People say they are not at war with Islam. Yet millions of Americans are willing to dismiss the constitution to ignore the basic rights of us as Americans to practice our religion freely. I find the hatred expressed by elected political leaders to be beyond the pale, a moment I thought I would never seen.
I have spent my whole life in America, always considered myself an American. Yet, it is clear to me, that my fellow citizens do not consider me or those like me as Americans. They denigrate my religion, they spread lies about my faith, my intentions, my practices, my thoughts about my country and my wishes for the future of my country. Yet they do not even know me. I live among them.
I am sick of being on the defense from all these lies. I am sick of all the people who think that building a center to promote cultural understanding is like building a monument to commemorate 9/11 and the inhumane actions of terrorists who claimed to be muslim. Their hatred is not only misplaced but it is deeply deeply wrong to hate someone else and hold them accountable for something they had no part in.
DO they know that Muhammad Atta drank alcohol frequented night clubs?
He did not practice Islam.
Do they know that there are hundreds if millions of muslims they are demonizing because of a handful of ill intentioned brutal terrorists.
They are willing to destroy the constitution, freedom of religion, the very basic tenets of our country, because they hate me so much?
Do they know that I am their doctor or lawyer , or the engineer that designs the bridges they travel on knowing they are bult safely. I am the one taking care of their 85 year old mother or grandmother and helping them recover from their pneumonia. I am representing them in their bankruptcy case.
I am tired of the lies, the misrepresentations, misattributions, the overwhelming ignorance, but most of all, I am tired of the fact that this is emanating from a political class that KNOWS that what they are saying and spreading are ALL LIES, demonizing for political gain.
They are no different that Joseph McCarthy.
They are no different than the segregationists.
They are no different than the birthers.
They are the bigots.
But, today, I have this feeling that the bigots are winning in America. Becuase, there is no way thta the mosque in NYC or Murfreesboro or anywhere else would be an issue even 5 or 10 years ago.
The hysteria, the media, and the cacophany go on.
I cried on 9/11 like all Americans. I hated those who attacked us on 9/11 and I wanted justice to prevail.
Today, I also want justice to prevail.
I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK.
Bring it back from the brink of this insanity.
Stop demonizing my president, stop destroying the very fabric of this country. You want to change the 14 the amendment, now the 1st amendment.
All you want is your second amendment.
You pick.
You choose.
And you will lose.
You will lose the America we all knew and loved.
I am Muslim. I am American. I thank you for standing up against the masses who stand for ignorance, hate and prejudice.
We shall overcome.