To understand the importance of the Muslim World Day parade in New York City Susan Slyomovics reminds us of the purposes a parade serves. A parade has the ability to educate both the observers and the participants on what it means to be them. The observers in the Muslim World day parade are provided a scene painted by most, if not all, of their senses. Through sights, sounds, taste, touch and smell people have a chance to peek at what it means to be a Muslim. The parade begins with prayer, then the march and after ends with a food fair. It’s very powerful in how it delivers its message about the religion and its followers. The usage of signs shows spectators the marchers’ message. Whether it is to teach the public about the different ethnicities that make up the Muslim community, enlighten the public on the religion, like how it’s inclusive of many Judeo-Christian beliefs and honors many of their prophets, or explain the community’s frustrations, it serves as a place for understanding. What’s more is that it teaches the Muslim community of what represents them. Their floats of the Koran, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the Kaaba and the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi show everyone the important symbols that represent the religion. What was great about this parade in the 1990s is that it incorporated non-Muslim bands like the Irish and New Orleans-style bands.

More than anything though, during the 1990s, this parade served as a source where the existing communities met the Muslim community. People were brought together. During the food fair people learned more about each other. They ate with one another and when one can eat with another they usually share more than just their background, they share themselves. This can be much more important than seeing some prominent figure talk for Muslims. Rather than see them only as a group, non-Muslims start to see them as individuals and this leads to newfound bonds.

While I read the article I was reminded of the bitter present. Almost a decade has gone by since 9/11 and still a lot of misdirected emotions and ignorance about Muslims festers within many groups in America. I looked up the parade on Google and what I got was a lot forums and blogs diluted by discrimination of the parade bread by ignorance. It says a lot when almost all the sites from the first to the next page of searches shows prejudice. Many parade participants are calling for understanding. One such message that hit me hard was written on a board carried by a girl stating, “I’m a Muslim, Please Don’t Hate Me.” Its message, though short, is powerful. This parade was made to foster understanding of the Muslim-American community and clear misconceptions created by events like the Iranian Hostage crisis. Hopefully it will continue to spread the message of its people and enlighten those who discriminate against them.