Editor,
We've just passed Black History Month.
Each year, Americans proudly reflect on the history of African-Americans, their accomplishments and the challenges they faced against the likes of bigotry and intolerance.
We should proudly remember the previous generations that had to take on the challenges of segregation, slavery and the struggle for social equality. We should proudly remember those who fled from Europe in World War II with hope. We should remember, from the hidden pages of history books, the immigrant generations that struggled to take part in the weaving of America's history.
Just when the light begins to shine on humankind, man's dark side would whisper back the shadows. Everyone knows about the Holocaust. Jews had been living in Germany for more than a thousand years when suddenly they were regarded as an internal threat to German society.
Asians immigrated to the United States early on, but all it took was one incident - Pearl Harbor - followed by a good stream of paranoid propaganda to turn them and those in their home countries into threats.
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All the while, the bigots in the United States and in Germany simply justified their paranoia and fear of these minorities - much like what is going on today toward Muslims and Arabs.
Americans either have a weak memory, or simply ignore certain disgusting parts of history. They preach tolerance and diversity, yet accidentally let a few racist comments slip. Of course, it isn't racism; it is patriotism. It is OK to feel that the United States should carpet bomb the Middle East - after all, they deserve it. Just like the previous generations justified their actions against the Jews, Asian-Americans, and African-Americans.
Americans need to take off the blindfold and take a look at what they're doing: nurturing genocidal hate toward Muslims. What's their logic though? Radio show hosts Michael Savage and Sean Hannity told them, "Those animals hate you, they want to kill you and destroy your free way of life."
Do you really think these millennia-old people want to destroy us because of our way of life? Did you ever hear "Oh no, they have baseball, SUVs and - oh, no - apple pie - I must kill them all?"
I ask all students and anyone reading this to wake up and smell the apple pie. The Muslims in the Middle East have been fighting dictators and tyrants for centuries. You might be living free, but they are still fighting the fight. They don't like al-Qaida and the terrorists any more than you do. My heart is with those who live under self-appointed leaders such as the Libyan dictator Qaddafi, Jordan's King Abdullah, the Saudi royal family and the rest of the dirty bunch.
Don't be an 1827 plantation owner bigot and wish them death, but hold America's values up high and support them.
Ahmad Musleh
UNM student
