In my opinion, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 showed us the ugly side of human beings. Muslims and non-Muslims alike are facing many challenges that are not only represented in the threats of terrorism but also in the rise of social hate between people in West and East.

Although nobody can claim having the ultimate power of changing the world, we can reach for a better understanding to our differences as humans who have different cultures, religions and go for respecting them and deal with each other in the light of such awareness. I see this is how everybody can start with himself and herself especially that we’re supposed to be living in the 21st century, which means that we can’t solve -or try to solve- our problems with the same mentalities of the past centuries.

Finally, I don’t have problems with non-Muslims whatsoever and have them as friends both in the real and virtual worlds. In the light of your final question, I think it is applicable too for non-Muslims who only hear about Muslims, or what do you think!

What September 11 taught us is that sometimes, people aren’t going to let you forget the past, even if you had nothing to do with those bad acts. You need to think about Germany and the reparations they are still paying to Israel, 50+ years after the Holocaust. Germans ask “When will be allowed to forget?” Will they ever be allowed to forget? Look at how angry people get in Turkey when they want them to remember the Armenian massacre.

I think your point about getting out and meeting non-Muslim people in the community is what is at the heart of fighting Islamophobia. Think there is too much Islamophobia in this country? Then why don’t you sit down and count how many good non-Muslim friends you have. These would be the kind of people that would be willing to hide you in their basement should the government decide to ’round up’ all the Muslims. Hmm. Don’t have any friends like that? Then maybe you need to make more of an effort. If you want to change the world, then you need to start with yourself.