Ground Zero and national identification.

By, Adam K. Fetterman

The so called “Ground Zero Mosque” has stirred a quite a bit of debate in the recent months. False accusations, hyperbole, and real concerns have been voiced from every corner of the nation, as well as violence and a planned Koran burning. What people are upset about is that by building this Muslim cultural center near the site of the 9/11 attacks, Muslims are spitting in the face of the US. Unfortunately, a point that many people miss is that American Muslims were also victims of the attacks on 9/11, as they are Americans. While many American Muslims greatly condemn terrorism and embrace interfaith communities, they still wonder if they will ever belong. According to Laurie Goodstein, these feelings are stronger than ever. In regards to the cultural center near ground zero, it is likely that the opponents see it as a conflicting symbol to the national symbol of ground-zero, which is leading to the greater division of the real or imagined ingroup and outgroup.

According to Butz (2009), national symbols increase national identification and promote unity “at an unconscious level”, which can lead to increased outgroup hostility.  Specifically, he states that these symbols may “tighten the boundaries drawn between ingroups and outgroups” (p. 786). After the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers, the site of this tragedy has become like a national symbol. Since these attacks happened at the hands of Muslim extremists, the line that this specific national symbol has unfortunately seemed to have drawn is one between Muslims and the United States. However, it would be helpful, and possibly promote a bit more unity, if those that view this site as a national symbol would recognize that Muslims are a part of this nation as well. And, as Americans, they have the same feelings of national identification.

‘American Muslims Ask, Will We Ever Belong?’ By, Laurie Goodstein – New York Times

‘N.Y. man charged with stabbing cab driver for being Muslim’ – USA Today

‘Florida Christian church to burn Koran with protection of a Christian militia’ – Tampa Bay Examiner

Butz D. A. (2009). National symbols as agents of psychological and social change. Political Psychology, 30, 779–804.

NYC development may help reduce post 9/11 discrimination

By Erica Zaiser

After 9/11, many people had a hard time separating the extremest actions of terrorists and Islam in their minds. Many worried that innocent Muslims in western countries would become targets of discrimination. In a study looking at religious and ethnic discrimination in the UK for seven ethnic groups, the two ethnic groups surveyed that are primarily Muslim (Pakistanis and Bangladeshis) reported the greatest increase in discrimination after the 9/11 attacks. The researchers argue that major world events like 9/11 can increase discrimination not just in the country in which they occur but also in other countries. Another study revisited Milgram’s famous lost-letter experiments in order to look at prejudice behaviour against Muslims. Their study, conducted in Sweden, found that when people found a lost, unsent letter addressed to a “Muslim sounding” name they were less likely to post the letter than if the name was Swedish sounding. However, they say that this was only the case when the letter contained money (so when the finder would benefit by not passing the letter on). The authors argue that this could provide evidence of discrmination against Muslims, although it also could simply be a confirmation of previous research showing that people are prejudiced against foreign sounding names in general.

Recent news that ground zero in New York City is the future site of a community center intending to include a mosque has become somewhat controversial. Some herald the decision as a step towards developing closer ties with the Muslim community, while others say that they feel a mosque would act as a reminder of the extremist views behind the 9/11 attacks. Much research in social psychology has shown that intergroup contact can reduce prejudice. According to a meta-analysis of contact research, this is because contact can increase knowledge about the outgroup, reduce anxiety about contact, and increase empathy and perspective taking towards the outgroup. So, the project could help to increase contact between Muslims and non-Muslims and hopefully lead to a decrease negative stereotypes and attitudes towards Muslims.

Read More:

CNN Report: Mosque to go up near New York’s ground zero

How does intergroup contact reduce prejudice?…

Muslim Discrimination: Evidence from two lost letter experiments

Major World Events and Discrimination