Why Muslims Shouldn’t be Banned from the United States On a cold, windy afternoon in October, 13-year-old Malika rushes through the doors of her school as the final bell rings. Her classmates’ jeers and insults echoing around her. “‘Terrorist!’,’Traitor!’, ‘Go back to where you came from!’,” they shout. But this is where she came from. Malika, her parents, and their parents before them were all born here, but her classmates do not care. Malika has done nothing to deserve these foul insults being hurled at her. She has not hurt or betrayed anyone, she is a quiet, amiable person. Her only crime: wearing a hijab. A hijab is a “simple covering for the head and shoulders” (Brown) that Muslim women choose to wear, however, women are not
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“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” (Constitution; First Amendment). These statements can be found in two of the most important documents in American history. These two documents have been used worldwide as building blocks for emerging countries to build their own governments and legal systems. In both, they state the importance of individual rights of human beings, whether it be the freedom to worship however they wish, or not revoking privileges because of said persons’ religion. Religious freedom is a crucial part of American doctrine. The Founding Fathers of America knew the importance of religious freedom to the citizens. The Pilgrims settled in America to escape persecution in England. Protestants fled Ireland when Irish Catholics chased them out during the Irish revolution in 1641 ("Religion and the Founding of the American Republic”). All of these religions have helped make America what it is today, a melting pot of different cultures and religions. America has always been a safe haven for people facing religious persecution, why should it be any different today? Muslims should not be banned from the United States because the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting religious freedom and the majority of practicing Muslims are peaceful people. Why should 13-year-old girls rush home from school crying simply because she chose to wear a hijab? What should have been a monumental decision in this young girl’s life turned into an excuse for others to make fun of her and call her a traitor? Instead of trying to keep Muslims out of the country, America should try to learn more about Islam, because how can
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” (Constitution; First Amendment). These statements can be found in two of the most important documents in American history. These two documents have been used worldwide as building blocks for emerging countries to build their own governments and legal systems. In both, they state the importance of individual rights of human beings, whether it be the freedom to worship however they wish, or not revoking privileges because of said persons’ religion. Religious freedom is a crucial part of American doctrine. The Founding Fathers of America knew the importance of religious freedom to the citizens. The Pilgrims settled in America to escape persecution in England. Protestants fled Ireland when Irish Catholics chased them out during the Irish revolution in 1641 ("Religion and the Founding of the American Republic”). All of these religions have helped make America what it is today, a melting pot of different cultures and religions. America has always been a safe haven for people facing religious persecution, why should it be any different today? Muslims should not be banned from the United States because the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting religious freedom and the majority of practicing Muslims are peaceful people. Why should 13-year-old girls rush home from school crying simply because she chose to wear a hijab? What should have been a monumental decision in this young girl’s life turned into an excuse for others to make fun of her and call her a traitor? Instead of trying to keep Muslims out of the country, America should try to learn more about Islam, because how can