NPR Series on Muslims in America

All this week, NPR was broadcasting a series on Muslims in America that tried to change the angle of light shed on this community.

The last two days they have interviewed a couple young women of Algerian descent who live in the Chicago area. Some of the questions they were asked by the interviewer were basic, but they were things that everyone thinks: Q – “How many scarves to you own?” A – “That’s like asking how many blouses do you own.”

Other days were good too, discussing the challenges Muslim actors face in trying to play non-terrorist roles. The challenge must be like that faced by a blind or deaf actor/actress – how do you get a role that is just playing a person, and one that doesn’t spotlight and emphasize your difference?

Equally interesting, and certainly more shocking, were some of the listener comments.  Pam Festler, an NPR correspondent commented on this, too.