Harley Burgess

Schwartz, Stephen. "Islamophobia: America's New Fear Industry." Phi Kappa Phi Forum 90.3
(2010): 19-21. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
Stephen Schwartz, executive director of the Center for Islamic Pluralism, and an
American Muslim, describes the features that make up an Islamophobe and the history of
Islamophobia, both outside and within the modern, Western world. He goes on to describe the
hardship that moderate, Saudi Muslims face and the assumption that all Muslims are either
jihadists or liars, naive of their own religion. Along with information about Islam, the author
gives analogies to past religious issues like antisemitism and the persecution of American
Catholics. In light of all of this historical and modern information, Schwartz leaves the Western
world with a question: when are we going to learn from our past mistakes?
Islamophobia: Americas New Fear Industry is an insightful, informative look at modern,
American Islamophobia. Schwartz refrains from labeling the mass majority of Americans as
Islamophobes, citing the election of President Barack Hussein Obama, who happens to have an
Islamic middle name; this approach is a safe one, ensuring that the average American citizen
who, for example, supports anti-burka laws and racially-fueled airport security checks, is not
completely offended. He is careful to describe what an Islamophobe is, objectively, so that one
does not use the phrase rampantly and without warrant. Overall, though his claim may be slightly
biased due to the fact that he proscribes to the Islamic faith, Schwartz gives an objective,
informative look at Islamophobia in the Western World that leaves the audience with no
questions of clarification about its content.

I will use this source as a part of my essay; it serves its purpose and offers helpful,
objective definitions of what an Islamophobe is and how Islamophobia began in the United
States.

Davidson, Lawrence. "Islamophobia, The Israel Lobby And American Paranoia: Letter From
America." Holy Land Studies: A Multidisciplinary Journal (Edinburgh University Press)
10.1 (2011): 87-95. Academic Search Complete. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.
Lawrence Davidson, a history professor at West Chester University, compares American
Islamophobia to a variety of past paranoia-fueled American phenomena, from anti-Catholic
mindsets in the colonies to the persecution of civil rights protestors. He links all of these
situations to Richard Hofstadters theory of the American paranoid style of politics and social
thinking. Davidson references a variety of situations and controversies that illustrate how
Islamophobia in the United States is fueled by paranoia and socio-political thinking that reflects
Americas past transgressions.
Davidsons use of examples, including the burning of the Quran in response to the
establishment of the Ground Zero Mosque and several cases of anti-Sharia law legislation,
proves his point in a concise and clear way. The evidence is presented in an unbiased and
objective way, and Davidsons opinion comes out only in the conclusion of the essay. All of his
writing returns back to Hofstadters theory, which explains the current American phenomena of
Islamophobia perfectly. While the essay does include a long-winded, drawn-out introduction that
explains Hofstadters ideas, perhaps too extensively, Davidson gets to the real heart of his point
toward the middle of the letter. The examples and accounts that he uses, including quotes from
mosque leaders, councilwomen, etc. are invaluable to anyone who is looking for an in-depth
account on Islamophobia.
This resource will be, in my opinion, an indispensable part of my research. Davidsons
comparison to Hofstadters theories fits perfectly within the point that I am trying to convey and
the last two sections of his essay provide several examples of American paranoia.

Blumenthal, Max. "Islamophobia's Sugar Mama." Nation 294.27/28 (2012): 28-31. Academic
Search Complete. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.
Max Blumenthal tells of Nina Rosenwald, who he has coined as Islamophobias Sugar
Mama. Throughout the article, he describes her various donations to anti-Islamic, conservative
groups that are notorious for fanning the flames of Islamophobia. Blumenthal also describes
the organizations themselves, detailing their agendas and their contributions to paranoia in the
United States, while linking Rosenwalds contributions to their success.
Blumenthals article cites a number of statistics, numbers, and facts that are helpful in
understanding exactly what causes the political and social uproar that is Islamophobia, and how
anti-Muslim organizations are able to plaster their agendas across New York city buses and
billboards. The entire article surrounds Nina Rosenwald, but does not directly blame her for her
actions. Instead, Blumenthal calls her ignorant and naive; she is unable to be held accountable
for her actions because she is too brainwashed and guileless to understand the impact that she is
making on American Islamophobia. The article seems to only serve a singular purpose:
slandering Nina Rosenwald for her philanthropy and donations.
I will not be using this article in my paper. While it does, as I have said, cite several
useful and credible statistics and numbers, its purpose is to criticize a singular person. Criticizing
Rosenwald is not the purpose of my essay; instead, I wish to provide a wide-reaching view of
Islamophobia in the United States and its negative effect on the American Muslim community.

