I had the honor yesterday to escort my friend down from Michigan to Bowling Green State University where he is pursuing his Doctorate. I had another friend with me who is a staunch Republican.
Anyways, back to the point of this entry. I was outraged....absolutely outraged at something my friend said as we passed on I-75 pass the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo.
He thinks I'm sleeping at the time while we're driving by and he utters a word that absolutely blows my mind....
"Terrorists"
(More on the flip....)
I turn back to him in shock....because while we do battle on many a great political topics---I had never heard anything like this come out of his mouth.
He did not apologize and continues to refuse to apologize. It offended me deeply, because I have several close friends who are Muslims, I have fasted with them during Ramadan to be able to more closely respect their heritage and their religious expectations.
That one simple word---and more so....that word directed at a group of people continues to impact me in a HUGE way 24 hours after it was uttered....
I think about it on the rest of the way home---as I don't say another word even though I want to slug him in the face----that how many other Americans or non-Muslims have done the same thing? How many parents have said something similar with children in the car?
This is one of the fundamental issues of the continuous Global War on Terror. I believe that we will be victorious eventually in this war.....but we must push aside and repress any thoughts of grouping an entire Religious group into one category---becuase if we buy into the stereotype that all muslims are terrorists or have the potential to engage in terror, the war will go on and on and I am almost sure that it will strike our neighborhoods, our schools and churches.
What are your thoughts? I need to calm down....I almost want to post his email, phone number...etc. But I'm not an insensitive Republican like that lovely Michelle Malkin...haha