Scott Fredd wrote an opinion column about how the media must "give us a sense" of Middle Eastern issues. He suggested television programs on Islam, current affairs and even the history of the region. I would suggest some additional avenues for information.

Popular media is nothing more than an overly convenient crutch that we must not be chained to. Banal sound bites and dilute tidbits of headline news fail to comprehensively depict the complex events that are unfolding before our eyes.

Another problem with popular media is the lack of objective reporting. Many times is it clearly biased and prejudiced. But this is a side issue. What is important for us to see is that valuable information is available to us from the local community, and one doesn't have to look very hard for it.

The Muslim Students' Association holds regular meetings, to which people of all faiths are welcome. Recently, there was a forum for the discussion of Islam, media interpretations and United States foreign policy after the September 11 attacks. The local mosque here in State College held an open house for all people willing to come learn or ask questions about any aspect of Islam or Islamic culture. I welcome questions from anybody about anything related to this subject. Sadly, I have yet to be approached to discuss this topic, even though I have emphatically expressed my willingness to do so.

The media is a very helpful tool. Nonetheless, we need to understand that it is not the only way to access information. It takes more than grabbing the remote, turning on the television and absorbing whatever it tells you. It requires you to actively find knowledgeable people and read books and articles about the topic at hand.