Ali, Yaser. "Shariah and CitizenshipHow Islamophobia is Creating a Second-Class Citizenry

in America." California Law Review 100.4 (2012): 1027-1068. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 6 Nov. 2014.
Shariah and CitizenshipHow Islamophobia is Creating a Second-Class Citizenry in
America by Yaser Ali is an in-depth and well though-out argument against Oklahomas Save
Our State Amendment, which bans Sharia law within Oklahoma courts and legislation. Ali
gives several examples of the manifestation and growth of Islamophobia within three American
stages: pre-9/11, post 9/11, and after/during the 2008 presidential elections. After defining these
three key periods, Ali links events, laws, and incidents to the creation of second-class citizenry
for American Muslims, following the guidelines set by the discourses of citizenship. Finally,
Ali ties all of this information into his argument against the Oklahoma amendment, asserting that
the amendment only serves to further alienate American Muslims and create a second-class
citizenry.
Throughout Alis commentary, he defines key elements of his argument; he describes the
characteristics of Islamophobia, Orientalism, and Sharia law, amongst others. These definitions
and explanations are exceptionally helpful when following Alis argument, as the language
within his commentary can be hard to follow and deeply political, at times. The author also uses
pathos to his advantage, giving examples of Islamophobic incidents that have plagued American
Muslims both before and after 9/11. He strengthens his argument further with the rash, brutal,
and insensitive comments that have been made by American politicians, presidential candidates,
and citizens. Overall, his argument is well formed and leaves very little room for error.

I will definitely be using Alis work within my essay; he provides countless examples of
hate crimes, in depth reviews of American laws that target Muslims, and amazing quotes. I
believe that this will be one of the central resources I use for my essay.

Jung, Jong. "Islamophobia? Religion, Contact with Muslims, and the Respect for Islam." Review
of Religious Research 54.1 (2012): 113-126. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Nov.
2014.
Jungs study seeks to answer questions that have become pressing within our post-9/11
world. He presents four hypotheses: 1) A persons religion determines how little he or she
respects Islam, with Christianity being the most likely to not respect Islam, 2) those who believe
in a God that punishes people for their sins are more likely to believe ill of Islam, 3) coming into
contact with Muslims will increase respect for Islam, and 4) Evangelical Protestants are the most
likely to have low respect for Islam because they are in the company of Muslims least often.
Through a series of interviews and surveys, Jung collects data and comes to the conclusion that
all of his hypotheses are supported.
This study is well done and accounts for every foreseeable variable; Jung explains the
studys purpose and conclusion in an understandable and clear way. He presents loads of other
studies that support his claims before any evidence of his own is presented, strengthening his
study further. The diagrams and charts that Jung includes with his report are clear and userfriendly, with several footnotes that clarify his studies even more. Jungs conclusions are logical
and draw from the evidence that he presented beforehand.
Though this study is strictly statistical and provides only empirical evidence, I will be
using it within my essay. Jungs research is relevant to my argument, and it could help to
strengthen my points. I believe that this resource will be helpful in incorporating statistics into
my essay.

Tatchell, Peter. "Silencing Dissent." New Internationalist 402 (2007): 22-23. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 6 Nov. 2014.
Peter Thatchells article in New Internationalist, aims to clarify remarks that Thatchell
made in regards to a number of situations, including the inclusion of Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi
at a City Hall meeting. Many of Thatchells critics had labeled him, and others, as Islamophobes
in response to their protest against situations that they believed to be unjust. Thatchell does
denounce actually Islamophobes, saying that the differences between the majority of Muslims
and Islamists are substantial. He defends the right of journalists and others to criticize the
immoral and unjust actions of Islamists.
While Thatchells points are relatively valid, the article only serves to clear the air and,
more specifically, his good name. The beginning of Thatchells article is frustrating and comes
off as ignorant until he begins to give actual evidence for the wrongdoings of al-Qaradawi. After
this point, the article begins to have substantial weight, but loses it again toward the end.
Thatchells criticism of political Islam, no matter how justified, appears to be heavily biased
and, at times, ignorant. If he had only criticized political and terrorist-related actions, his
arguments would seem more valid. However, Thatchell also argues against certain elements of
Sharia law that go hand in hand with Muslim religious practices, including the wearing of the
hijab. His whole argument seems to crumble under a desperate attempt to defend his statements,
a goal that he does not seem to reach affectively.
Again, while some of Thatchells points are valid, I cannot take him as seriously as I am
sure he had intended. He comes off as only wanting to save his own skin, and many of his
arguments are fueled my misunderstanding and a pre-determined bias. I cannot, in good

conscience, utilize this article for my essay. In addition, his points are based strictly within
European countries, so the article would not be topical for me, either.