Dearborn, Michigan... Stay Strong.
On early Sunday morning, June 12, there was a horrific shooting at a bar in Florida which left 50 patrons dead and became the biggest mass shooting the country has ever witnessed. A terrorist group based in the middle east (who will remain unnamed) had taken credit for it and what was first labeled a hate crime turned into an act of terrorism. However, it is still being debated for the gunman was seen at the bar numerous times as reported by regulars who told various news outlets.
Following, President Obama and all but one of presidential candidates gave their condolences to the victims. Donald Trump told the public that he was right. He did not say, “I am deeply sorry for the victims....” or “My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims.” No... He said that he was right about “radical Islamic terrorism” and also said, “I called it.”
A few days after the insidious incident, the Mosque in Dearborn, Michigan, was sent threats via Twitter and an investigation was pursued by the Dearborn Police Department. A few days later, I heard on the news that a Muslim Woman was told to “Take off the head scarf (hijab)-this is America,” while she was grocery shopping. Has this citizen forgotten that technically “America” is the continent he was speaking about, not the country of the United States? We are the United States OF America.
I find it despicable and pathetic considering the thought of living in an area where the Muslim-population is most highest (in the country) we still cannot get along and break the habit of labeling a whole religion because of one individual’s horrific actions.
This hate crime on the LGBT community in Florida was not the first incident which put Dearborn under a micro-lens. Any terrorist attack that took place anywhere in the world had stirred the pot more vigorously and Dearborn was, and continues to be, targeted by racists and a few media outlets which cover metro Detroit. I understand that people are afraid of the thought of such a dreadful event happening... But there is no reason to spread hate. It all over the country, Trump’s words are being reinforced by all these attacks.
I have lived in Dearborn, Michigan my whole life. I can say it is the safest city in Wayne County regardless of the two incidents over the duration of 20-some years. I have seen a police chase on my street a decade ago and recently this past year, I have seen parades of police on my street (twice) who answered a call concerning a family who was renting out a house down the street. The police in Dearborn have the fastest response time when it comes to the citizens who live in such a wonderful city.
I went to school with teenagers who followed the religion of Islam and for all those 7 years (grades 6-12), I have never seen someone spread hate in the name of their religion. They were always very peaceful, forgiving and very kind. During my beginning years of college, I worked for one of the departments in Dearborn which gave me a high amount of exposure to the middle-east population on the city’s eastside. It gave me an upclose look at the citizens - their traditions, their culture, their pride and their excitement to share it with others. I once dated a woman who was of Lebanese descent (however she was and still is a former follower of Islam) and she introduced me to many other aspects of the culture which Islam had inspired.
That is why Dearborn is so great. It has culture; it has a blend of ethnicities and religious backgrounds which welcome each other and bring peace. And that is what should be influenced through media not this bigoted racism.
After taking a world religions class in college, I encourage anyone to educate themselves and register for that class. You would be surprised how much you may not know about a religion and you may also discover how much you like the ideals of a certain religion and start following it.
Let me be clear: I am not a follower of any religion. I just came to the thought that we cannot be afraid of religion because we know nothing about it. Just because it is most dominant in parts of any area of any specific country doesn’t mean it should be feared. Questions should be asked and brainstormed about any religion. Despite there being a separation of church and state as declared by the US Constitution, I believe all schools should teach about the aspects and ideals of all religions so students have a perspective that it isnt the faith which gives its follows a bad name, it’s the followers, the extremists, who give the religion a bad name.
And that is what we need to keep in mind!
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