(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - “Zeitoun” is the true story of an American Muslim’s heroic efforts during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to come to the rescue of his community and city.
Unfortunately for the main character in the book, his Arab and Muslim heritage results in him having to endure a tragic set of circumstances on top of the catastrophe that residents of New Orleans were already living through. This award winning book reminds us that members of many faiths, including Islam, call America home. American Muslims, just like their fellow citizens, are engaged everyday in trying to make their communities a better place.
The book details the breakdown of the fabric of society in New Orleans after Katrina.
As we all know, there was looting, killing, and sadly, a breakdown of law and order on the part of officials and the public.
These scenes are often associated with less developed nations, but as Katrina (and other crisis like the famous 1977 Blackout of NYC) demonstrate that when any person does not have access to basic resources, they may resort to desperate actions.
This reminds us to be careful when generalizing about people/communities/nations based on the behavior of a few during hard times.
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