Muslim American Teens — A Different Face of Islam

ChannelOneNews.com December 15, 1998

America — the melting pot. It's a term used to describe the racial, cultural, religious and ethnic diversity of the country that we live in.

Millions of people with a wide range of beliefs have come to this country and achieved prosperity because of the freedoms that our forefathers provided for us in the Constitution — particularly the freedom to practice any religion.

December is a sacred month. Christmas is around the corner. Chanukah is underway. But what many people don't realize is that another faith — with more than 1 billion followers around the world — is also observing their most sacred holiday.

The religion is Islam. So, for this month's "One Nation" profile, we decided to take a look at the lives of Islamic teenagers as they approach Ramadan — their holiest month. Their faith will soon include 5 million followers in the United States, making it the second most popular religion in the country, next to Christianity. But they are certainly one of the most misunderstood cultures in our nation's melting pot.

Now, let's be honest. When you think of Islam, many of you probably don't think of praying, but rather you think of "Islamic terrorists" going on suicide bombing raids or "Islamic extremists" blowing up embassies, busses and buildings.

Channel One News reporter Gotham Chopra set out to explore the lives of some Islamic teenagers in America.

"We didn't find terrorists. We found another face of Islam and young people that are a lot like you and me," he says.

"I'm a regular guy. I happen to be Muslim," says Amir Shaikh, 17. "I've been asked 'Are you a terrorist?' or 'Do you know Saddam Hussein or Yassar Arafat?"

Gotham says he can relate to how Muslim American teens feel.

"You know, because I have dark skin and my parents are from India, a lot of people have asked me 'Are you Middle Eastern? Are you a terrorist?'" he says. "I got to tell you, it feels pretty strange to be guilty by association."

Sireen Sawaf, 18, says that Muslim American teens are not so different from most teenagers in the United States.

"People are so quick to stereotype," Sireen says. "They think 'Oh my gosh, terrorists,' 'Oh my gosh, these people are to themselves,' and 'Oh, they are so weird.' But, it's like we're all the same."

The interesting thing is that the Arabic word "Islam" literally means both surrender and peace.

"Islam is a word that tells us that all human beings submit to God's will," said Sheik Muhammad Kabbani of the Islamic Supreme Council Of America. "And to spread peace and happiness into this world."

So how do we reconcile that definition with all the violent images and notions we seem to think of when we talk about Muslims?

"Islam called for love and tolerance and condemned terrorism," Kabbani says. "And condemned completely any act of bombing. And condemned all acts of misbehavior. This is what is written in the scripture."

But with Islam, like all other great religions that have nonviolence and peace at their core, there are fundamentalists — or extremists who manipulate what is written in their holy book — to justify their acts of violence and terrorism.

"We cannot condemn religion by the act of these extremists," says Kabbani.

Father William Fulco, a religion scholar at Loyola Marymount University, agrees.

"To take the acts of a few and to smear everyone with guilt because of it is disproportionate and doesn't make sense," he says.

The extremists represent a tiny percentage of the more than 1.2 billion Muslims across the world. Yet their acts are so extreme that they dominate the media images of Muslims.

"It's more attractive to see the negative than the positive," says Sireen. "I mean, who would or what would you rather turn on — a psycho terrorist story, with people bombing and going crazy, or would you rather watch something like this, knowing people for the way they are."

We at Channel One News wanted to show you the images of Islam you don't see in the mainstream media. It is the Islam that's appearing right here in America, taking shape through the life experiences of young Islamic people.

"I like Hanson and I like Metallica and 'N Sync," says Sondos Kholaki, 16. "I like cheese pizza and jellybeans, but not together."

Ahmed says his favorite things to do are about the same things that other American teens like to do, too.

"Just kicking it with friends, working out, playing ball — the normal things normal people do," he says.

Another Muslim American teen, Rami Burpee, 17, has been on his school's varsity football team for three years.

"I just fell in love with the sport. I love running with the ball," he says.

Sireen took Gotham to her favorite hangout, a nearby mall.

"This is Montclair Mall and you guys might not know it, but if you do it's dope," she says.

"It's like we have the American culture instilled in us.... Like the music, the dancing, like the fun, like hanging out with your buddies. It's all the same.

These young people have the same interests as most American teenagers: movies, music and the mall. But there is one difference that with women is plain to see. Some choose to cover their head with a scarf.

"It identifies me as a Muslim," says Susie Amaira, 18. "And it's also like a sign of modesty. I thought that when I put on my scarf it would be like, you know, people would be like calling me names or like terrorists or something. But it's been the complete opposite. And a lot of guys that I talk to at school, they are like, 'Oh my God, I have so much respect for you.'"

However, Susie's best friend Sireen is not yet ready to take the step to cover her body.

"You can't just throw it on and expect to do it all the time," Sireen says. "You have to get used to it, and you have to like it. Why do I want to put it on? Because of the religion, it's dope. Because the religion says to put it on, so."

Sondos Kholaki, says Muslim Americans are just ordinary people.

"It's just if you look past the outer appearance and actually try and get to know somebody who is Muslim, you'll see that you'll find so many things in common. Christianity, Judaism, Islam — it's like all based on the same things, the same values, the same morals.

Part 2