"I'm a Christian," you say, "but I'm not going to walk into a Planned Parenthood with a gun." You say, "All Muslims are extremists. We shouldn't trust them. We should get rid of them."
I am a Christian, something that seems to have a social stigma attached to it, nowadays. Not only because it might not be cool, especially in a university setting. I am a Christian, and this is getting harder to say when other Christians are using death and violence to get their points about something "un-Christian" across. I am a Christian who does not believe the use of force or violence will solve problems, and yet I am clumped in with a small minority of people who call themselves Christians, but have the term skewed so much that they actually believe it. They believe that walking into a Planned Parenthood and firing at anyone in sight is something Jesus would actually want done as punishment for those who use or work in these facilities.
But how is this any different from extremists like Syed Farook murdering his innocent workplace colleagues because of his beliefs? Why are we blaming anyone we see in hijab for something a radicalized extremist did and not them? You wouldn't look at me, a Christian, and immediately think of Robert Dear's reign of terror over the workers and patients of Planned Parenthood.
But here we are, judging people by their religion or by what they are wearing in 21st century America. Here is our progressive and well-educated population throwing accusations around like confetti without an ounce of empathy for those they may hurt in the process.
Religion is a part of our culture, of this melting pot we call our home. America has the ability to be unique with our variety of languages spoken, religions practiced, and cultures shared throughout this land. We are so eager to brag about the inclusiveness of our culture, yet just as eager to neatly pluck all of the potential bad seeds out with the snap of our fingers.
I am a Christian, and I am proud of my beliefs. I am a Christian, and I am in no way affiliated with the violence extreme Christians can terrorize our country with.
Some people are Muslims, and they are proud of their beliefs. They are Muslims, and are in no way affiliated with the violence extreme Muslims can terrorize our country with.
Our culture needs to be one that is once again proud of this place we call the melting pot. We should be proud that religion is (not yet) condemned here. We should be proud to practice freely without judgment, and we should allow others the same freedom as well, even if they are different from ourselves.
