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JOSE MERCURY NEWS - MARCH 27, 2003 War in Iraq | Media Outreach | San Jose Mercury News --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The original article can be found at: http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/5493282.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, March 27, 2003 (San Jose Mercury News) Schools must beware of harassment of Arab students Farhan Syed TIMES of war have often challenged our country's unity. As pictures in the media portray our military foes, neighbors begin to notice the similarities between faces they see on television and the family down the street. The nameless, faceless humans on the other side of the world become easy to hate as the people trying to kill our sons and daughters in uniform. Intolerance is nothing new, and racial bigotry has been an unfortunate aspect of American history, affecting various ethnic groups at different times. Growing up, I was taught that we had learned from our mistakes, and wouldn't again witness events like the internment of Japanese-Americans or the lynching of African-Americans. While we don't see such extremes of bigotry today, it still surfaces on different occasions. A case in point is the recent surge in violence against Muslim and Arab-Americans, reminiscent of the first gulf war, when people experienced harassment in the street, in the workplace and at school. In schools, adult supervisors often did little to address the problem. School staff and secretaries were not provided sensitivity training, resulting in negative behavior toward parents and students of Muslim or Arab background. They faced ethnic slurs, and were often physically harassed. Especially vulnerable were Muslim schoolgirls wearing the religiously mandated scarf. After the 9/11 tragedy, there was a significant rise in hate crimes against Arabs, Muslims and groups that ``look'' Arab. However, President Bush made statements condemning the harassment of American citizens of any background, and many groups came together to support Muslim and Arab communities in this country. But with America at war with Iraq, we may witness another spike in violence. Unfortunately, those who suffer most when bigotry rears its ugly head are children. Harassment in schools often goes undetected because the victims are afraid to speak out, and have few options to defend themselves. As the war intensifies, Muslim and Arab parents worry that the combination of fear-inducing news on terrorism, reports of war preparations and lingering emotions from the 9/11 tragedy will result in a firestorm of harassment and hate against their children in school. It is important that school staffs be prepared to identify and address potential hate crimes. The best way to start is by creating awareness about the potential for such incidents and how to handle them. The recent beating of a Lebanese boy in Yorba Linda by youths shouting white supremacist slogans shows the danger of ignoring the potential for violence. Teachers and administrators can make schools a safe and comfortable environment by understanding the issues faced by Muslim and Arab students. Some students may suffer from fear, fatigue and depression due to the ongoing conflict. Others may feel embarrassed, humiliated or degraded by statements or responses to current events by peers or teachers. Students need to know that if they feel uncomfortable and fearful at school, they can voice their feelings to teachers, counselors or other school officials. This does not mean that war should not be discussed in the classroom, but it is important to be supportive of a collective, inclusive and positive culture, avoiding references to ``us'' and ``them,'' or asking students of Middle Eastern or Muslim background to comment on current events as if they are ``experts.'' Students should be reminded that only the perpetrators are responsible for terrorist actions; no religion condones violence against innocent people. A discussion of the media's focus on certain groups, its double standards and its perpetuation of stereotypes is central to any discussion, as is a reminder of the principles of justice and equality our country was founded on, and the importance of recognizing the rights of all Americans, irrespective of race, religion or national background. Many metropolitan areas, including the Bay Area, have trained speakers who can address issues of tolerance by presenting the facts about Islam, Muslims and Arabs. Showing the human side of a group goes a long way toward dissolving biases and preconceived notions. Through discussion, people can find commonalities, which help reduce bigotry and hate, and may even move our global community toward peace. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Farhan Syed is spokesperson for the Islamic Speakers Bureau, a program of the Islamic Networks Group. For information on the ``School Program to Prevent Hate,'' go to http://www.ing.org/prevent_hate/. |
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