In the feature article “My Life as a Muslim in the West’s ‘Gray Zone,’” the author, Laila Lalami (2015), expresses her thoughts and fears regarding the current status of Muslims in the world, specifically in the United States. The article suggests that Muslims are not entirely welcome in the U. S., partially because of the past events related to the Islamic group known as ISIS (Lalami, 2015). The author refers to the group’s manifest that has divided the world into two camps: the Islamic camp under ISIS and the West camp under the crusaders (Lalami, 2015). Moreover, a so-called ‘gray zone’ is defined as “the space inhabited by any Muslim who has not joined the ranks of either ISIS or the crusaders” (Lalami, 2015, para. 4). The article also describes several demonstrative events, such as terrorist attacks in Paris and the president’s speech to Congress.
The author puts herself as an example of a Muslim who lives in the ‘gray zone.’ She claims that because of the events described above, Muslims become subjects of suspicion and are held collectively responsible (Lalami, 2015). The article specifically states that “to be a Muslim in the West is to be constantly on trial” (Lalami, 2015, para. 11). The author expresses her worries regarding the issues that people in the West do not distinguish between Muslims and terrorists, saying that staying in the gray zone is the only possible form of resistance.
Lalami (2015) tries to persuade the audience that the current Muslim situation in the West is not justified, and something should be done about that, although she does not call direct action. In her article, Lalami (2015) describes the reasons that led to the current state of affairs and provides specific examples. The article suggests that the terroristic actions of Islamic groups have established a negative attitude towards Muslims, even those who have never been involved in terrorism.
The article is organized in a step-by-step formation: first, it describes the current situation regarding Muslims; second, it explains the events that led to it; finally, the author describes her own state as a Muslim and how being a Muslim affects her life. To convey her ideas, Lalami (2015) mainly uses formal language with occasional ironic insertions. The formal delivery demonstrates the subject’s significance, while the irony helps to illustrate various injustices. Through her article, Lalami (2015) tries to reach thinking readers who can comprehend the gravity of the situation. The whole paper is written in a worried tone, which shows that the writing is informative and aims to expose critical problems. Lalami (2015) sets questions that she does not, or cannot, answer, leaving that to readers. The author inclines against the subject under discussion; she explains that being a Muslim has become a stigma, and it is dangerous for people to live under it.
Reference
Lalami, L. (2015). My life as a Muslim in the West’s “gray zone”. The New York Times Magazine. Web.