LETTER: 'There Should Not Be A Place For Hate' in the USA

I am like many others who are deeply concerned about all the terrible, hateful things going on in the world, as well as for the safety of ourselves and our families. However, I don’t want to look back and think I should have said something.

Bigotry is intolerance motivated by fear that leads to hate. Why do human beings discriminate against each other? Is it because of fear of what we do not know or the stories and the stereotypes that we have told each other? Are all of the Irish alcoholics? Are all of the Italians members of the Mafia? Are all the Muslims terrorists? Are all the Puerto Ricans, all the Jews, all the Mexicans, all the Blacks, all the Whites…? I do not want to mention each and every stereotype that permeates throughout our community, our country and in the world at large. It is ok to be afraid, but it is not ok to hate.

Each group at some time has been biased against another and even against subgroups within itself. Fear of difference and the unknown lead to misperceptions, which result in viewing the “other” as weird, strange and dangerous. Some choose to act out their discriminatory beliefs, while others choose to ignore it and hope it goes away on its own. Usually it does not go away. That is why some use current events as an opportunity to raise awareness of how to behave with tolerance.

Let’s teach our children not to be bullies by teaching adults not to act harmfully against each other. I am proud of being both a Muslim and an American. I am also proud that I have chosen understanding, peace and tolerance as my guide. That is how I was brought up at home. I am glad that I live in a country where I have a choice to vote for whomever I choose, based on my thoughts and values.

I am also very disappointed and sad that some in our country and in our community have chosen hate and use prejudice as their guides.

It is very easy to hate and very easy to be prejudiced and then exclude other people because of differences of color, religion, gender, politics, ethnicity, country of origin etc. People should never use their religious beliefs to justify mistreatment of other human beings. Very bad people, who call themselves Muslims, Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists, etc., distort their religions to justify their heinous treatment of those they view as different, whom they demonize. What they seek is power and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. When they discriminate and act cruelly, they cause others to form negative perceptions of their own religion. Paradoxically, like a boomerang retaliation may come back on them.

Over the years, especially since 9/11 some people have hated me and other American Muslims.

Some, who did not know me, vandalized my office simply because of my last name.

A few patients, whom I had helped, stopped coming to me for treatments because of my background, my last name and my religion.

Currently, some children in my community are harassing one of my sons, as had happened to my two older ones. I and they have done nothing wrong to this country or to this community.

Muslim Centers have sought police protection due to threats from hateful individuals who seek to harm and do damage. The members of these centers have not done anything wrong either.

Ill informed people know little, if anything, about me, others like me or about Islam. They refuse to be confused with facts and have fear as their guide; they blindly lash out. How can anyone act this way and call himself/herself religious? How can anyone who is not compassionate, merciful, generous, loving and forgiving call himself/herself religious?

In my book there is no room for hate! As a Muslim, I grew up having been taught: “None of you will believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.” Most religions direct their followers to love their neighbor, help the poor, be generous, be kind, respect elders, forgive others, and to choose in general to be guided by love and tolerance.

People who hate are often those who have hated whoever was the flavor of the month. They have hated Catholics, Italians, Mexicans, Jews, Arabs, Buddhists, Puerto Ricans, Sikhs, Irish, or those from many other religious backgrounds, who have come to America looking for a better life.

Hate and prejudice are diseases that can be contracted at home or by the influence of the larger culture and media. Think about the Republican Party front-runner who is becoming one of the main threats to our national security, Donald Trump. Is he working for America or is he a recruiter for ISIS, ISIL, DAESH? More and more people are drawing the parallel between him and Adolf Hitler. His platform is to stir up fear, blame a group of people, dehumanize its members and aggress against them. History keeps repeating itself because the lessons from the past are wasted on the hateful. When people say, “NEVER AGAIN!”, the expression should apply to everyone.

Where did Donald Trump’s family came from? His paternal grandparents left Germany looking for a better life here in America. His mother was a Scottish immigrant. It is ironic that with this history, he shows such little compassion for immigrants and proclaims such anti-immigrant, anti-Islamic rhetoric stirring up the danger that races and religions will be pitted against one another; families, friends and people across the country and around the world will be antagonistic to one another.

Hate only produces more hate that leads to more discrimination and might lead to violence. Love, peace, understanding, forgiveness and kindness are the only ways that can light our future of coexistence.

As well as having written the book The God We Share, I have always taught my children to be loving, respectful, peaceful, tolerant, kind, and helpful because that is what religion is all about. This country’s ideal of equality seeks to respect all human beings with their variabilities. So choose LOVE & TOLERANCE, because there should not be a place for hate in a diverse place such as the USA.

Kayed Khalil

Framingham