Misconceptions of Islam

Rachel Reff

Misconceptions of Islam

                Right from the beginning of John Updike’s work, Terrorist, there is an immediate assumption that because Ahmad is Muslim he is going to be this terrorist. Although this is not said directly in the book it is supposed by the opening pages of Ahmad’s hate towards everything but Islam. Why is it that the people who are Muslims are targeted for their religion as terrorists? Updike automatically goes into the race and ethnicity factor. “Ahmad himself is the product of a red-haired American mother, Irish by ancestry, and an Egyptian exchange student whose ancestors had been baked since the time of the Pharaohs in the muddy rice and flax fields of the overflowing Nile. The complexion of the offspring of this mixed marriage could be described as dun. A low-luster shade lighter than beige.” (p.13) Why is this line even important? Updike places unimportant ideas into his readers minds to make people believe that because Ahmad is the ‘product’ rather than being the ‘child’ of a Muslim man that he must have some sort of evil contained in him. Was it not just reported that most of the horrific crimes of hate and destruction that happened in 2012-2013 were committed by Caucasian men that all came from some type of Christianity? Muslim people are constantly targeted for being the cause of hateful crimes. The worst part yet is, statistically, there are less crimes created by Muslims than other religions.  The Washington Post conducted a poll of different religions with different categories to see what people thought of specific religions. Muslims were listed as violent, untrustworthy, intelligent and hardworking. This kind of ignorance is what fuels future generations of people to keep thinking in this kind of way without ever getting to know a person who practices Islam. Hence Updike’s description of Ahmad with Dr. Levy. “Jack Levy sighs again and thinks head to the next appointment-another needy, surly, misguided teen-ager about to float away into the morass of the world. “Well, perhaps I shouldn’t say this, Ahmad, but in view of your grades and SATs, and your way-above-average poise and seriousness, I think your-what’s the word?-imam helped you to waste your high-school years.” (p.40) Why is it that Updike made Ahmad to be someone very intelligent, is it because he too just assumes what a majority of people think as well?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/21/americans-who-distrust-muslims-are-likelier-to-back-the-war-on-terror/