Time to get to know the face of "evil"

I have been a teacher for seven years, and in that time, I have gotten to know PEOPLE who come from various backgrounds.  I have known Muslim students, gay students, poor students, homeless students, etc.  Every religion, every sexual identity, every level of wealth, skin color, ethnicity, etc.

These students are PEOPLE!  They are not terrorists.  They are not here to take away YOUR family values.  They are not lazy, thus homeless.  They are just like you and me.  So, instead of hating or making fun of, or tearing down a person.  Get to know them.  What you find may just surprise you.

I am going to ask you, do you oppose the mosque that a Muslim religious organization plans to build near Ground Zero?  If so, I ask you why you oppose this mosque?  Do you personally know THESE people? THESE Muslims?  Do you know the history of Islam?  Do you know the Muslim culture?  Are you friends with someone who is Muslim?  Have you ever attempted to get to know someone who is Muslim?

Will one act create your definition of who a Muslim is?  Yes, on 9/11, the people flying the planes were Arabic.  They were Muslim.  But do 23 people speak for an entire religion?

Do 23 people speak for your faith? 

Do 23 people speak for a race of people?  Do 23 people speak for your race?

We have to ask ourselves, are all Muslims terrorists and are all terrorists Muslim?

Which religion was the world greatest terrorist?  Adolf Hitler was a Christian?  If you are Christian, did he speak for you?  Did his followers speak for you?

These are questions that I believe should be answered before we label this mosque as a dangerous addition to the "hallowed" ground that is Ground Zero.

We have to ask ourselves, should the world have prevented Germany from erecting Christian churches near the Death Camps?  Or should we open ourselves to be educated about what really is going on in our world.  A world where Muslims, Jews, Christian, Atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, and every religion in the world is bonded by one simple truth. 

We are all related.  We are not a mixture of different races.  We are but one race: THE HUMAN RACE.

A race that has different beliefs.  A race that has different skin color.  A race that has different intellectual abilities.  A race with different socio-economic statuses (stati).  A race that has different variances in height and weight.  A race that is separated into two genders.  A race that has different sexual preferences.

ONE RACE.  ONE FAMILY. 

United?  Divided?

You decide.  Are you willing to be that blemish in our race?  Are you ready to be that embarrassing family member?

Who is it that you really want to be.

Reality is perception.  Perception is yours to change.