Jessa Buchalter's Proposal

The exploration of the life of a young Muslim American woman and how she bridges cultural differences within the context of this particular historical moment.

Many people fear what they do not understand. America is a heterogeneous population representing many cultures, religions and ethnicities and yet Islam is often cast as a hostile, amorphous other with which we have little in common. Media news broadcasts of Muslim extremists, suicide bombers, Islamic terrorists and national alerts concerning Arabs create a definition of Muslims and Islam that is negative and opposite everything Islam stands for. There are about 7 million American Muslims and over 50% say they have experienced bias or discrimination since September 11th. Islam is the second largest religious population in the world after Christianity with almost 1 billion people embracing over 4000 ethnic groups. There is no one definition of a Muslim and certainly the majority should not be defined by the actions of a few.

Misrepresentative statements by media and religious leaders, only lead to more fear, misunderstanding and discrimination within our communities. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution (9/11/02) reported, "Cable television news shows and talk-radio programs have criticized the Quran." The Rev. Franklin Graham called Islam "wicked, violent and not of the same God" to which Christians pray. We need to improve the understanding of Islam before we can dissolve tensions here, let alone internationally. Mariam Mehter, my subject, has created a bridge for me into the Syracuse Muslim community, offering me access to a religion and culture I still don't fully comprehend. And in doing so, Mariam has created an opportunity for me to share a vision and a perspective not seen everyday.

Mariam Mehter is an American Muslim attending Syracuse University. She is part of a new generation of Muslims where the future and the past are entwined with the opportunities afforded by American society and the structure of the Islamic faith. She is a link between historic traditions and traditions that are forming today. Her family is from Myanmar (formally known as Burma). She, her parents, and four siblings have watched the Syracuse Muslim population grow into a diverse community incorporating Muslims from Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and many other countries, where despite significant differences they are bound together by a common faith and communal worship. During Islamic holidays such as Ramadan Eid, Mariam and her family visit with other Muslim families from many cultural backgrounds, sharing traditional foods and wearing the styles of their countries and cultures.

The Imam Taqiuddin Ahmed of the Islamic Society of CNY says his goal is also to help people learn about one another and he has given me permission to photograph in the women's section of the Mosque. Mariam is part of MSA (Muslim student association). Mariam's faith is an integral part of her life, defining how she interacts with family and friends and providing a strict personal code, yet she has the same dreams and hobbies as many college students: she plays soccer and broom ball, boxes, goes to the mall and the movies with friends, works at the ice rink and the dome, cheers on the basketball team from the student section and volunteers for literacy core. Mariam stands out visually from other students because of the Hijab, or headscarf that she always wears, except when she is home with her family or in her apartment with women friends. Mariam has opened her life to me, trusting me with the camera even when she is not wearing her hijab. I hope that in the end this project will share with others beauty of her religion and her culture and the understanding within our differences are the same basic values and desires that unite us as a world culture.