I moved to the US as a teenager over a decade and a half ago. I came with only a semesters worth of money & a burning desire to make it on my own. This county made it possible for me, I achieved the "American dream", I had respect, a well paying job, a car, a cat and whatever else constitutes that dream these days. Even the desire of wanting to help the lest fortunate in the world blossomed in me because of America. It was there that I started to understand the meaning of what Descartes mean't when he said "I think therefore I am". I became a better Muslim and a better human being because of America. I wouldn't be sitting here in Sub-Saharan Africa working on conflict mitigation programs if I hadn't moved to America. Just like I firmly believe all this, I also believe that Mr. Trump is doing us all a big favor. Deep down inside we are all prejudiced towards something. We all fear what we don't know and unless it is brought out in the open those prejudices remain within us, polluting our souls whether we know it or not. What Trump has made me realize is how much we all needed to talk about what people actually think about Muslims in America, because until that happens one can never answer the question of why do they think that? And until that happens one can never expect to change perceptions no matter how irrational or inaccurate they might be. I firmly believe that in the long run this will only make America much stronger. So thank you Mr. Trump, because if you hadn't spoken your mind, the majority of rational Americans might have never realized the bigots in their midst, and more importantly, the discussion that just might change the mindset of some of them would have never taken place.
And while I'm on this topic I would also like to comment on millions of Muslims outside the US who are using Mr. Trump as an opportunity to take a dump on the US. Let me just say that although the US isn't perfect, as a Muslim non-American I have at least a thousand times more rights than a Christian, Atheist, Jew or even a minority sect Muslim has in "Muslim" countries. I was always free to practice my religion however I wanted in America because no matter what, the law was on my side. Yes, there are always exceptions to a rule but how many non-Muslim minorities can make that claim in Muslim majority countries? A Muslim boy in America who gets handcuffed for bringing a clock to school, sues the school district for millions of dollars and gets invited by the President of the country for dinner at the White House, while a family of a Christian girl burnt alive on false pretense in a Muslim majority country can't even file a formal compliant with the police, so one may have whatever opinions they want on America being a racist, bigoted, intolerant state but maybe we all should be more mindful of the hypocrisy they represent.
And while I'm on this topic I would also like to comment on millions of Muslims outside the US who are using Mr. Trump as an opportunity to take a dump on the US. Let me just say that although the US isn't perfect, as a Muslim non-American I have at least a thousand times more rights than a Christian, Atheist, Jew or even a minority sect Muslim has in "Muslim" countries. I was always free to practice my religion however I wanted in America because no matter what, the law was on my side. Yes, there are always exceptions to a rule but how many non-Muslim minorities can make that claim in Muslim majority countries? A Muslim boy in America who gets handcuffed for bringing a clock to school, sues the school district for millions of dollars and gets invited by the President of the country for dinner at the White House, while a family of a Christian girl burnt alive on false pretense in a Muslim majority country can't even file a formal compliant with the police, so one may have whatever opinions they want on America being a racist, bigoted, intolerant state but maybe we all should be more mindful of the hypocrisy they represent.
