Editorial: ‘Muslims in a Global Context’ provides enlightenment, education

While many of us were arriving home from elementary school on Sept. 11, 2001, our parents were watching hours of non-stop, repetitive coverage of the Twin Towers collapsing.

That day is not only a poignant reminder of the lives lost to the attacks, but of the widespread anti-Muslim sentiment that resembled darker eras of American history —  much like the anti-Japanese sentiment during World War II that plagued the west coast.

Fifteen years after 9/11, many students on our campus are trying to dispel the misconceptions they were raised around — seeking enlightenment about the culture thousands of Americans have shunned.

According to the FBI, reports of anti-Islamic crimes rose by 1,600 percent in 2001 and a Gallup poll from 2010 shows Muslims are still more likely than Americans of any other religious group to experience racial or religious discrimination.

In an effort to combat the misconceptions of Islam, Pitt’s Global Studies Center and Carnegie Mellon University are offering a free weekend course, open to the public, which will educate their students about the religious, cultural and political influences of Muslims in America.

While we can’t reverse the damage — the ruined lives, the fear-filled childhoods, the bigoted remarks — we can make Pitt a safe environment to convene and gain a better understanding of Islamic culture and heritage.

The course, held biannually since 2012, is taking place for the ninth time March 18 to 20, in Sennott Square. Titled “Muslims in a Global Context,” the course focuses on a different region each year and hosts leading scholars who will discuss topics that go beyond abstract information about Islam.

This year’s speakers will discuss topics such as hip-hop in the Muslim community and lectures that outline Islam in the United States specifically — undoubtedly an effort to combat misconceptions about American Muslims and overpower the racist rhetoric surrounding ISIS coverage, refugee politics and immigration discourse.

Events like these give the community the opportunity to learn — and establish a foundation for genuine connection — with their Muslim neighbors and colleagues and prepares us for the globalized world we’re living in.

Involving ourselves in lectures about culture in addition to religion and politics, we create a deeper, more human understanding of our Muslim peers.

Don’t let racist reactions to the Paris attack and 9/11 — which often perpetuate anti-Muslim sentiment instead of coping with the fear those events incite — dictate your opinion of Muslims in America.

Go spend a weekend with Pitt Global Studies and learn about your local and global Muslim neighbor. Bring a friend. Be enlightened, and further enlighten.