Synopsis
IPBA BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AWARDS SILVER MEDALIST
A BOOKLIST AND KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF 2019
"Well-researched, cogently argued... avoids clichés and deeply examines the complex relationship between Islam and the West."
—Booklist, starred review
President Donald Trump inexplicably pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement with Iran during his first term. The agreement had been signed during the Obama presidency. After growing impatient with the process of signing a new agreement, Trump deployed B-2 bombers and 30,000 pound "bunker busting" munitions in an attempt to permanently take out any nuclear capability for Iran.
Two days later, according to a Reuters poll, 79% of Americans were worried that Iran would target US civilians in response to the airstrikes.
It's not a stretch to assume that the oft-present fearful feelings towards Muslims are related to our trauma response to 9/11. The entire nation watched replay after replay of wide-body commercial jets slamming into the sides of the World Trade Center towers and exploding, followed by the massive collapse of the 110 story buildings.
In the months and years following 9/11, we consumed hours of media coverage of two wars, and countless TV series and movies portraying Muslims almost exclusively as violent extremists, as Hollywood cashed in.
The Trump campaign shrewdly tapped into those fears during his first presidential campaign in 2015. FBI statistics showed hate crimes against Muslims had spiked to a higher level than in the months immediately following 9/11.
In his book, Why Do They Hate Us? Making Peace with the Muslim World, Steve Slocum provides essential context for the complex and often troubled relationship between Islam and the West. As he does, he drills through the misleading media and movie images and brings to light Islam's origins as a social justice movement, painting a beautiful portrait of Islam's peaceful mainstream.
Slocum does not shy away from a deep dive into the root causes of Islamic extremism, which are often political. In his chapter, We Hate Their Freedom?, Slocum tells the story of Operation Ajax, the CIA-executed coup that took out Iran's first democratically elected prime minister, a secular Muslim, that ultimately led to the Iran hostage crisis and the Islamic revolution.
Why Do They Hate Us? Is sprinkled with stories from the lives of everyday Muslims and anecdotes from Slocum's five years living in Kazakhstan, allowing the reader to catch a glimpse of the true soul of Islam. You'll never look at Muslims in the same way again.
"In an era of rampant Islamophobia, Slocum's book is essential reading."
—Todd H. Green, author of The Fear of Islam: An Introduction to Islamophobia in the West
"Effectively countering pernicious, misinformed narratives, this is an essential contribution to interfaith studies."
—Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Steve Slocum took the adventure of a lifetime when he disappeared with his family of five in the Central Asian steppe as Christian missionaries to Kazakhstan. During their five years there, they were often on the receiving end of the iconic Muslim hospitality. It left a lasting impression. Once back in the states, Slocum resumed his engineering career, but grew uneasy with the growing levels of animosity towards practicioners of Islam.
In 2018, he founded Salaam, a non-religious, non-partisan nonprofit organization. Salaam's mission is creating mutual understanding between Muslims, Christians, Jews and the non-religious. Salaam's first workshop took place at All Souls' Episcopal Church in San Diego. Afterward, the rector, Rev. Joseph Dirbas, said, "In a world full of division, ignorance and hate, Salaam builds the bridge of peace with education and fellowship as we share our stories and work for the common good."
Slocum is a frequent speaker at churches and civic groups, and creates awareness events, mosque visits, and other connections through Salaam. Why Do They Hate Us? is his first book.
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