You don’t have to be guilty of burning down a mosque or beating someone up to be guilty of perpetuating this bigotry. All it takes is a look of disgust as you pass someone on the street or an insensitive comment to make someone feel unwelcome. The number of Muslims, Arabs and Sikhs who have been victims of hate crimes is relatively low compared to those who have faced accusatory looks, stares and scowls. And although we would much rather deal with a dirty look than a bullet, it is painful feeling hated in the towns and cities we call home.

Far from encouraging tolerance, the American media has only stoked the fire. Television networks continue to show over and over again the footage of a small group of Palestinians celebrating in the aftermath of the bombings. It shocks and saddens me that there are people in this world who delight in the killing of civilians. But as one editorialist pointed out, “The minuscule percentage of Palestinians who exulted at the tragedy is probably far smaller than the percentage of Americans who would call for massive terror bombing in the Arab world.”

This has not prevented some ultra-nationalists from calling for a war against the entire Arab world. In her syndicated column, which appears in the New York Post and Associated Press Editorials, Ann Coulter wrote, “We know who the homicidal maniacs are. They are the ones cheering and dancing right now. We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.”

As I read these xenophobic calls to violence and hear about the incidents of hate around the country, I can see our enemies smiling. I imagine that this is what they want—to see America divided—to hear our opinion-makers preach war and hatred. Let us not fall into their sinister trap. Let us not self-destruct. We already have a formidable task ahead of us; we must not let hate and ignorance hinder our progress.

Nader R. Hasan ’02 is a government concentrator in Lowell House.