My Fellow American is an online film and social media project that calls upon concerned Americans to pledge and spread a message that Muslims are our fellow Americans. It asks people of other backgrounds to pledge, and share a real life story about a Muslim friend, neighbor, or colleague that they admire. Using the power of social media, My Fellow American seeks to change the narrative – from Muslims as the other, to Muslims as our fellow Americans.
Works for me.
An Armenian friend told me in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, when Armenians who had lost everything were wandering homeless and dazed, that Muslims opened the homes and hearts to them and this was a generosity Armenians will never forget.
Sue has a Jewish woman friend who lived in the Deep South for a bit in the 1940’s. After several months, the woman mentioned to a new friend that she was Jewish. The friend said, oh but you can’t be Jewish, you don’t have horns. We laugh at such ignorance now, but really, isn’t that what all stereotypes are about? Thinking all Muslims are terrorists is just as ignorant.