Mutual understanding the key to harmony

Do Muslim and non-Muslim Australians need to understand one another better? The answer is an unequivocal yes.

Let me give you some reasons.

Let’s be honest — concerns and fears exist on both sides of the Muslim/non-Muslim divide. Non-Muslims are concerned about the risk of terrorism, which they see frequently in the media.

Muslims are concerned that wider society is of the understanding that terrorism is a part of Islam and as such, all Muslims are terrorists. The belief that all Muslims are terrorists leads to a fear and hatred of Muslims, which in turn creates a breeding ground for discrimination and mistreatment of Muslims in society.

Hence, the need for increased understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim Australians. Achieving this is really simple. We just need to get to know one another.

To illustrate, let me share with you my personal story. I was born in Sydney and grew up in an Australian-Greek Christian household in Sydney’s western suburbs.

I was a fair-skinned child with freckles, so I blended well into my surroundings. During my years of primary and secondary schooling, I only ever saw a handful of kids at school who were “different”. There was one indigenous boy at our school, a couple of Italians and Greeks, and a couple of Asians and that was it.

I used to feel sorry for anybody that came to our school who was “different” because they would be teased and taunted.

My father imparted to me very strong principles of social justice so I used to take it upon myself to stand up for kids who were isolated and I befriended them when nobody else would. I received an award in primary school for doing this noble action.

But who knew that one day the tables would turn. In 1996, after my second year at university I became a Muslim. A few months after that, I put on the head scarf known as hijab.

Space does not permit me to tell you about all my experiences living as a Muslim and being “different” in my own Australian society, but I will say that after all the years of standing up for those who were “different” in society, I certainly feel emotional when someone steps in and stands up for me.

About 10 years ago I had a lovely old neighbour named Ron. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims’ fasting month, I passed a plate of food over the fence to my neighbour at breakfast time (sunset).

Ron was touched by this simple act and became a good friend. Any fears or uncertainties that Ron had about Muslims before he met us (my husband, children and me) all vanished.

Ron also became a vocal supporter of Muslim people on local talkback radio. He avidly tried to correct people’s prejudices and misconceptions.

He reckoned you just needed to get to know a Muslim firsthand and you’d come to know that your fears were not based on facts.

The other week I was visiting a relative in hospital and I got talking to one of the nurses. She asked me about my occupation and I told her that I am a secondary school teacher. She asked me which school I taught at and I told her that I teach in a Muslim school near Belmont.

She looked surprised and asked if I was required to speak “Muslim” in order to work there. Of course, there is no such language as “Muslim”, but I just carried on the conversation by informing her that all of the students spoke English and most were born in Australia, except a few recently resettled refugees and these students went through our intensive English language program.

She was quite surprised at this. Likewise, I was quite surprised that she didn’t know that most young local Muslims were born and raised in Australia and that English is their first language. It was also surprising that she believed that Muslims all spoke a common language called “Muslim”.

It made me realise that we Muslims really need to get out there and interact more with the wider Australian society so people can know who we really are.

This, I believe, is the crux of the matter. There has to be willingness on both sides of the Muslim/non-Muslim divide.

Do Muslims want to establish friendships and interact with the wider Australian society? They do, but at the same time Muslims need to feel that they are a welcomed and accepted part of Australian society so they will have the confidence to take that step.

I urge every Australian to say hello to the next Muslim they see and I urge every Australian Muslim not to fear rejection or animosity, to be brave, to have faith in the innate goodness of humanity and to be an active member of Australian society so that people will learn firsthand who you really are.

Toni Pikos-Sallie is head co-ordinator of girls (Years 7-12) at the Australian Islamic College in Kewdale