Dear Principal Belzer,
My name is Eric Meyer, and during the summer I, along with the rest of the AP Junior English class, read the nonfiction work Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. I enjoyed the book immensely, with Eggers’ portrayal of the protagonist Zeitoun as a kind and virtuous citizen invoking powerful feelings in me at the injustices he later faced in the novel. Eggers made me care about and like Zeitoun, helping convey to me the intended themes of the novel: the unfairness of the prejudices Muslims face in America and the malfunctions of the U.S. government after 9/11. However, reports of domestic violence and attempted murder on Zeitoun’s part have recently come to light, contradicting his characterization in Eggers’ book. Zeitoun allegedly
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Many of us who read the book without the knowledge of Zeitoun’s less than desirable qualities, including myself, were completely ensnared by the feelings of injustice and anger that were invoked, which aided Eggers’ message quite handily. However, if we had done just a little bit of research we would have discovered the accounts of Zeitoun’s violent criminal actions and seen through Eggers’ false, flawless Zeitoun. Even without such glaring issues, the fact that the Zeitoun family was allowed to edit their own story would have set off a few alarms about the validity, accuracy, and honesty of the tale. This is a great example of information being shown one-sidedly in order to prove a point or send a message. In this case I think Eggers did so with good intent, but the same strategies of illusion are even more often used to craftily deceive and manipulate people into doing things outside of their own best interests, or the best interests of others. I see this principle at work all the time in the one-sided political advertisements that are displayed constantly on television and billboards, which encourage people to draw conclusions before they’re really ready to do so. Zeitoun in this way becomes a good lesson in the importance of critical thought and healthy amounts of skepticism, two abilities I think everyone should
Hinson, Kathy. "Book Review: 'Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes'" The Oregonian. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.
Dave Eggers’ novel Zeitoun is labeled as a work of non-fiction. It tells the story of a Syrian-American man named Abdulrahman Zeitoun, also known as Zeitoun, who chose to stay in New Orleans to ride out one of the worst natural disasters in American history, Hurricane Katrina. Zeitoun, a family man and devoted to his business stayed in the city as the hurricane approached to protect not only his home and business, but also his neighbors’ and friends’ properties. After the storm he traveled the flooded city in a secondhand canoe rescuing neighbors, caring for abandoned pets and distributing fresh water. Soon after the storm, Zeitoun and three others were arrested without reason or explanation at one of his rental houses by a mixed group of U.S. Army National Guard soldiers and local police officers. In the novel Eggers created an accurate portrayal of the events of racial profiling and looting this becomes apparent if one views the documentary by Spike Lee, When the Levees Broke.
Pement, Eric. “Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam: Part Two.” Cornerstone. 1997, vol. 26, issue 112, p. 32-36, 38. < http://answering-islam.org.uk/NoI/>.
As I was starting my homework, I heard my mom yell "Honey! Come down for dinner!!". As I went down the stairs, an aroma of buttery mashed potatoes filled the air. As soon as I sat down at the table, my father asked the same question he does everyday, "what did you learn at school today sweetheart?" "Well, I read a story called "Block Party" and we had to identify the theme of the story, which was that you dont necessarily need a mother to grow up well, get advice, help regarding more personal problems, or to have a female role model in your life. I agree with the theme of the story because if you need advice you can always ask your friends, or or if you are having more personal problems you could go to other relatives in your family. Also, you could have another female role model, such as an aunt or a grandmother.
In this article, Kasam explains her experience being a Muslim American on a college campus and the challenges she her and fellow Muslims face on campus. She explains how she is a club leader at Quinnipiac University for a Muslim group. She claims that there is not a lot of Muslims who attend that University. She also believes that many Muslims at the school are afraid of coming out and telling other people on campus that they are Muslims; keeping a low profile. She provides statistics on hate crimes against Muslims around the world, and she also expresses her concern to her Muslim friends on campus. This article was published in the College Xpress for mainly college students to view. Kasam is a staff writer for the Quinnipiac Chronicle who mainly writes stories about incidents on and around Quinnipiac University. This article will help me explain the various problems that Muslim students around college campuses face
The authors do eventually (pg. 205) acknowledge that some may see the book as trying to enrage the public just to sell books. In fact, Ron Levy, P...
Before we get to the cases, I want to provide some background on our author, Mark Juergensmeyer. He currently is a professor of sociology and the Director of Global and International Studies at the University of California. He is also accountable for writing several other books such as The New Cold War? Religious Nationa...
