Valentine 1

Haley Valentine
Mary Martin
English 110
26 November 2015
Action Research Paper
The recent, violent event in Paris was Europes worst terrorist attack in eleven years. On
the night of November 13, 2015, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks occurred in Paris and its
northern suburb, Saint-Denis. It began with three suicide bombers aiming for the Stade de France
(a monumental sports stadium); the bombings killed one hundred and thirty people, and wounded
three hundred and sixty eight. The attacks continued with mass shootings in public cafes, streets,
and the Bataclan concert hall, which was owned by a person of the Jewish race until three
months ago. This is all according to CNN.
Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the ringleader behind the attacks was targeting the Jewish
community, the education system, and the transportation system in Paris, according to the report
cited from Israel National News. The report also stated that Abaaoud said he would give
Boulahecen (his cousin) 5,000 euros ($5,289.50) to buy two suits and two pairs of shoes for him
and an unidentified accomplice to "look the part" in a planned attack on Paris' commercial
district La Defense proving that you would never know who is a terrorist and who is not based
on the way that they appear.
France has now been preparing for retribution on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
(ISIS), but has also been taking extreme caution. Declaring that "France is at war," President
Francois Hollande, on Monday, proposed sweeping new laws and an increase of spending on

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public safety in response to Friday's terror attacks in Paris -- promising to eradicate terrorism, but
not at the expense of his country's freedom. According to CNN.
CNN goes on to report that, at the same time, ISIS threatened the United States that it
could be next. This makes us ponder the current question that hovers over the government's head,
is it our responsibility to find the threat first or let the threat cause harm to us before we
recuperate? Because of these attacks, the United States, Russia, and France have been drawn
together in a coalition to fight against ISIS, with the goal of keeping their citizens safe from
violent extremism.
Within the Islamic religion, their goal is to establish the Caliphate, which is the rank,
jurisdiction, or government of a leader of an Islamic polity, because there are many that want to
rule by it and govern the lands using Sharia Law, which is the code of law derived from the
Koran and from the teachings and example of Mohammed; only followed by Muslims and under
Islamic law there is no separation of church and state. Hudud is an Islamic law stating the limits
ordained by Allah and including the deterrent punishments for serious crimes. For example those
that dont follow Sharia Law will be punished by death. This is according to the Free Dictionary.
These laws and beliefs are demanded from the religion and it wont accept anything else.
This event is connected to my inquiry because ISIS committed this terrorist act to follow
what they believe is the teachings of their religion. I want to show how when certain people take
religion to the extreme, they can become corrupted murders for their God (or in this case Prophet
Muhammad). Islam is the only religion that tells their followers to kill somebody for not strictly
following certain rules.

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Analyzing these facts has lead me to think about a few questions. Is it realistic or even
possible to prevent future terrorist attacks? Should we associate all middle-easterners with being
followers of Islam? Can we afford to let Muslim refugees enter America without being vetted?

Because of attacks associated with ISIS, I took information out of a public opinion poll
asking if Middle Eastern refugees should be allowed to enter the United States. According to
Idaho State Journal; three hundred and sixty two said no, two hundred and forty eight said yes,
and twenty eight said that they were undecided.
Now some may argue that not letting the refugees into our country is racist. Racism has
occurred throughout American history and is still happening today. In recent events that occurred
at The University of Missouri, more commonly known as Mizzou, students went on protest
because they felt that the president, Tim Wolfe, and chancellor on the campus werent addressing
the discrimination claims. The football team refused to continue with their season, even though
they were receiving athletic scholarships, and an African American student went on a hunger
strike to implement his voice in the matter. According to NBC News.
NBC News goes on to report that much of the criticism was leveled by a coalition of
black students who, in addition to demanding Wolfe's departure, called for an increase in the
number of black administrators. The issue that I feel was not addressed was by giving random
African American Administrators higher positions with clearly a pay increase, they were basing
these new positions solely on race and not on merit which does not settle well with me and
shouldnt for many people and students at the university.

