Islamophobia was already abundant in American social media before the ISIS attacks on Nov. 13, 2015. It has only worsened since then, especially among conservative politicians and political personalities and specifically concerning the idea of permitting the immigration of Syrian refugees.

Among the Republican presidential candidates are ideas of religious tests for refugees, in which only "proven" Christian Syrians would be allowed to enter and would involve pinning badges on refugees to indicate that they are Muslim. These are all frighteningly dystopian ideas. In fact, Trump's badge idea is chillingy similar to Nazi Germany, where Jewish people had to sport the Star of David and be outed for their religion. And people still try to say that Republicans support small government while proposing such dictatorial ideas.

This is all frustrating. When a white person shoots up a movie theater, we do not condemn the white race, yet when a black person is killed by a police officer, we say that black culture is at fault. When a Christian shoots up a church in the name of God, we do not blame the Bible, yet when an Islam bombs a mosque in the name of Allah, we criticize the Quran.

People do not understand that the discord in the Middle East and Southern Asia are due to geopolitical circumstance, not culture. Much of the instability there was worsened due to the American wars not being cleaned up after by the American government, which allowed for the growth of radical Islamic anti-American terrorist groups. In fact, these terrorist groups are more anti-West and xenophobic than pro-Allah.

Americans forget that groups like ISIS more often kill other Muslims than Westerners. The reason Syria is particularly so messy is because a civil war between the corrupt government and ISIS is taking place, with Syrians caught in the cross-fire. That is why they are fleeing and seeking refuge.

Some Americans have also claimed that allowing Syrians to come into the country shall serve as a Trojan horse for ISIS. As far as screening refugees go, America has the most rigorous process for settling refugees in the world. It takes an average of 18 to 24 months, and the United States has only brought in 2,000 refugees since the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011.

To be allowed to enter the United States, a refugee must complete "multiple high-level security checks, a biometric screening, a mandatory interview with the Department of Homeland Security, a medical screening, [and] a cultural orientation program (which consists of videos on housing, employment, education and hygiene, among other topics)."

On top of this, Secretary of State John Kerry has promised higher levels of vetting refugees for the 10,000 that the Obama administration has promised to admit.

Not to mention, shortly after the Paris attack, France announced that they would be admitting 30,000 refugees. Meanwhile, the United States, who was not even attacked, is in a political uproar at the idea. France understands that ISIS's attacks on November 13th was an attempt to have nations reject the influx of refugees. ISIS wants to disrupt Western developed nations' way of life, and they want to make sure refugees cannot hide in the peace of these nations.

By scaring people of the United States into wanting to reject all Syrians and all Muslims from entering the country, they have both succeeded and proven their point. They are terrorists, and want to spread fear. They also hate the United States for being power-hungry and xenophobic. Americans' reactions make it easier for nationals to be recruited for ISIS's cause. It is much easier for a national to be recruited than a Syrian refugee.

Look at yourselves, Americans. We are the a**h***s of the world. We are the most powerful country in the world, and thus, we are the police. We are the world's necessary evil. Other countries look at us as if we are barbaric. Our people are bigoted and our government is insufficient. Our symbol, the Statue of Liberty, has with it a sonnet called "The New Colossus," with the lines:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

And this is how we act in the land of opportunity, the melting pot of the world.