Terrorists?

This morning the main news item was the arrest of three male college students who are charged with burning down nine churches in the state of Alabama. They are white and, I assume, Christian. Their alleged crime was labeled merely a "prank" that went too far.

What if the three young men had been Indian (South Asian)? Arab? Muslim?

Take time to ask, what if? If they had been Muslims, would their arson be considered a prank? Or would it be labeled terrorism?

Why is it that when a regular, every day white American commits a crime, it is an individual act. But when a Muslim commits a crime, it is an act of terrorism? Every white American is allowed to speak for him or herself. But every Muslim, white or non-white, speaks for the entire world-wide Muslim community of 1.5 billion people.

The stereotypes must stop. It's gone on long enough and it's gone too far. Every week there are reports of a mosque, an Islamic school, a Muslim's home or business, being vandalized. Muslims are forced to stay quiet and take it. How long would this go on if the tables were turned?

I didn't commit the crimes of 9/11. I've never hijacked an airplane--I don't even like to fly. I wouldn't know the first thing about building a bomb. But I wear a scarf. That simple piece of fabric, in the anonymous eyes on the street, may label me as a threat. A terrorist.

Terrorism occurs every day in this country. It is terrorism to murder. It is terrorism to rob at gunpoint. It is terrorism to abuse a child or a spouse. Forget about the unseen phantoms. Concentrate on the real threats to this nation.

I am tired of tolerating violence. I am tired of tolerating prejudice.

And the deliberate burning of churches is absolutely an act of terror.