I was really fascinated by Susan Slyomovics’ interpretation of the Muslim reasoning behind holding a parade. She points out that Muslims are really the only religious group in New York City that hold a parade titled by their religion (as opposed to say, the Jewish population participating in the Israel Day Parade). At the same time, religious association with Islam is not necessarily ethnic because Muslims in New York City come from all over the world. Slyomovics argues that perhaps the purpose of Muslims coming together to march in a parade is for “reconfiguring religion into ethnicity to take advantage of the discourse of ethnicity” (160). This begs the question, however, as to why Muslims in New York City feel that it is advantageous to identify themselves by ethnicity rather than religion? True, other parades in the city are generally ethnic gatherings (like the Puerto Rican Day Parade), but does that mean that a community in New York City can’t be bound together by religious association as well?
Based on Slyomovic’s description of the Muslim World Day Parade, it really does sound like the Muslim population of New York City tries to present themselves as an ethnic group thriving in the city. The parade begins, however, with prayer. The Muslim population makes a crucial statement in beginning their parade with an expression of their religious beliefs. I think that, in general, America, and specifically New York City, is anti-religious. Not necessarily in a vehement sense, but the ideal of the melting pop suggests that in order to part of the society at large, one must compromise his or her religious or cultural practices. Give a little, get a little, right?
By framing their parade with prayer, the Muslim population shows the value behind religious association, and that they need not compromise themselves in order to be part of New York City. Geographical ethnicity is not the only thing that brings people together in communal bonds. When a group shares a sense of religious beliefs, they will come together as a community no matter what part of the world they hail from. A religious community, though it will not compromise itself, is every bit as legitimately a part of the broader community of New York City as any ethnic community.
