Don’t incite fear, hatred

Politicians are inciting hate and fear of Muslims, painting them as violent criminals. This is evident in a recent letter about turning away refugees and suspecting all Muslims of bad intentions.

Statistically, we are most at risk of terrorism by all-American active shooters, such as Jason Dalton’s attack in Kalamazoo, Mich., last month that killed six Americans. In 2015, 371 shooting attacks happened in the United States. Two were committed by Muslims, the rest were by Americans from other backgrounds.

We should not validate terrorists but unite to fight them. President Barack Obama said it best: “Groups like ISIS are desperate to portray themselves as religious leaders and holy warriors who speak for Islam. We must never give them that legitimacy. The vast majority of the people they kill are innocent Muslim men, women and children.”

In the end, it will not be bombs or bullets that defeat these terrorists, but a complete rejection of their sick ideas. We must stick to what has always made America great: our values. President Ronald Reagan spoke about the importance of welcoming refugees: “We shall continue America’s tradition as a land that welcomes peoples from other countries. We shall … continue to share in the responsibility of welcoming and resettling those who flee oppression.”

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 8:44 PM with the headline "Don’t incite fear, hatred."