While watching the Republican Presidential Debate on September 12th I couldn’t stop thinking the exact opposite of the crazy spewing out of every candidates’ mouth. Then, suddenly, my ears perked up as I found myself agreeing with Ron Paul’s logical statement that many Americans don’t understand the true causes of 9/11 and have a misunderstanding of the entire Muslim world (amidst the boos of the Republican and Tea Party audience members, since I would expect them to play the opposites game with me).
Over the past decade since 9/11, the White House and the “liberal” media have done an incredible job of casting the entire Muslim world as the “other,” evil jihadists fighting against “everything America stands for.” I believe Rick Santorum said something mind-numbingly generic about “freedom and opportunity for everyone around the world.” What many Americans really need is a dose of Ron Paul Reality so false views of the Muslim world can slowly start to be eradicated.
The eradication of false views implanted into our collective conscious about Muslims and their general hatred for Americans could start in many ways. It could start in our schools by educating children about Muslim history. It could start with our pundits and newscasters covering the effects of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from a human perspective. It could start with more currently elected officials publicly supporting the constitutional rights of American Muslim citizens to own private property wherever they choose. It could also start in American communities where both Muslims and non-Muslims integrate themselves with cultural events and street fairs, anything in order to understand each other. I grew up 20 minutes away from Dearborn Michigan, home to the largest Muslim population in the United States. Besides a few high school tennis tournaments here and there, I never had contact with a Muslim teen, or any Muslim for that matter. Two days ago eating lunch with my Muslim girlfriend, talking about eye shadow and graduate school, I wondered what impact I could have made on my family, friends, and myself by simply taking the time out to understand my competitive and cultural opponent.
Now times must be different. Times must be different for all Americans because when billions of tax payer dollars are spent on wars that were started under false pretenses, wars that have no end in sight, it’s time to know who we’re warring with and why. Times must be different for the Republican presidential candidates because one of them finally sided with truth and logic instead of lies and just plain dumb. So c’mon Rick, Michelle, Mitt, Newt and the rest of the pack, do yourselves a favor and sample a dose of Ron Paul Reality. Lead our country to a better understanding of Muslims and the true causes for 9/11. This could ultimately change American opinions on U.S Security and Foreign Policy and create sane, more cost effective policies for generations to come.
