Coming from a young American Muslim adolescent...
Reader comment on item: Militant Islam's New Strongholds

Submitted by Rashad R Ahmad (United States), Oct 29, 2002 at 02:01

To start off my statement, I read all of the articles and responses on the website. Most of the material is true and has meaning, but, it is only looked at in one light.

Continuing a cycle of constant bashing each other's religions and beliefs. Not only bashing religions, but judging communities, races, and people, overall, in general. If one really thinks about it, we are continuing a sickening and self-inflicting cycle by blaming one another so easily. Has it occurred to anyone that this promotes more actions and violence around the world from not one particular race or religion, but all?

When I read comments like "islam is not peaceful." Has anyone actually read the quran or an honest definition of Islam? It is not what many believe. No Mr. Pensyl, you are completely wrong, true Islam does not state to violently force everyone to join the religion. I have read it in both English and Arabic in its sincere form. It is the exact opposite. Please do not write slander like this of something you are actually so naive of yourself.

Most important, when the replies refer to Muslims as terrorists or comments like "us vs. them", or Muslims in America pose the "greatest threat to our way of life that any of us will face in our lifetime," I am saddened because I am sitting here at my house, as a born and raised American citizen who only knows the English langauge and I read these statements.

I was raised in this country and love it so much and to find out how easily it is that many just abandon and turn their backs on their fellow American citizens. Has anyone noticed that this completely disregards what America stands for or so the way it was intended for it to stand? I feel sadly enough, betrayed, and the comments do not make America stronger, but actually much weaker because the trust of citizens is being lost, the bond between Americans is being torn apart, the sincerity that lies between the people in this land dissappears, and the foundation of values that this country has collapses. So if any of you believe that segregating or singling out one's race is correct, you may go on to believing this. However, do not forget you are teaching everyone to do the exact same, which promotes racism and even more hatred. Personally, I again state, I feel betrayed.

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