Muslims have become a topic and subject for international discussion since terrorist activities by so called “Muslims” have marred the history of America and countless of other nations.  These discussions continue even 12 years after the 9/11 attacks, and will, unfortunately, probably continue  for a very long time due to the ignorance of some individuals.

Niles West is one of the most diverse high schools in America, and the number of Muslims over the years has increased greatly, thus, these discussions concern me as a Muslim student.

These controversial opinions have been discussed all over the place, including social media sites such as Twitter. The height of ignorance broke all records on Saturday, Sept. 14 when #F*** Muslims was trending. (For those of you who are not familiar with the term trendings, they are the most commonly used hashtags on  Twitter).

Thousands of people tweeted as to why they hated Muslims, by insulting them mercilessly. The insults ranged from blaming Muslims for the recent event in Kenya to the 9/11 attacks.

“@Gleason_Z71: Muslims matching through New York on 9/11???? Yeah you can all get the F**** OUT OF THIS COUNTRY. #F***Muslims.”

This Tweet is soaking with ignorance.

First things first, why should I leave? Just because Osama Bin Laden abuses Islam, twists its meaning, and executes terrorist activities, you find it justifiable to demand that all Muslims leave America? I am not Osama Bin Laden, I am Hafsa Wahid. You don’t know me, so who are you to tell me to leave? And according to the Bill of Rights, I have the freedom of religion. I have the right to practice my religion peacefully and live in the United States at the same time.

Along with that, anyone who claims that all Muslims are responsible for 9/11 or that Islam teaches terrorism, is (and I’m not sorry to say) ignorant. Islam outlaws the killing of other people, and Allah goes so far as saying that to kill one person is, as if, you kill the entire mankind.

I am not unaware of the fact that Osama Bin Laden happened to be a Muslim and that his attack on the Twin Towers led to the death of many people. My heart goes out to all those people. I know how it feels to lose a loved one, but trust me, I had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with this. None of the true Muslims did because Islam teaches peace and harmony.

Senior Asiya Fatima also asks that Muslims not be generalized due to the crimes of a few individuals.

“I feel that it’s disrespectful and rude. No one has the right to call another religion out like that. Everyone has their own opinions but some opinions can be kept inside. Don’t… call one religion out just because one or two people in that religion committed a crime,” Fatima said.

President of Qur’an Study and senior Hirrah Khatri agrees with Fatima.

“That’s mean,” Khatri said. “It’s unfair how one person’s actions can become generalized and be  used to blame an entire religion,” Khatri said.

Another Tweet on Twitter also insulted Christians along with Muslims.

“@Markcalaz72 F*** Muslims and Christians. Wipe my ar** on the burka and stick the cross up you ar**. Religion is dead and I wish you c*** were as well.”

The burka is a full body covering that Muslim women wear in addition to the hijab. This offensive Tweet ridicules the Islamic garb along with the symbolic cross of the Christian religion.

Public Representative of Qur’an Study and senior Mahnoor Bhatti finds this unnecessary.

“I think that it was unnecessary and very disrespectful towards all people, not just Muslims,” Bhatti said.

I would like to take a moment to recognize the fact that the statement “religion is dead” is incorrect. Most people around us adopt some sort of belief about God which automatically shows that religion in some shape or form is still alive. Even atheists or agnostics have beliefs, thus, they also follow a religion. This reveals the lack of information this individual possesses.

This person is wishing I was dead when he doesn’t even know me. At this point, the person who tweeted this sounds like a terrorist and threat himself, not the other way around.

When it comes to Muslims, we often forget the primary school lesson that there are good and bad people everywhere. Yes, there are people who incorrectly alter the meaning of a religion, but those people belong to each and every religion. There are extremists from each religion. The only people, however, who are brought to the attention of the public, through the media, are the Muslims.

This attitude towards Muslims is unacceptable. I was born in America. I am an American and any comments asking me to leave are ridiculous and insulting. All the other comments, which insult any religious objects without being aware of their purposes, are also hurtful.

Perhaps the best way to finish these misconceptions is to educate people about Islam like senior, Sahar Lakhani suggests.

“I think [we can end these kinds of events] by educating people about our religion. Misconceptions are created when there is lack of knowledge or communication,” Lakhani said.

In no way am I refusing that some Muslims have done things that are horribly wrong but the list of those people is not composed of all Muslims or Muslims only.

We are human beings also. We believe in peace. Take the time to actually learn about what Islam is before you bash on us and say things that are not true.

Senior Andra Sabou advocates the same idea of educating oneself.

“I think that people who assert their own views by insulting others are wrong. Such comments definitely reflect worse on the writer (negatively) than on Islam or any other religion being targeted. It is an inappropriate and even cowardly way to deal with differences of belief. Even in general if you disagree with someone about something, educate yourself first and then politely talk with them about it,” Sabou said.

“….if any one slew a person, it would be as if he slew the whole humanity: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the entire humanity,” Surah Al-Maidah, Verse 32 (Qur’an).