“But he is a Muslim”, my son insisted. “He must be a
terrorist.”
Where he gets these ideas from, I do not know, but now was
not the time to probe. “Muslims are not
terrorists”, I told him firmly.
“But all terrorists are Muslims”, he insisted.
“That doesn’t mean that all Muslims are terrorists. Most Muslims
are against terrorism.”
“Okay, all terrorists are Muslims”, he insisted. “Same
thing.”
“No, not the same thing. In any case, terrorists do not have
a religion; no religion asks you to kill. Terrorists worship only Terror.”
Will he ever get it? Will the world?
5 comments:
He's young... and has you for his mother. I'm sure he'll get it some time soon. Others - some well-educated, professional adults that I know - who think like this...I don't have much hope for.
RajK
I am sure he will... or rather, I live in the same hope too... since my son seems to have the same ideas... in fact, we planned a kashmir trip.. and he was scared of terrorists... and explaining things to him didnt really work, until our hindu driver abandoned us and two muslims we had never met before came and helped us out... that seemed to bring the first doubt in his mind that all muslims were certainly not terrorists...and some of them were really nice people... as to when he will understand that all terrorists arent muslims...well, i am waiting ,, and hoping!
GIve him examples of terrorists who were Christian (IRA) or non-religious (RAF). He can learn something about history and humans in one sitting.
Natasha - He will get it, because you are his mother and you will be sure that he learns. I hope the world gets it too...
Beautiful post. Sadly, I have seen so many grown-ups think like that. :(
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