Abdulrahnam Zeitoun and his family’s experience with Hurricane Katrina is summarized and documented in the novel Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers. Throughout the events of the novel, the reader learns its purpose is to inform the audience of the shocking tragedy and burden the storm placed on the Zeitoun family. Rhetorical appeals, the Muslim religion, media, the government’s involvement in the city, and the audience the book was trying to reach all play important roles in the story of the storm that devastated all of New Orleans. Egger’s novel not only informs, it also entertains, explains, and exposes, as well as documenting the events of the storm and the Zeitoun family’s story.
For a second, the U.S. stood still. Looking up at the towers, one can only imagine the calm before the storm in the moment when thousands of pounds of steel went hurdling into its once smooth, glassy frame. People ran around screaming and rubble fell as the massive metal structure folded in on itself like an accordion. Wounded and limping from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, America carried on, not without anger and fear against a group of innocent Americans, Muslim Americans. Nietzsche’s error of imaginary cause is present in the treatment of Muslim Americans since 9/11 through prejudice in the media, disregard of Muslim civil liberties, racial profiling, violence, disrespect, and the lack of truthful public information about Islam. In this case, the imaginary cause against Muslims is terrorism. The wound has healed in the heart of the U.S. but the aching throb of terrorism continues to distress citizens every day.
The story shows prejudice of people. Like “Lusus Naturae”, the family treats her like a monster which starts from the stereotyping of appearance. Actually the behavior and mind of the family are cruel like a monster nature although their figures are not a monster. People should be concerned more on inner sight as compared to visible sight. Also, the appearance should not be a reason to discriminate human
In some aspects, Zeitoun is the perfect American. From the moment he arrived in the United States, Zeitoun did everything he could to prove himself to his new country’s citizens. Unfortunately, some people relate terrorism with the faith of Islam. Throughout
Targets of suspicion: the impact of post-9/11 policies on Muslims, Arabs and South Asians in the US. (2004, May 1). Retrieved from http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/special-reports/targets-suspicion-impact-post-911-policies-muslims-arabs-and-south-asians-us
About two years ago I read Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s memoir “Infidel” and was immensely moved by her story, especially the atrocities she went through in her childhood in Africa and the way she struggled to flee from an oppressive life. At that time, I could not imagine that anyone (except fanatic Muslims), let alone victims of the same oppression that she was, would not share her feelings and views. However, the reading of Ian Buruma’s Murder in Amsterdam sheds light on bigger and obscure components of this story, which clearly influenced some people to disapprove her behavior – even Islamic women. Like in Hirsi Ali’s story, Ian Buruma also identifies nuances in the main episode of the book – an episode that at face value could be described as a murder of a fierce critic of Islam, Theo van Gogh (Hirsi Ali’s friend), by a Muslim extremist, Mohammed Bouyeri. According to Buruma, although the common theme is immigration – involving two guests, Hirsi Ali and Bouyeri, and one host, Van Gogh – there is no single explanation for what happened. Instead, each of these three characters, he explains, was influenced by a blend of personal experiences and external forces. It was thus the clash between their diverse cultural values and personal identities that ended up leading to the tragic morning of November 2nd, 2004, the day of Van Gogh’s murder.
September 11, 2001 forever changed the landscape of the generalized view of the Muslim community in the United States; these acts created a defining stereotypical image that all Muslim’s are extreme terrorists, or condone such behavior. Although this view of the Muslim community was not necessarily new, it was not widely acknowledged in America until the events of September 11th as it was continually thrust upon the public by print and news media. This study will discuss the dichotomy between representations of the Muslim community held by many in the Western culture as well as the psychological cause and effect of such depictions. The sociological “norms” as determined by popular American culture, the development of “terrorist” stereotypes through modern media, and the cause and effect postcolonial literature has had on the subject are all topics that will be evaluated. The objective of this research is to provide enhanced comprehension of the situational attitudes held by Muslims and Americans alike. Also, this will offer an educated understanding of the gap between what is believed and what is factual, in hopes of creating emphasis for the need of a new approach in creating a discrimination free partnership with the Muslim community while maintaining awareness and security.
Islamophobia according to dictionary.com is defined as hatred or fear of Muslims or of their politics or culture. Before reading Zeitoun I wasn't aware of how big islamophobia was, however as I read this novel I realized how awful it is. Living in these circumstances is harsh. Zeitoun and his family had a huge obstacle in front of them everyday. Islamophobia influences the actions and decisions the family takes during the hurricane. For example, when Kathy leaves New Orleans to Baton Rouge, her mother insists that she doesn't need to wear the hijab. “‘Why don’t you take off that thing and relax’ she said pointing to Kathy’s hijab. ‘He’s not here. Be yourself.’” (p. 106) Be yourself. Kathy is trying to be herself, she adopted th...