What's in a name?

What’s in a name? Amy Waldman tries to answer this question in the opening chapters of her bestselling fiction novel, The Submission. The former New York Times reporter develops a storyline that highlights the prejudice toward American Muslims after the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda attacked the World Trade Center. Architect Mohammad Kahn enters an anonymous design contest for a 9/11 memorial, and the book details the jury’s selection of his design and the revealing of his identity as a Muslim. The controversy that ensues becomes the central conflict of the book: the jury's decision to go through with building a “Muslim’s memorial” or not (99). I defend the architect’s design and his right to go through with the memorial and I frown on those who respond with cruel remarks and intolerance. Angry Americans respond to the idea of a Muslim building a memorial for their lost loved ones with pure repugnance. For example, upon learning Mohammad’s identity, one jury member immediately declares Kahn “‘unsuitable by definition,’” portraying his prejudice toward Muslims by directly characterizing them as “‘unsuitable’” (22). Sean Gallagher, founder of the Memorial Support Committee, responds by saying “‘it’s like being stabbed in the heart’” (92). Here, Waldman uses a graphic metaphor to imply Sean’s distaste for all Muslims, indirectly characterizing him as discriminatory. Mrs. Gallagher agreed with her son’s opinions, expressing that “‘we don’t want a Muslim’s memorial,’” using the collective pronoun of “‘we’” to imply that all Americans remain outraged by the idea of a Muslim building the memorial (99). Personally, their obvious prejudice infuriates me. It appears obvious that after the attack, she and many other Americans grouped all Muslims into the same category: ““the problematic ones’” (19). I do not believe this fair for Kahn or any other American Muslims who feel they have become “‘lesser Americans’” (89) due to the actions of an entirely separate group of Muslims. To me, they remain just as American as the rest of the country’s citizens. Kahn did not do anything wrong. As a result, I think the jury should go through with building the monument, despite all of the controversy it may cause. I believe that the Constitutional values of equality apply themselves here significantly, and I find it un-American to deny someone like Kahn the right to implement his design simply because he happens to have an Islamic background. Waldman invites those who are prejudice toward American Muslims to wake up and realize their insensitivity. I also urge Americans who may view American Muslims as violent people to re-evaluate their opinions and to refrain from judging people by their name or by their religion. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. If we Americans see Muslims the way al-Qaeda saw us, we will all become blind.