I find it most interesting that I was so ignorant about so much of Islam. I say that laughingly because I was always the person saying "no, that's not in the Qu'ran, no that's not something that is taught to Muslims" etc etc etc.
I decided to take a class this semester called "Islam: History, Philosophy, and Religion". The class is taught by a religious studies professor and a practicing Muslim. She was born in Turkey, but is a US citizen. She also, until recently, was on the board for the ACLU. This is all important to her identity.
I was completely ignorant about this beautiful religion. I had no idea what was included in the Qu'ran (plenty of stories about Adam, Abraham and Jesus). I had no idea the rich history and tradition that is essential to Islam. I had no idea the racial make up of Muslim in the United States (1/3 African American, 1/3 Indian, Indonesian, and 1/3 Middle Eastern). I had no idea of the cultural effect of certain countries and the direct correlation to their ideas about Islam. I was completely ignorant. That was just weeks 1 and 2!
The story that broke my heart and really opened my eyes was a story she told about her daughter. Her daughter was 5 when 9/11 happened. Several weeks after the attacks, her daughter came and said, "Mama, Why are all Muslims so bad?" (they are of course practicing Muslims, so her daughter is referring to herself and her parents too). A 5 year old had learned through media and school that all Muslims are bad. Why do we not see the crime in this?
It's not simple enough to just say "well they have religious freedom". We need to take a stand against those who are trying (and succeeding) in dehumanizing our Islamic brothers and sisters. Learn more about Islam, learn more about people you may know who are Muslim, stop hate language by protesting or writing letters to those who use it in mainstream media or politicians who use it. Yes we have freedom of speech, we also have the freedom of speech to protest the words used to oppress people.
Am I asking you to worship with Muslims? Certainly not, unless you'd like to and you are welcomed. Am I asking you to convert to Islam? I would never ask anyone to convert or change their beliefs simply to be more open to someone else. All I'm asking is for some basic understanding and a little more love in this world.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -- Martin Luther King Jr.
