Malcolm X 3

As part of the trip to Harlem, my english class and I visited the historic mosque that Malcolm X went to when he lived in Harlem.  The feeling of presence in the room was severe, and it was at if Malcolm X were standing in the room with me.  Even if my other classmates were not there, I would not feel alone in that quiet peaceful room.  From the moment when I walked in I could feel a very comfortable feeling with the carpet, the seven elegant windows, and the feeling of not wearing my shoes.  I was surprised at the differences between a modern-day Christian church compared the mosque.  There were no benches, no chairs, no men in robes, no pillars, no statues, no marble flooring, no lights, and no altars of any kind.  It was a plain flat ground with carpeting used only for the one purpose of being there: to pray.  Brother Tyreke explained to us the many cultures in the Islam religion.  From American media, we are taught that Muslims are just people that wear clothing that completely covered their skin and lived in Iraq or somewhere near there.  Also, some are convinced that the Muslims are an evil group of people that include many terrorists and many people that hate the white man.  In reality, any person can be a Muslim, not all of them wear clothing as described by the media, and they are not an evil "cult" of some sort.  There are more muslims in America than people even realize.  Islam is being referred to a "the the fastest growing religion in America.”

http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/0596/9605013.htm

The link provides some background as to what the Muslim beliefs are, the organizational growth of Islam, how the religion is expanding more and more over time, and issues the religion is facing.  The media may trick you into believing that Muslims are not a very good group of people, but if you know the truth, then your insight will change greatly.