Writer's anti-Muslim statements are both outlandish and false

To the Daily Sun,

I have never written in before, but I was reading a letter in your newspaper entitled "Muslim Beliefs and Values are Incompatible with Our Freedoms" and had to shake my head at the ignorance that is apparent in some people, while also setting the record straight.

To answer the writer's question blatantly, yes, Muslim beliefs, values, goals, and behaviors ARE compatible with American society. For someone to take the actions of a few outliers, find some clips on YouTube and then generalize an entire population, is very scary and disheartening to me. It shows a lack of knowledge, research, and empathy. Millions of Muslim refugees are hardworking, kind, generous, and extremely grateful to be out of their war-torn homelands and in a place where they can find peace and try to rebuild their lives. Some of the tragedies they have gone through, terrors they've experienced, death and destruction they have seen, and family and friends they have lost is something that some of us will never have to go through in our entire lives and cannot even begin to imagine. Their goal is NOT to transform the countries they immigrate to. Their goal is to survive, thrive, be accepted, create new homes, build new lives, and live peacefully. They pursue these goals by working hard, keeping a low profile, finding support in friends and family, and maybe even religion, as millions of others around the world, Muslim or not, do as well.

The writer goes on, bashing Muslims in every way he can, stating that they are against homosexuality, practice slavery, support harsh punishments, and consider women as lesser beings. His statements are outlandish and false, and this writer would benefit from looking a little closer to home, as all the issues he thinks are "Muslim" have actually been apparent in America for hundreds of years. However, I will take the high road. I will not bash a whole population of people based on snippets of negative media or stories I have heard, for there will always be negative things to say about all kinds of people all over the world if that's what you're looking for, regardless of their race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and whatever else. If we focus only on the negative, we will never grow as a people. We would all do better to learn to be a little more open-minded, empathetic, and caring, especially to those that need our help. I can only hope the writer of that letter will try a little harder.

Lorna D. Truth

Pittsburg