As soon as you get back from work and turn on the news in modern society, what is one of the first things that you see? Yes, there are probably dozens of reporters arguing about why Trump is right for us, or why Hillary is right for us. However, a huge controversial topic currently is the large amount of mass shootings that have occurred, especially in the last 6-12 months. ISIS has not come up short with their presence in the media, with events such as the airport bombing in Turkey or the Paris attack. Do not read this wrong -- ISIS is a terrible terrorist group that does horrible murderous acts. However, when someone mentions the middle east, or brings up the Muslim religion, it is becoming more common for society's minds to be drawn back to ISIS. There should be recognition given to the atrocities that this group has been causing; however the Middle East and the Muslim culture is not ISIS. ISIS is what they are categorized as, which is and will continue to be a terrorist group. Not the geographic or religious group where they originally were born around, however are often stereotyped with.

Being Middle Eastern, personally I have felt the harsh attitudes that people from this region have felt. Although I am not Muslim, I have friends from Lebanon and Syria that are, and they have seen on a day-to-day basis the hate that people abruptly show when they see someone wearing a hijab or speaking of their religious values. Although the horrors of this terrorist group do need to stop one way or another, we are forgetting that there are a huge group of people in the Middle East that do not want war, and are fighting for the justice of peace for their people and those around them, just as those in America are. How is it fair that we link the radical ISIS group together with all Middle Easterners and Muslims when Americans are actually cut from the same cloth as those who are not apart of this radical group; that cloth being the group of citizens who do not want violence and strive to find peace. I still have many family members in Lebanon, who know a relatively large network of people and not one of them agree with the violence that is happening and want the murderous acts to come to a halt, just as many of you reading this do.

My point here, is although there are horrific acts happening around the world due to ISIS, I ask you to stand together with me, and not put everyone in the Middle Eastern or Muslim culture in the same group that you have for ISIS. These people may be from the same geographic area, or believe in the same god, however that does not necessarily mean that they also identify with the very radical viewpoint that has taken beliefs and stretched them. I think that if more people started being understanding towards this issue and these differences, then there would be significantly less overall hate. In the beginning this war started over hate, and the differences of opinion. Therefore, if we say we want peace, why should we not be putting out love and grace toward those that have been roped into this hectic mess by geographic and religious affiliation, instead of criticizing them for something that they don’t what to be apart of?

If we want a more peaceful world, why not start with individual inner peace and love, and then shine it outwards onto those around us, regardless of where they come from? Granted, I know this isn’t going to happen overnight, however imagine the differences that could be made if we started being more open to cultural difference, relating to those around us based on the fact that we are all human beings deserving of a chance; and further seeking to understand instead of come to quick judgment.