Editor,
I believe that we, the Muslim community, as immigrants, residents and citizens, naturalized and born, have chosen the United States as our home.
We are a part of the fabric that makes this country stand. The cowards who terrorized New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh killed our brothers, sisters, friends and neighbors.
I was born and raised in Albuquerque - I know no other country. I am an American. I appreciate efforts by various sources to try and caution individuals not to blame American Muslims.
In order to carry out the sincerity behind those efforts, it is necessary to drop "Muslim" and "Islam" from accusations. Failure to do so only inadvertently perpetuates these stereotypes.
Terrorists can be called nothing in addition to terrorists. That is simply what they are. They do not think, act or react within the same bounds of consciousness as all of humanity. They do not deserve to be given any title or association more than the label of a terrorist, despite what they claim.
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By lashing out against American Muslims, we are lashing out against Americans. We need not let the terrorists win in dividing us; the American spirit is too strong.
We need to stay united as brothers, sisters, friends and neighbors and, as much as possible, continue our lives as normally as possible.
Atifa Latif Chiragh
Former UNM Muslim Student Association President