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In Steeles, Shelby. Im Black, Youre White, Whos Innocent? she talks about how
programs like affirmative action were designed to help stop racism but from her research and
what she has seen, it has only made it worse. When looking at the issue that was happening and
Im sure is still happening at Mizzou, I think that there are parallels in Steeles essay and that
issue.
Since Im not a student at Mizzou, I really dont know all the facts and cant really say
for sure if the University officials were racist or if this was a good example of racism. The reason
I use the story is because it has been in the recent news and at least in many of the African
American students minds, the administrators of the University of Missouri were racist.
When looking at The Black Avenger., in Rereading America by Hamblin, Ken. I found
a quote that says, But I'll admit that at one time in America an injustice was committed against
people of color-against black people, African American, Negroes. And as a white person, I am
willing to atone for that. This demonstrates that even the best citizens of the United States, once
took part in what was socially acceptable. Does that make it okay? Not at all. We have grown
blind to what really matters, and that's not what color skin you have, where you grew up, what
gender you are, what you believe in, how smart you are, or even the amount of money that is in
your bank account. What matters is the kind of person you are. And that is why no matter how
someone looks, we should all be judged the same.
In Rereading America Dalton, Harlon claims in Horatio Alger. that, Black folk also
know what it is like to be underestimated because of the color of the skin. Then continues on to
add, All of which is to say that the notion that every individual is judged solely on personal
merit, without regard for sociological wrapping, is mythical at best. These quotes goes to show
that we might not ever be able to change because when certain opinions take hold in society, they

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become very difficult to alter. The racism we've seen in America for many years is a mirror
reflecting the bias towards Middle Easterners.
According to the Center for Immigration Studies, in 1970 an estimated fifteen percent
(29,000) of immigrants were Muslim from the regions of the Middle East, which is defined as
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Turkey, the Levant, the Arabian peninsula, and Arab North
Africa. By 2000, an estimated seventy three percent (1.1 million) of all Middle Eastern
immigrants were Muslim.
If we as Americans dont treat all Middle Easterners with the same respect as other
refugees then we could be damaging their chance of success. Being bias towards them could
hurt their chances of getting a good paying job or serving in the community. This type of bias or
racism comes from people lumping all Middle Easterners and Muslims into the same box with
the opinion that theyre all associated with ISIS or extremist beliefs.
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf from TED talks has devoted himself to healing relations
between Muslim-Americans and their neighbors, and bringing that message of peace to the wider
Muslim world. He started the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA), a group that
brings American Muslims and non-Muslims together through programs in policy, current affairs
and culture. His work is important because we need to be brought together so we can better
understand one another and not just assume things which in time might help defeat bias against
Middle Eastern.
Another reason to address this is because according to Infoplease, Christianity is the most
popular religion on the planet, listing at 2.1 billion (thirty three percent). Followed by Islam,
which is listed at 1.3 billion (twenty percent).

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The need for change in my critical event is the bias against Muslims and their religion.
By no means am I saying that I support extremist beliefs or Sharia Law. But when some
Americans make jokes about Muslims being terrorist it shows a lack of respect for those
Muslims that dont have extremist beliefs.
When Im at school I sometimes hear jokes and wise cracks about all Muslims being
terrorist. One of my best friends is a Muslim and hes heard people do this. He says it doesn't
affect him too much and even makes jokes himself. When others join in he encourages and
promotes it. I tell him to stop since I dont find it funny. Then my friend makes statements that
as a white female I don't have it as bad as he does. So apparently sometimes it does bother him.
This is why I dont participate in any of the jokes and try to tell people not to do it so feelings
dont get hurt.
And this is why its wrong to put all Muslims in a box and say they are all extremist.
But not only Muslims. I move towards a wider range of religion equality. For example, if I
wanted to start a religious campaign at my school promoting Christianity then I should be able
to, but at the same time, no teachers should talk or teach about a certain religion because they are
not certified to.
This could start with the priest who would hopefully teach people to believe that
everybodys values should be equally important. And the government could contribute it by not
promoting everything that happens in communities, mostly online. For example, when we see
pictures or video of a person dressed like a Muslim with a caption that makes it seem like the
situation is funny it serves as a green light to go ahead and discriminate.

