught my attention and his answered was "Maybe it was that on Sept. 11, 2002 Islam Attacked the USA. Oh yes I will see you saying that it was only a few that are not representative of Islam as a whole. But here we saw the reaction to the attack in Islamic nations. The celebration, the dancing in the street. And as American we identified the enemy that very day. By aligning with the believers in Islam you have become an enemy of Americans. If not the enemy of the US Government . It is  also your duty as a believer to conduct Holy War against all who deny Allah and the Prophet". 

After I read it, I could certainly say that I agree with him because the said attack was very injustice especially a lot of Americans who were innocent had died. They devastated a country and a life of individuals most especially the babies.

In what Jim B answered I must  say that 9/11 attacks that lead by Bin Laden was one of the reasons why Muslims had a bad image and might as well being able to differentiate from others. Moreover, it made  them  feel disgrace somehow and  most probably others will unfriend them.

In addition, as I continued in researching I encountered articles that could prove what Jim B has thought.  And this is it,  http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/muslim-americans-say-life-is-more-difficult-since-911/2011/08/29/gIQA7W8foJ_story.html which is  entitled Muslim Americans say life is more difficult since 9/11 written by Carol Morello. According to the latter, " A decade after Sept. 11, 2001, the survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, shows that a majority of Muslims say the terrorist attacks made it more difficult to be a Muslim in the United States. Many said that they had been singled out by airport security officers and that people had acted suspicious of them or called them offensive names." 

On my points of view, what happened in 9/11 had meant  a lot from  all people around the world because of course many of them had witnessed how brutal and inhuman he was by the means of television or any forms of media that could perhaps connect to different country and because of that they had well- informed about this issue.

On the other hand, there is an numerously kind-hearted Muslims around us as a matter of fact, I could justify that for the reason that  I have friends, classmates, and neighbor who is really a good and generous individuals.  You could never turn back the time what already been done you could never change it meaning to say it's hard to turn back the trust so Muslim had a hard time to make it..

On the above quotations, after I read it, I have change my perspective on him  immediately. I think he is a good person. What just made him bad is the tyranny of American and Israelis. All he just wanted is the American to feel the same way so that if it happened to them they wouldn't do it to others because first and foremost they experienced it and in that they know that it's  a worst thing. But unfortunately, the outcome was very oppressive and it turn out differently.    

Likewise, it is definitely unfair to all of Muslim people because they were being blamed for what they didn't do. Furthermore, I think we shouldn't have to generalized all of them. Until now,  it's hard for them to take that burden out of them because most probably it is being marked on them. But, now that Bin laden had already departed hopefully people should start again to make a change and also to have equality in the world.

Assignment for 10-10-12

1. Narrow down  the topic

• Discrimination of cultural minorities
• Discrimination of Muslim 
• Discrimination of Muslim culture
• Effects of discrimination to Muslim about their culture
• Effects of discrimination to young Muslim about their culture

2. Make a tentative outline

I. Definition of Culture
II.Culture of Muslims

          A. Foods

               a. those that they can eat

               b.those that they can't eat

          B. Clothes

              a. proper

              b. improper

          C. Belief

              a. basic

III. Discrimination to Muslims
         A. Advantage
         B.Disadvantage
IV. Analysis
       A. Quantitative
       B. Qualitative
V. Effects of discrimination to Muslims
      A. to their family
          a. positive
          b.negative
      B. to the children
         a.positive
         b. negative
      C. to their society
         a. positive
         b. negative
     D.to the students
         a. positive
         b. negative
     E. to the employees
         a. positive
         b. negative


3. Informal--> Formal

In the above article, the link http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/business/24muslim.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all& entitled Muslim report rising discrimination at work also justified that there is unfortunately a widely prejudice about Muslims because on it, it show that even in the United States there is a work discrimination that is happening. According to Steven Greenhouse who is a writer of this article "Mohammad Kaleemuddin was fired after complaining that his supervisor and several co-workers had called him "Osama" and "terrorist" ".

