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 If you find yourself running for cover screaming “TERRORIST!” whenever you see a member of the Islamic faith strolling down the street, you may be one of several disillusioned Americans suffering from such extreme sentiments.
Some people may call this view point extremist or even racist, however, some of the behaviors of the public suggest that they may be thinking along these lines.Watching Colon Powell endorse Obama was, for some, a decision altering event. The respected Powell voiced an opinion I have had for months. The rumors of Barack Obama’s affiliation with the Muslim faith have been prevalent since the primaries; whether they are in the form of smug attacks made by McCain, untrue e-mails and robo-calls, or clandestine whispers that seem to follow the campaign as closely as the media. There are two major issues with this claim. Firstly, it is a blatant untruth, and secondly, as the wise Mr. Powell stated, so what? What I would desperately like to know is when America became a country populated by citizens who discriminated viciously based on a stereotype of a religion? If I’m not mistaken that’s a fairly strong violation of the first amendment. Calling an Islamic-American anything less than equal to a Christian-American is every bit as morally wrong and unconstitutional as saying that an African-American is worth less than a Caucasian- American; a claim I believe became an accepted truth during the Civil War. However, I could be mistaken. (I always found it hard to stay awake in American History. Was it the South that won?) For a country that preaches personal freedoms, this election year has brought out some very hypocritical sentiments in its citizens. Political parties aside, there is no excuse for this extremist form of thinking. Regardless of my political beliefs, I believe that the true character of a man or woman can be found once they are backed into a corner. So unless we as young men and women are preparing for a second civil war, I suggest we alter our paths of thought. Who knows, perhaps next time I see someone of the Islamic faith strolling down the street I may even smile and think “How refreshing, an upstanding citizen!” |