Your joke article “Muslim-Christian Understanding Center Splits” (The Hoya, March 31, 2009, A1) was absolutely disgusting. Since The Hoya usually has serious news, I thought it was a serious article until I was halfway through reading it, when I realized that instead it only reflected the narrow-mindedness and venom of the author. If it was intended to be humorous, it failed miserably. Actively reinforcing negative stereotypes is not humorous – it is offensive and hurtful, and injurious to efforts for understanding. To put words in President DeGioia’s mouth like those in the article is slanderous and inappropriate.
I am a graduate student in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, and have been exposed to all sorts of attitudes from both Christians and Muslims here and in the Middle East. To those who hold the kind of opinions expressed in the article, I say: You are welcome to them and I wish you much joy, though I don’t believe these views will lead you to any. An unwillingness to understand other people and strive for mutual respect does not lead to peace and happiness; it leads to hatred and war.
To read an article like this at Georgetown makes me extremely angry. This attitude says loud and plain that you believe any negative statement about Christians and Jews is justified because of their stereotyped attitude toward Muslims.
The very existence of the Prince Alwaleed Bin-Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown, a Catholic university, as well as the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, proves your stereotype wrong. The numerous students of Christian or Jewish background or faith investing their energy and interest in studying Muslim culture, language and religion do not deserve this type of intolerance from you. Your writing, whether intended to be satirical or not, clearly shows a lack of open-mindedness and lack of good faith.
How could The Hoya believe that this article was appropriate for publication – and on the front page? A sensitive topic like this could only be inflamed by it. If by any chance this is connected to the petition to President DeGioia regarding the attacks on Gaza, again it was inappropriate to continue the “discussion” this way. I signed the petition myself, but I am not willing to take on someone else’s hatred and anger. I am against every kind of injustice, including unjust characterizations of people’s faiths and attitudes.
Elissa Krieg
aster’s degree candidate, Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies
April 1, 2009
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