Focus Group: Social-Religious Issues

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Focus GroupSocial-Religious Issues
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Islamic Fundamentalism

• Why Must We Fight?
• What Is This Fight About?

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JihadAn Inner Struggle or Worldwide War?

• An Islamic term Arabic for battle struggle
  holy war for religion.
• Two kinds of interpretation greater is the
  belief that it is a spiritual struggle within
  oneself. (f.x. a druggie fighting addiction)
• The lesser interpretation is simplified as
  meaning a holy war against infidels and infidel
  countries.

While a woman meditates and tries to find her
inner self, the Taliban take action into their
own hands, being oppressive and cruel.
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Islamism and IslamistsReligion, Government, or
Both?

• Islamism is a group of ideologies in Islam that
  want to use the Sharia law vs. foreign cultures.
• Islamists feel that the Western impurity is
  invading the world.
• Islamism has proved that it can work as a
  political alternative. Countries such as Iran,
  Sudan, Pakistan, and Libya adapted it.

President Clinton, representing Western
government, the Koran symbolizing Sharia law, and
Khomeini symbolizing the Koran as being the
government law.
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Islamic ResurgenceWe want to modernize, not
Westernize

• A broad intellectual, cultural, political, social
  movement throughout the Islamic world.
• A revival of Islamic ideas that has affected
  Muslims in every country.
• The Muslims in this movement have created special
  services to gain followers.

Islam around the world? Not such a farfetched
idea anymore!
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Important Fundamentalist Leaders and Organizations

• Ayatollah Khomeini
• Taliban
• Usama Bin Laden
• Muslim Brotherhood
• HAMAS
• Islamic Jihad

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Faces of the Terrorists
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What The Future Holds...Is There Hope for
Tomorrow?

• We must make a difference. World peace is at
  stake.
• What we can do?
• Educate the masses we are not against Islam.
• Use our powers. Try to negotiate peace.

• There is not much we can do to stop these
  fundamentalists from lashing out.
• We must have patience, and the will to struggle,
  to fight, for peace on earth.

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Arabs in Israel

• The Continuing Struggle

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Arab-Israeli WarsHow long will this go on?

• Arabs and Jews in Israel are always having wars
  over land each claim as their holy land.
• Until the early 1990s, Israel was in conflict
  with its Arab neighbors, including 5 wars from
  1948 to 1982.
• Some Jews live in Arab countries.
• Many Arabs live in Israel.

Fist fights are common in Israel, even in the
streets.
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Israeli Arabs Israeli JewsSo different, yet
similar, somehow...

• Arabs are a minority in Israel. They make up
  only 18 of the population.
• Arabs are full citizens of the Jewish state and
  also have the right to vote, and must obey laws.

VS.
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The Peace ProcessIs there hope for the future?

• The United Nations has been trying to bring peace
  to Israel for many years. They have had many ups
  and downs in their struggle.
• Peace is something that will take a long time,
  with Israeli Arabs, and Israeli Jews.

Barak, Clinton, and Assad making peace in the
Middle East.
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Terrorism In IsraelWill It ever stop?

• Israeli Arabs and terrorism.
• HAMAS and terrorism.
• Many Israelis blamed the recent increase and
  growth of terrorism and fundamental Islam among
  Israeli Arabs for the attacks and suggested
  restrictions of Islamic activity.
• Many Arabs see discrimination as feeding
  fundamentalism inside Israel.

Tick tock how long until the next bomb will go
off?
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Women In Islam

• Is equality always equal?
• Are beliefs always believed?

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Conservative ViewWomen are for the home

• The Western feminist cause is viewed with
  distrust. Alien philosophy, corruption.
• Abuse of women in Taliban areas.
• Belief on Hijab and how it helps society - its
  better to be safe (in terms of rape, sexual
  abuse, danger) than sorry.
• Laws, customs, and women important as wife and/or
  mother. Men have similar restrictions.

A Muslim woman wearing Hijab.
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Modern ViewWomen are equal to men...

• The views on how women should act, behave, and be
  treated in a moderate manner. Egypt, Morocco.
• How to understand the moderate view, and
  comparisons to make things clear.
• Dont practice Hijab because not necessary and
  has no worthwhile purpose. It should be the
  womans choice.
• Interpretations of the Koran. Do not interpret
  it harshly.

Deborah Whitley - a Muslim who thinks Hijab is
unnecessary.
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How Women Look At Things in the Western World

• There should be equality between sexes.
• History of feminism.
• Small families and more equal roles is the
  Western way.
• View of Hajib and covering up. Theres an
  ideology If you have it, you should flash it.
• A woman makes her own individual decisions.

This lady had the freedom to write an article --
and have it published.
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How Women Look At Things in the Islamic World

• Household, children, husband are first priority,
  aside from Alla, and now marriage within Islamic
  society.
• View on feminist cause. Veil as liberating.
  Spiritual values rather than bodily lust.
• Men and women are equal and have different roles
  and rules.
• Accomplishments and history. Laws, college
  attendance. Different path for Islamic women-
  Iran and Taliban or Egypt, Morocco, etc.

A Muslim girl is forced to wear hijab and cover
up. She may not have a future where she can be
successful on her own.
Women covered from head to toe in chadors.
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Muslims in the West

• Coming to a new country
• to escape, or to start anew?

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ImmigrationThe Statue of Liberty held her torch
high...

• Most Muslims in the West are emigrants.
• Most immigrants are from South Asia, Middle East,
  South East, Asia, and Africa.
• Emigrate for economic reasons, to unite families,
  because of war or political turmoil.
• They are not here to change society afraid
  society will change them.

The Statue of Liberty greets immigrants to
America.
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Religious ToleranceFreedom for all religions?

• West fears Islamic fundamentalism, military
  radicalims, terrorism.
• Accuse Muslims for causing acts of terrorism.
• Much misunderstanding and ingnorance about nature
  and religion of Islam.
• Muslims feel Westerners dont let them practice
  religion.

Freedompeace?
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AssimilationCan we fit in the way we are?

• Some Muslims feel they need to assimilate to fit
  in.
• Many Muslims have fallen into traps of Western
  society T.V., fast food, technology, etc.
• About 6 million Muslims live in the U.S. today,
  many of which participate in American life.
• Many Muslims do not want to assimilate into
  American society.

Muslim girl or valley girl?
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Similarities Between Islam World and the West

• Islam World and West have much to learn from one
  another.
• Islam reiterates basic American values in many
  ways.
• When citizens, many Muslims vote for president.
• Key similarities respect for knowledge, justice,
  compassion toward poor, importance of family,
  respect for parents.

Not that far away...
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Thank You!!!

• We appreciate your patience and hope you enjoyed
  all of our speeches.
• Next upa fun game for you to play!!!
• We hope youve learned all about
• Islamic Fundamentalism
• Arabs in Israel
• Women in Islam
• Muslims in the West

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STOP!!!!!!!!! Finally, its the END!!!!