Comments on: Talking About U.S.-Muslim World Relations http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/09/12/talking-about-us-muslim-world-relations/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:45:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: AJ http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/09/12/talking-about-us-muslim-world-relations/comment-page-1/#comment-875 AJ Thu, 14 Sep 2006 04:21:06 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/09/12/talking-about-us-muslim-world-relations/#comment-875 Recent surveys also show a large number (42%) of Americans see themselves as Christians first, and Americans second (<a href="http://pewresearch.org/datatrends/?NumberID=136" rel="nofollow">Pew Data Trends</a>)--again, religion before national identity. So maybe we should talk about 'Christian world-Muslim world' relationship. Of course, that would make a dangerous assumption that all Americans are Christian--or that all Saudis are Muslim--or that all Indians are Hindu. The other problem I have with this phrase is that it solidifies an "us" vs. "them" perspective. The U.S. part is assumed to be secular--the Muslim part is religious. But it's not really about secular vs. religious society. Like you said, it's about different perspectives and viewpoints. 'U.S. and the Muslim World' is not the worse way to describe these perspectives, but it's clearly not the best either. Recent surveys also show a large number (42%) of Americans see themselves as Christians first, and Americans second (Pew Data Trends)–again, religion before national identity. So maybe we should talk about ‘Christian world-Muslim world’ relationship. Of course, that would make a dangerous assumption that all Americans are Christian–or that all Saudis are Muslim–or that all Indians are Hindu.

The other problem I have with this phrase is that it solidifies an “us” vs. “them” perspective. The U.S. part is assumed to be secular–the Muslim part is religious. But it’s not really about secular vs. religious society. Like you said, it’s about different perspectives and viewpoints.

‘U.S. and the Muslim World’ is not the worse way to describe these perspectives, but it’s clearly not the best either.

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