In the above article, the link http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/business/24muslim.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all& entitled Muslim report rising discrimination at work also justified that there is unfortunately a widely prejudice about Muslims for the reason that the said  article had shown that even in the United States there is an existing issue about  work discrimination. According to Steven Greenhouse, the writer of this article, "Mohammad Kaleemuddin was fired after complaining that his supervisor and several co-workers had called him "Osama" and "terrorist" ".

4. Statement of the problem

This study aims to answer this question:
1. What challenge do Muslim women encounter when living in a Christian country?

Do Muslims feel discriminated? 

Inside the school while waiting to our next teacher I kept myself busy because it was too boring then suddenly my seatmate named Asniah talked to me. We had lots of topic we talked about everything under the sun but still our subject teacher was not yet around,then as we had our conversation she told me something about her life, then eventually lead her to tackle about her religion which is Islam. On that period of time, I felt interested on it most perhaps it was because that topic caught my attention. According to her, their God is Allah, then I said while me Jesus Christ then she immediately told me that they also had Jesus Christ but Allah is above Him  which made me confused then immediately our classmate went to there respective chair because our teacher came. 

As I reminisce that scenario I hoped that I asked her if she or her family  felt discriminated because as I browsed the net the article that I found was http://www.arabianbusiness.com/rights-group-slams-europe-s-discrimination-of-muslims-455324.html   entitled Rights group slams Europe's 'discrimination' of Muslims written by Sara Anabtawi wherein in her article it says that "Amnesty International says that  European countries discriminate against Muslims who openly demonstrate their faith, especially in education and employment" wherein in this one "Muslim women are being denied jobs and girls prevented from attending regular classes just because they wear traditional dress, such as the headscarf", said the group's discrimination specialist, Marco Perolini"." Men can be dismissed for wearing beards associated with Islam." which was stated there also, meaning to say they should set aside their religion in order to be hired or in other words they should dress-up what other people usually wearing. 

 When I read it I felt disappointed because people living in a European country are dominantly Christian and as a Christian I can't help but to feel bad and somehow I feel pity on the said issue because they shouldn't limit others freedom.  Also, they just lived their life for what they believed in and it is definitely unfair on their part if somebody control over them and limit their wants. As I see it, I think we should respect other people's faith as they were saying that "Do not do unto others what you don't want others do unto you at the same time "Respect begets respect". In addition to this, I could say that their human rights is being undermined.It's really hard to please everybody.

 In the above article, the link http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/business/24muslim.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all& 

entitled Muslims report rising discrimination at work  also justified that there is unfortunately  a widely prejudice about Muslims because on it, it shows that even in the United States there is a work discrimination that is happening . According to Steven Greenhouse who is the writer of this article " Mohammad Kaleemuddin was fired after complaining that his supervisor and several co-workers had called him"Osama" and "terrorist" ".

In the latter sentence, it implied and supported the first article which means for me  that they have no rights to complain if they were being bullied because if they do so then they will lose their job which of course is worst because if they will be fired then how will they sustain their primary needs. 

On that article it said that there is a higher rate of unemployment among Muslims  and especially Muslims women of foreign origin. 

To conclude like I said earlier, there is a widely bigotry in a Christian country which is in Europe and even in United States who had a President whose religion is Islam, there still an inequality towards their identity.

Article:Rights group slams Europe's 'discrimination' of Muslims
             Muslims Report Rising Discrimination at work

As I do my research there's a few follow up question I encountered and these are:

1.       First and foremost, what is the explanation and symbolism why Muslim women wear traditional forms of dress, such as the headscarf?

2.      Is it really the religion or culture why European countries discriminated Muslim? Or there is other  reason behind it?

3.      Do Muslims preferred to live in different places in Europe after all the issues they have?

4.      Is there really a rivalry between Christians and Muslim?

I could certainly answer these questions by the source of information that I will get from internet. I could do survey or interview also for me to find that answer.

                                           

“Religion is like a pair of shoes….. Find one that fits for you, but don’t make me wear your shoes.”

                                                                                                                                  ----George Carlin

What Muslim means? Who they really are? 

In the said quotation above, my point of view on it is every individual has the right to choose their religion because all of us have different ways of believing and thinking at the same time I could say that it is a calling from God whatever we call him that’s why nobody should be forced to have faith on something he doesn't want. Influenced of parents is also a factor of that. 

