I'm writing an ethnography for my Cultural Anthropology class, and an essay for my English class this semester. ( I'm an anthropology student. ) My English 101 class essay is a mixed style research paper on any topic of your choice. I'm an athiest, and growing up in a very religious region of the U.S., I've learned to stay well informed on religions (mostly Christianity) and the news surrounding it. For the last year I've been quite annoyed by the gerneralizations of Muslims in the the media, especially in the right wing. This is probably because athiests and agnostics suffer the same treatment from that portion of America.

I have decided to write my English paper on informing Americans on the diversity of Islam, just like in all major religions, and bring a light to the negative affects on Moderate Muslims in America resulting from generalizations in the media and public opinion.

My Cultural Anthropology ethnography was also open ended, so I chose a simular topis. Originally, I want to narrow in on the Muslims around my school in Indianapolis, but because I don't drive and with work and fulltime school I have trouble getting across town to visit the Nur-Allah Islamic Center. They also don't answer their phones or reply to emails. Because of this, I thought a better choice would be an online community.

I'd like to have some people answer a survey and perhaps an interview-type situation on here. This questions would include age range, gender, religiousity, family history, personal stories on how the media and pulic opinion has affected you, why you chose to join an online community, and so on.

Personal stories would make my English paper so much more striking and without interviews, my ethnography would fall apart. Help would be greatly appreciated! If you are interested, please reply, send me an email, or pm. If I have responses, I'll post questions or perhaps a MS Word doc. for participates to fill out. If you'd like to advice a way of making this easier, or questions you think are important, please comment!

P.S. Sorry for any mispellings or grammar mistakes, I jut got back from work and running on an hours sleep. : )

Here are the questions I'd like to ask. I can send them to anyone interested in a windows word file, and you can send them to me by email (l.e.whitman@hotmail.com) if you'd prefer not to post them here. Not all questions have to be answered.

Thesis and Into:A. The public view on Islam has changed drastically in the U.S. over the last five decades, as well as the appearances and power of American Muslims. Particularly in the last decade, the public image of Muslims has been a negative one.


B. As a major factor in the worldview of many in the Middle East, the U.S. and the world, as not only one of the few growing religions, but the fastest, Americans must learn about this religion and the cultures that surround it.


Questions:
1. What has the media taught you about your religion and the cultures of Muslim nations?

2. How has the media's view on Islam affected your personal life? Include an example if you can.

3. Do you find any truth in the image of Islam in the Middle East in the media? Islam in the U.S.?

4. What made you a Muslim? Birth? Conversion? To what degree do you consider yourself religious? What "type" of Muslim do you label yourself?

5. Do you think your appearance is a major factor in how the public views you, personally or in general?

6. How important do you think having a general, and accurate, knowledge of Islam is for the average American? For foreign policy? For business?

7. Why do you come online to find other Muslims? Do websites such as this one make you feel more at home? Do you have a supportive community offline?

MASHALLAH, THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO DO SOMETHING GREAT,, WELL I WAS ALSO IN MY RESEARCH AREA, AND ONCE I CAM TO THE SITUATION THAT I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE, AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM, JUST LIKE YOU, I USE FORUM, GOOGLE,, BUT ONCE ALHAMDULILLAH I SOLVE THAT.. THANKS GOD..