by Serwan Zangana
As a nation of diversity, America has been a haven for many people across the world that seeks a peaceful life where they cannot find in some other parts of the world. But unfortunately, it takes a few closed minded with extreme ideology to stain such uniqueness of the American diversity and terrorize the community. Terrorism is not limited to heinous actions of one group as in fact it is broader than what it has been defined.
The deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, CA, on May 18, killing three people is the continuation of the same hatred and racism of those individuals who are not able to perceive the American diversity and tolerate different beliefs and disagreement in a civilized way. Such a shooting represented the same ideology that attacked other places of worship in a radicalized action that inflicted American society.
The two attackers shared videos and writing that expressed hate and racism as they utilized Nazi symbols. Hate and racism have been damaging the civility and causing nightmares for many Americans throughout history. Regardless of the intentions and the messages that the radical groups are intending to send, such groups and their ideologies are indeed poisoning the soil of America and destroying the bridges that connect the American diversity to this nation.
Also, on March 12, a radicalized attacker, who was inspired by the Lebanese group of Hamas to murder Jews, rammed his truck loaded with fireworks, gallons of gasoline, and ammunition with a rifle, into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, MI. However, after the exchange of gunfire with the security guards and setting off the fireworks, the truck caught fire, which resulted in his death.
Each terrorist attack defines the unwillingness to accept the humanity and meaning of life. Sadly, racism and hate are inseparable from American history, and it is repeating itself everyday. Obviously, racism and hate generate the act of terrorism that impacts every human being across the nation.
Furthermore, no demographic group has a more profound and accurate understanding of racism and hate than Black Americans. While being the root of this nation and a significant part of the American foundation, Black Americans in many areas and communities in America are still surrounded by racism and hate.
On June 17, 2015, during a Sunday Bible study in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC, a White man motivated by hate and racism attacked and killed nine Black worshipers. This is indeed only one example of many vicious attacks motivated racially on Black people in America.
As America is approaching to commemorate 250 years of signing the Declaration of Independence, which is on July 4, of this year, the nation has not become independent of hate and racism. Also, the political interest and rising of extremism in the political community contribute to the increase of hate and racism. The politicians should take a major blame, as they are the elected officials and took the oath to represent and protect the American people.
Americans should reject every rhetoric of hate and racism and realize that the Declaration of Independence can completely be commemorated when every violent action against any race or religious group is considered abhorrent.
