U.S. Marines were among those slain during attacks by ISIS-K on August 26th near Kabul’s airport. There’s still about 100 U.S. citizens trying to get out of Afghanistan. And this weekend, of course, marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
This is the perfect storm for a new, chilling wave of misguided Islamophobia in America, including right here in DeKalb, which boasts a strong, vibrant Muslim community.
Let's be prepared and brave enough to stop anti-Muslim hate its tracks. Please be kind and compassionate to one another. When you hear racial slurs, witness intimidation, or hear a misguided soul spreading lies, say something. When you encounter hate within the confines of your home, the grocery store, the local bar, be the force that pushes back.
Let's not be tolerant. Tolerance is an awful word that many use without realizing the implication. Do you want to be tolerated? No, we all want to feel welcome and loved. Many contend that America was built on belief in equal rights and the empowerment for everyone to feel safe to not just live, but to thrive, and to dream.
The reality is that the basic human rights of our Muslim brothers and sisters are about to come under misplaced fire. It's heartbreaking, but it's reality. And we're not helpless. It's our responsibility to stop hate when we see it.
I’m Christopher Heimerman, and that’s my perspective.
