Amber Jones Blog Post #8 3/19/2019

When we look at the Muslim population in France, we have to realize that it is one of the main focal points for many reasons.  Why is France important though?  We see that the highest Muslim population resides in this country.  It is noted that the locale of France is a huge reason, as well as France being one of the countries that colonized many of what is now seen as Muslim countries.

Even in culture, it is noted that the French language is adopted among many Muslims, ad due to the colonization by France earlier in these Muslim countries, the French language had already spread.  Because of this, France is easily accustomed to. 

Looking at the idea of Muslims and the Islamic community lagging behind can be attributed to the fact that many Muslims and Islamists are seen as outside the cultural norm.  Many refugees are looked down upon, as usually they have nothing, no money or possessions.  Across many cultures, the poor and minority groups are usually pushed outside the mainstream culture.  Even here in America, we look at the Hispanic population, whom we are often out to ostracize and put down, just because of their heritage and background.  Sometimes they are viewed as even a threat.  Our culture accuses them of stealing our jobs and so on, when all they want is just a chance at a better life.  We can relate this to the Muslim culture in France, as the French people see this culture as outside the norm and pushes back on the inclusion of these cultures into their society.  Because of this push back, many Muslim people can find themselves lagging socially and financially behind.

Religiously, France is much like America with their idea of Laicite.  This is equated to a separation of church and state, for the best definition.  France is more successful at this than the US, but it is important to realize what this is to speak about how this relates to this Muslim refugee population.  France’s ideals of separation are opposite of that in the Islamic world.  In the Muslim world, Islam rules the lives of those who practice the religion.  Religion dictates everything in the Islamic faith, which has clashed with the secularism in France notably.  Through France trying initiate burka bans and promoting a separation of religion and culture, Islam has suffered, and we see the emergence of radical extremists, who unfortunately make headlines for bombings, and threats of destroying western culture for being “infidels”.  This terror has made people of all western culture, not just France, afraid of the burka / headscarf.  While it may be an unfair assumption, we associate this article of clothing with a religion that has committed heinous crimes, and we have begun to fear it.