Silent No More: Confronting America's False Images of Islam, by Paul Findley (TPB, 2003, $3)
Congressman Paul Findley went on a trip to South Yemen, but it would turn out to be only the first stop on a journey that would take him 25 years.
"He chronicles his far-flung trail of discovery, the false stereotypes of Islam that linger in the minds of the American people, the corrective actions that the leaders of American's seven million Muslims are undertaking, and the community's remarkable progress in mainstream politics."
Covering Islam: How the Media and the Experts Determine How We See the Rest of the World, by Edward W. Said (TPB, 1981, $2)
Written before 9-11, this book is even more pertinent now.
"In the West, academic experts, corporate and governmental policymakers, and the media see 'Islam' as representing everything from anti-Americanism to good business to an inferior culture, a dangerously enthusiastic religion, and bad values. In response to this, Islamic countries use 'Islam' to strengthen state structures or to rally masses, thereby papering over the diversity beneath the Islamic cover."
Also, see the book blogged on 2/19:
How Does It Feel To Be A Problem? Being Young and Arab in America
How many of us know the different types of Islam? Or which type of Islam is a majority in which country? How many of us have ever even picked up a Koran, much less read from it? Which is more important to Muslims, their religion or their culture? And how can you separate culture and religion? If we could only all be like Congressman Findley. He went to Yemen to try only to obtain the release to an imprisoned US citizen. He ended up on a journey to free Muslims from our false stereotypes of them, and to free us from our ignorance. Start your own journey by reading one of these books, all the be found on the new non-fiction table.