In the world there is a lot of religion like Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism to name a few.Because of the fact that we have many religions as what I have said earlier, sometimes we can't deny to discriminate others faith from what we believed  in. Particularly, the Muslims, other people usually tend to tease them in the way they live, in food and in shirt they dress up. They are the people who believe in their God named Allah that is the definition that  immediately came on my mind whenever I was asked of it. 

As I researched, this link http://www.islamicfinder.org/faq/list.php#8   defined the Islam as both a religion and a complete way of life by the source: www.alim.org  as well as the meaning of Muslim and who is Allah,  by the  above link we can gain a lot of information on it because they have already answered the forty-nine  frequently asked questions so if there is something that bothers you just visit that cite to clear the things you don’t know. 

When I was in second year highschool, one of the topic that my teacher in Asian History discussed was about Islam. As far as I remembered correctly, koran/Q'uran is the holy book that they are using. Ramadan happens in the ninth month of Muslim calendar wherein they will sacrifice not to eat and drink from sunrise until sunset but when in it's already midnight that is the time that they can able to it their foods.  In addition, they don't eat pork. They also do brotherhoods meaning to say they always help each other as if they are just like brothers and sisters.

Furthermore, as I tackled my topic discrimination of Muslim's culture I should have a background of them like their history but unfortunately I don’t have much information on it for the reason that I am a devoted Christian and I just wanted to focus my mind to my God named Jesus Christ that’s why I think it is a perfect turning point on me to have this as my research paper in order for me  to broaden my perspective on them. Out of curiosity I came across an article on the net and  I found out that "Mindanao and Sulu are the original homeland of the Philippine Muslim.These areas are now the third political subdivision of the Philippines. They are located at the southern part of the country, and lie around hundred miles north of equator." through the helped of this link http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-

 Moreover, to support the above information this links http://www.bible.ca/islam/islam-history.htm will also help me to understand them, wherein in this is state that "Islam, began in Mecca, claimed to be the revelation of God(Allah) through the angel Gabriel to a man named Muhammad. Muhammad was born in approximately AD 570-571. He was born to the powerful tribe of the Quraish in Mekkah (Meca). His father's name was Abdullah. His mother's name was Aminah."

 Hence, now I could certainly say that I clarified some of the things that I knew in a more precise way and at the same time I learned information about some of the stuff that Muslims have that I didn't know before.

 “Always  try to be happy whatever life brings. Remember, every 60 seconds of life you spend is a minute of happiness you can never get back” so be happy, start your day with a smile.

Good Day!

One decade, six years, four months ,two days, seventeen hours , two minutes, and  10,11,12,13,14 and so on and so forth seconds  since my mother gave birth to me. My father named me Hana because he simply liked it while my mother just added Angela beside it because according to her they have already two angels in their life which is of course me and the other one is my elder sister. To sum up, my entire name is Hana Angela Gavarra Gardon, a freshman student who is taking up BS Accountancy currently in the second term in Asia Pacific College.  I lived in Taguig City. I have 3 siblings wherein I am the second to the eldest. I graduated from La Immaculada Concepcion School, a private and non-sectarian school in Pasig City. In addition, I could describe myself as an optimist, shy-type, generous somehow, independent and a God- fearing child as well.  I used to bike, to surf web and to do a household chores. Moreover, the subject that I am fascinated with is Mathematics. My sport is badminton. Likewise, my big dream is to be a Certified Public Accountant, to help and share my blessings to organizations like Bantay Bata and lastly to go to different country with my parents and siblings. I think so much from that.

The blog that I have made is all about discrimination of Muslim's culture I chose that topic for the reason that it is one of the things that caught my attention because like other stuff whenever I watch television and it was the featured I stop for what I supposed to do in order for me to really focus on it then eventually I was interested on it. In addition to this, I want to know more about their cultures and the reason behind that.  I want to figure it out why there were many people who discriminate the cultures as well as religion of the said people at the same time I want to study Muslims living in a Christian community like here in the Philippines. I know that there is a lot more for me to learn on them which excite me very well. Furthermore, I intend to use my blog to write a paper in order for me to gradually make my research paper, it also helps me to keep my record, articles and links on what I searched on the net which simply serves as my portfolio.