Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,
I just want to say that I admire the positions you have taken so far in dealing with Daesh (ISIS). It is important to aid those who need it. We need to show more support, not less, and I need not explain why as you clearly understand this. These attacks across the world (Beirut, Paris, and Baghdad) were meant to scare us. They certainly succeeded in doing so; violence and innocent deaths are frightening to all of us. But more than the actual bombings, what has truly terrified me is the reaction from many who are quick to place the blame for these horrific events on Muslims, and more specifically, refugees. The way I see it, these people are just playing right into Daesh’s hand.
Daesh did not, in my opinion, orchestrate these attacks just for the sake of killing. There was definitely a higher goal that they had in mind. Sadly this goal is being achieved based on many reactions to these terrorist attacks. A clear example is Poland; the Polish government declared that no refugees will be allowed entry into Poland shortly after the massacre in Paris. This is disappointing especially because an Economist article published recently evaluated 750,000 refugees in the U.S post-9/11 and found none of them were involved in terrorist activities. Nevertheless, what Daesh seems to be attempting is to create conditions for the West to fear Muslims and reject them, using refugees as the scapegoat. In the perverse mind of this organization if the public is scared enough to backlash against refugees and Muslims as a whole, these people will be easier to target and convert to their cause with a “promise” of acceptance. The media is actually helping the terrorists’ cause by creating even more fear and paranoia among the people. Just today, news came out of a Muslim mother being beaten and robbed here at home just for being who she was. This is something that needs to be stopped, and quick.
I know that you are probably getting tons of suggestions every day, but I figured I would offer one as this is so important. I sincerely believe that we need to stand in support of our Muslim brothers and sisters. Now more than ever, they need our support, not as superiors or in a judging way, but as equals and friends. We need to remind everyone that these terrorists are exactly the same people that refugees are escaping from, and that we are united in this struggle against hate and fear. People need to stop fearing their neighbors because they happen to be Muslim in faith or Syrian in origin. I cannot convey this message to many people but it would be great if a similar message was heard by everyone around the world. If the peaceful citizens of this planet stick together, Daesh will not survive.
Hopefully this message reaches you in some way, and if not through my words, through the words of others.
Here’s hoping peace will prevail.
Sincerely yours,
Sebastian Montoya
