A Country Called Amreeka: Muslims in America

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Nov. 10, 2009

Last week’s shooting at Fort Hood highlighted the anxiety many Americans still feel towards Arab and Muslim Americans; President Obama made it clear to the world in his July Cairo address that engaging the people of the Middle East and Muslim culture is one of the biggest issues facing our country today. Syrian-American Civil rights attorney Alia Malek’s new book demonstrates the extent to which, even as they play football, work assembly lines and hold public office, many Arab and Muslim Americans remain shut out of the national narrative. She joins Patt with her look at Arab-American identity in a post 9/11 world.

Simon and Schuster
A Country Called Amreeka

Also on this episode

Guest:

Alia Malek, Civil Rights attorney and author of "A Country Called Amreeka: Arab Roots, American Stories"

samar
1 week, 3 days ago

Please get the title correct, it's "A Country Called Amreeka: Arab Roots, American Stories". Some of us are christian, read the book.

dg
1 week, 3 days ago

I agreed with virtually everything the author says about immigrants from the Middle East. She seemed, however, a bit evasive about possible cultural or religious factors involved in some outbursts of anti-American violence we have seen. Responding with calls for "group responsibility" is hardly helpful, fair, or American. but does the author deem there to be no "group" dynamic to such matters? Clearly, individuals are responsible for their crimes. But would we not be fools to ignore the cultural and even religious socialization that may contribute to their decisions? I would like to have heard the writer speak to such matters. Maybe you can bring her back to talk about the elephant she left in our living rooms. (and of course that may not be her fault at all----may be beyond the scope of her work.. But just if......)

jm
1 week, 2 days ago

I enjoyed the speaker very much and highly recommend this book, which I just finished. This is a book about Arab Americans being like all other immigrant groups in many, many ways, including that the MAJORITY are Christian. The book is an excellent read and the talk should not have deteriorated into trying to force this brilliant author to defend radical Muslims. Patt Morrison is usually better than this and I was disappointed in her.




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