I was never taught by my parents to be accepting or respectful to all races, religions and ethnicities. It was more something that I realized through learning about all the hardships of peoples and religions struggling for acceptance in my history classes. I do understand that racism is something that can be learned from parents at a young age in many places in the United States. But this can be said the same for children in predominately Muslim countries. They learn mistrust for and demonize anything that has to do with the United States, and apparently “whiteys” too.
Muslims have come to this country to seek a better life despite leaving their comfort zones behind. Sufia claims Americans refuse to leave their comfort zones (“Time to break out of your comfort zones, people,” March 21, p.7). The fact is that all people in America today, besides Native Americans, are here because they left their comfort zones or because of someone who did. America is populated by people whose ancestors left their comfort zones.
The part of my heredity that I identity most with is the Italian side of my family. My great-grandparents came here from Sicily in the late 19th century. This country was, and still is now, predominantly Protestant. Catholics of Italian and Irish descent by no means had an easy time after immigrating here, but I am here now and have never had to face that kind of prejudice. Muslims do not face the outright prejudice and xenophobia against new Catholics entering the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. America learned from the lessons of its past.
Sufia, your parents or grandparents moved to the United States because they sought the opportunity to provide a better life for their children than could be found elsewhere. This is why my great-grandparents came here also. They moved out of their comfort zones and suffered these hardships and prejudice in part so you and I wouldn’t have to. Ultimately, you are studying here in the United States and not in Saudi Arabia because you think everyone should get out of their comfort zones once in a while. It’s because living here is better. Despite all the things you loved about Saudi Arabia, you aren’t living there because you get a better education in the United States. Not to mention more basic freedoms.
Michael Miller ENG ’08
