Over the last nine years I have heard all kinds of things about Muslims. The overarching attitude has been one of fear. It's natural. When I saw Hispanic faces on the local news being held responsible for drug related violent crimes, it was a natural instinct for me to become instantly suspicious of Hispanic men. But better wisdom had to prevail. Those drug dealers were Hispanic. But they were also individuals, not the representatives of an entire race. My high school senior year was approximately 22% Hispanic, as a result I called several Hispanic males my friends. Those of German descent know that Hitler, probably the greatest terrorist of all time, does not speak for all Germans. Mussolini does not speak for all Italians; Mao does not speak for all Chinese people; Theodore John Kaczynski, a.k.a. the Unabomber, does not speak for all affluent, white, Harvard educated males; and John Wayne Gacy Jr., a.k.a. the "Killer Clown," and American serial killer, does not speak for all white male high school drop-outs of blue collar background. These people did horrible things. But they are individuals.
For those of you who assert that mainstream Muslims have not done their part to counteract prejudice I direct you to the links below. For those of you who assert that Islam by nature is a violent religion, I direct you to the conquests of Joshua 6, 8,10-12, the violence of Judges, and Psalm 109, 135, 149, and 137:7-9. For those of you who believe Islam to be innately sexist, I invite you to review the customs of Leviticus 12, and remember the dozens of Christian denominations that continue a current struggle with the place of women in the church. Let us remember that all religions, when examined in fragment, present what can appear to be insurmountable problems.
I am writing to encourage tolerance, and a thoughtful understanding of who our foes really are. Just as a sect, cult, or individual cannot be held as a standard for an entire religion, race, or social demographic, the terrorists of September 11 cannot define how our great American nation views a large ingredient of the melting pot--American Muslims and people of Middle-Eastern descent. In our great history we have continued to overcome the illogical prejudices held against Native Americans, Asians, Italians, Irish, Catholics, Jews, and African Americans. It has strengthened us. It has improved us. It has made us great. Let us continue our greatness and reject illogical prejudice against Muslims and Middle-Easterners. When we reject the mob and examine popular judgment, we protect not only the rights and peaceful living of the minority, we protect ourselves.
To Show Your Support:
Join the "I Support Religious Tolerance in the United States of America" Facebook group.
Change your profile picture to the "I Support Religious Tolerance" flag on September 11 (available in my profile pictures).
Wear green--which is a color of peace--on September 11, or tie a grass green ribbon around your wrist, to your car antenna, or your bike.
Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQXh20OuhIc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkqXsqbg0nc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWDcx6zy34Y&feature=related
Article of Interest:
For General Petraeus' statements on the Qur'an burning event:
