Alchol Use Among Muslim College Students

[JalalMistriCamden]

Re: Alchol Use Among Muslim College Students

@Med911

There seems to be a rising trend of religiosity among students now A days… More and more girls wearing the head scarf, more guys sprouting beards, even the odd niqab and Arab Sheik look every now and then. I dont know why God would favor someone who looks as if he just stepped out of seventh century Arabia over someone just wearing genes and a shirt, but if wearing a robe brings you peace, well have it then… To each his own. Although I tend to cringe at the awkwardness of seeing such people in places like the subway for example, when its summer, and everyones wearing shorts and tee shirts, and along comes some woman covered from head to toe in a black body bag…

Still, its all good as long as your not isolating yourself from the wider society, or using religion as an excuse to look down on others or to take on airs. But when your dressed like the Taliban and covered from head to toe, it doesnt exactly scream “friendly and conversational.”

As far as Alcohol goes, in many countries, Alcohol is not as much about getting drunk as it is about bonding. In such a context, I find it can be difficult to really connect with people when your the only one not drinking. Not advocating for drinking but the Western world is heavy on drinking and the culture that comes with it. So while the rest of the guys bond over drinks, your left with bonding through conversation… Its no wonder we Pakistanis never get along.

good post. couple of things:

• there have always been religiously dressed portion of student body, you may be just noticing them more. In some religious the outward signs are more than others - for example the jewish orthodox students or even some christian denominations. Sikh students ofcourse have had their turban and kirpan. I have noticed pretty much the same number of muslim outfits as ever before - guess it is a question of where & where all you roll. Hindu/Bhuddist/Jain students have by far the leaast outward symbols.

Yes, as you say, it does feel inconvenient and clumsy to watch them maneuver around but I find that subtley different between UK and France for example. The clumsiness and discomfirt seems less and they seem more ‘fluent’ in France than in UK. But again as you say, if they are comfortable with it, who are you and I to question!

As to drinking, anything to any extreme is a problem - whether it is binge drinking or outright banning of alcohol.