There are more than 1200 mosques in the United States and the faithful are free to practice their religious beliefs, Kareema Dauod, a post-graduate student at Georgetown University said on Thursday.
The Muslim community in America, she stated was striving to attain excellence in their pursuits, and integrate with mainstream society.
Kareema is adviser to Under Secretary at State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes, and she made the observations discussing life in America as a Muslim woman, and her efforts to help foster dialogue and understanding between Americans and Muslims world-wide.
In 2001, the following US states had the highest number of mosques: California- 227; New York- 140; New Jersey- 86; Pennsylvania & Texas- 67; Ohio 66; while three mosques in Alaska and two in Hawaii.
In the webchat, she was asked as to: What it means to be a Muslim in America? How do the majority of Americans view Muslims? Do Muslims feel they are fully integrated in the mainstream of American life? She said being a Muslim in America is no different than being a Christian or a Jew for that matter.
"We have some differences in our beliefs, but the beauty about this country is that we are or once were all minorities. The Jews and the Irish Catholics."
Kareema quoted noted scholar of Islam, Dr Esposito, saying that once ostracised and discriminated against in the world, the minorities "today are recognised first and foremost as Americans."
"Muslims are almost there, and in fact are doing their job to integrate into this society: I do my share, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) does its share, we are all trying. I lead a good life and feel proud to be an American."
She said the ignorance that exists is neither religiously driven nor culturally driven; it is not American, Arab, or otherwise: it is what it is: a lack of education. Over time, she added "we hope and pray that all will be understanding of one another." Kareema is a Ph.D. student in Arabic linguistics, and is fluent in Arabic, German, French and English. She works with Ms Hughes, specifically for Muslim Outreach and Empowerment. She quoted Hughes that the road to dialogue is two ways: we need to understand one another and others need to understand us in this ever-increasing globalised world.
"There may be differences, but in fact I believe that the world can and is coming closer together. My going mantra in life is that the clash of civilisations paradigm should not exist; East and West get along," she added. She was asked to respond to the notion of 'moral panic' that has been there for centuries predominating Muslims and Westerners' relationships; and that 9/11 has further stirred up these relationships; and the element of negative stereotypes.
Kareema pleaded that if one feels part of one's own country, one should feel empowered to try to make a difference. "I do believe that Arabs and Muslims can do a better job of not only lobbying but also running for office. The beauty of this country, though, is that option is available. We are after all a nation of immigrants!"
Responding to another question, she said wearing a headscarf is a personal choice - and one that many respect. Cases where a woman wearing a scarf or a man wearing a Scottish kilt or a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke are discriminated against, are few in fact, but sensationalism makes the news, and that is what we see.
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