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In the four photographs above that I pulled from the internet you see what I was trying to
explain. When you publicize Muslims like this people will associate not only Middle Eastern, but
also Muslims with less extremes values, and then they will fear everybody. According to the
Catholic League RSS.
The Catholic League joined with various Christian and Jewish organizations in support of
the Religious Equality Amendment. The amendment seeks to secure for all Americans their right
to religious liberty and freedom of speech, both of which have been jeopardized in recent years
by an overly aggressive interpretation of the so-called Establishment Clause.
As always people try their hardest to make change but creating a rule to follow will not
always help because people might take it the wrong way and start to get offensive when you tell
them what to do. So thats why I suggest we need to begin the process with the young

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everywhere and by basing what they are taught and scored on not only academics, but character
too. Then as they are growing up, hopefully years from now we will be able to see the change.

My innovation project was starting a creatively colored cardboard box at school that
contains pieces of paper that have different Bible verses on them, allowing people to grab them
incase somebody is having a bad day, in hope to cheer them up. This would not be mandatory of
course. I also started a Tumblr page online. It allows the reposting of inspirational pictures and
stories about peoples encounters with God. The site allows posting informational songs about
God and his glory too. My last project was creating a poster board that promoted Young Life,
which is a Christian youth organization that I have experienced firsthand. I did this one because
my first paper was all about this group that is fun and amazing because it allows kids from the
same and different community to come together to praise God.
Im not trying to change anything about a certain religion; Im trying to show that
everybody is all the same at heart, and people deserve equal opportunities to be happy no matter
what they believe. When I chose my inquiry on religion I wasnt expecting to come along in
knowledge as far as I did this year. Your class has helped me to think about the world less in
black and white and more in color because theres never just one answer to a question. With such
a deep topic, I feel as if Ive grown as a person. At this age we get so many emotions over the
wrong things and we forget to look at the bigger picture, well Im glad to say that I see it a little
clearer now.
Work Cited

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Ariel, Ben. "Report: Paris Mastermind Planned to Attack Jewish Targets." Arutz Sheva. 27 Nov.
2015. Web. 22 Dec. 2015.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/204061#.VnmcBDbSmUn
Caliphate." The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Web. 22 Dec. 2015.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/caliphate
Camarota, Steven. "Immigrants from the Middle East." Center for Immigration Studies. 1 Aug.
2002. Web. 22 Dec. 2015.
http://www.cis.org/articles/2002/back902.html
Dalton, Harlon. Horatio Alger.
"Feisal Abdul Rauf." TED. N.d. Web. 23 Dec. 2015.
http://www.ted.com/speakers/imam_feisal_abdul_rauf
Hamblin, Ken. The Black Avenger.
McLaughlin, Eliott. "Paris Attacks: What You Need to Know - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News
Network, 20 Nov. 2015. Web. 22 Dec. 2015.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/19/europe/paris-attacks-at-a-glance/
Mullen, Jethro. "'France Is at War,' President Francois Hollande Says after ISIS Attack." CNN.
Cable News Network, 16 Nov. 2015. Web. 23 Dec. 2015.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/16/world/paris-attacks/
"Religious Equality Amendment Badly Needed." Catholic League RSS. N.p., 20 Sept. 1995.
Web. 30 Dec. 2015.
http://www.catholicleague.org/religious-equality-amendment-badly-needed/
Schuppe, Jon. "Mizzou Crisis Highlights Racial Gulf Between Students, Faculty." NBC News.
14 Nov. 2015. Web. 22 Dec. 2015.

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http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mizzou-crisis-highlights-racial-gap-betweenstudents-administration-n463091
Sharia Law. The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Web. 22 Dec. 2015.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sharia+law
"Should Middle Eastern Refugees Be Allowed to Enter the United States?" IdahoStateJournal. 17
Nov. 2015. Web. 22 Dec. 2015.
http://idahostatejournal.com/should-middle-eastern-refugees-be-allowed-to-enter-theunited/poll_c05a20c6-8d02-11e5-bed9-7fba5815da5b.html
Steele, Shelby. Im Black, Youre White, Whos Innocent?
"Top Ten Organized Religions of the World." Infoplease. Infoplease, 17 Dec. 2004. Web. 23 Dec.
2015.
http://www.infoplease.com/toptens/organizedreligions.html
http://cdn.pophangover.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ordinary-muslim-man-8e1348259680835.jpg
http://www.quickmeme.com/img/1e/1ef822d005168326dbe4e459a689e004d195f08778602b060
90726b45a15b999.jpg
http://cdn.pophangover.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ordinary-muslim-man-4.jpg
http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/196/448/OMMlolsnaps.jpg