Making Assumptions

My friend, Jeff, called me today to say that he accidentally mistook some new friends of his for Muslims instead of Iranian Jews. He assumed because they were from Iran that they were Muslims. Although I could not find an exact percentage of estimated Persian Jews living in Iran, it is a small amount, somewhere between 10-40 thousand. Even so, Jeff was just trying to make conversation. He is well-read and up to date on most news and events. He then said something about the meat being halal (again Muslim) instead of kosher (Jewish), or maybe that's just where our conversation went.

I started thinking about assumptions and misconceptions associated with religion. I think a new course should be added as early as the 4th grade that discusses all the religious texts as just that, texts, so that students can examine, analyze, digest and interpret the works for themselves. Then in middle school or junior high, I would like a more in-depth class given again on the texts and practices of all religions. Then in high school, again, texts, practices and comparisons all of religions. It is needed. I still believe that if children are educated about race and religion instead of being taught the differences, the world would be less chaotic and violent.

I remember one of my students in Qatar, a smart and very sweet girl, said she "hated Jews" but could not explain why really. She said Muslims hate Jews and vice versa. Then she said, "don't you hate them too? The Jews killed Jesus." I asked her if she had ever actually read the Bible or Torah. She had not. First I took them all to see The Passion of the Christ. Then my very next classes were Religious Texts as literature and Film Lit, exploring war through film. Both classes, big eye-openers.


We need to ask more questions. I do not think it was wrong of Jeff to assume that his new friends were Muslim, being they were from Iran, but why not simply ask? I do all the time about religion, practices, cultural stigmas-whatever I don't know.  He recovered quickly and tried to continue with the conversation. When he called later, he asked it he should bring them a dreidel as an apology. Talk about a faux paux. Cute, funny man. He makes me think and research and write every day. I love that! People need like minded people in their lives to stay ALIVE!