Muslim In the Americas

I was reading a news article about a terrorist action that took place against 4 Muslim men in Albuquerque. The news indicated that they were gunned down as they were in the street in what appears to be a racially motivated attack.

These attacks on the Muslim community have no place in our society. They are good people trying to build a life amid unequal landscapes. They are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters and brothers and they should not have to fear for their lives or for that of their families.

We created the western world with a promise of a dream, a dream for all people no matter their color, creed, orientation, gender, identity and religion. We made this promise to each other and one many have died in our history to fulfill.

We group together in neighborhood, towns, cities and societies in order to build collectively and feel safe collectively. The Muslim community is no different, they are like everyone else, people. They are our people and they deserve the same inalienable rights guaranteed by our society.

We need to understand their struggles, their stories and we need to listen to their plight. For too long people of color have feared living in our society and this is not who we are. Regardless of color we need to ensure that the promise of liberty and justice for all is heeded by all within our society.

If even one of us is affected by ignorance, inequality or ineptitude we are all affected by the trauma it causes. We are one people and when one of us bleed we all bleed, when one of us suffers we all suffer and when one of us lies unlawfully or immorally in chains, none of us are free.

It is time to change the culture of fear propagated by radical elements that seek to undermine our unity. irregardless of color we need to recognize one another and the struggles that we face in this world. We need to not just look but see the other person behind that struggle.

Too often we go about our lives in this world oblivious to the struggles people of color face in everyday life. Simple instances like interacting with the police become moments of potential danger for people of color. For too long now we have watched as our judicial system oversees another heinous crime from radical elements.

These attacks on people of color are terrorism. There is no mistaking the hate and intolerance made manifest as anything other then terror. There go, we must change the culture of fear back into one of hope and we must march together to see it done.

To the Muslim community, our hearts break with each hateful word and action and together we will stand resolute against this tide of inhumanity. You are welcome here and everywhere and do not let these radical elements tarnish your faith in others. We stand with you and the entire Muslim World when we shout NO MORE.

"Rights are just words without actions to defend them"

John Ames Birch

@johneames2