Our culture promotes Islamophobia.

GuyInWhite

Seriously. I was in the airport yesterday, coming back home for spring break, and I heard one of the stewards say some guy's name, telling him to board the plane in advance. He was quite obviously from the middle east.

Now, I always try to be as open-minded as possible when it comes to this stuff. There are quite a few Muslim students on my campus, and on of them is even in my English Word Roots class. We get along just fine, and as far as I'm concerned, I have nothing against their religion or their race, as with everyone else on campus.

Yet as soon as I step into an airport and see someone who looks like they're from the middle east, I get nervous. Our culture of fear has made me racist. This bugs me a whole lot.

glennmagusharvey

Well, step one is to notice this happening, which you seem to have already completed.  Congratulations.

The next several steps involve talking back against this culture of fear, such as by criticizing fearmongering by commentators and political pundits.  Such as Glenn Beck and his "hanging by a thread" crap.  Another useful step is to vote out politicians who believe this nonsense.

Deboss

I agree, we should purge all culture.

glennmagusharvey

There's a difference between healthy fear and paranoia.

Healthy fear: I should avoid touching the hot place when it's on.

Paranoia: I must avoid coming within ten feet of any hot plate, ever.

Ponicalica

«I agree, we should purge all culture.»

Probability that this can be expanded into a coherent statement: 3%

Bob

...Hot place, glenn?

glennmagusharvey

That too, for an extra count of paranoia.