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Description
I was in government class just the other day, when the teacher wrote on the board, END WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST. The class discussion was mostly targeting how we need to end the war…like now…But having the knowledge about America, about the government, I've learned that there are millions of American's, who think that all Muslims in the east are all murderous terrorist, and the truth is that not all of them are. There are many middle eastern countries who are against each other, it's not just us. And what's funny is that I've never known anything about Muslims, until I came across a friendly face. Why I'm writing this is simply because I mostly want to express how I feel, and it angered me the other day in class, it shows how stupid some of us are. You don't really know much about anything until you meet that proof, or maybe that person.
I remember I was only ten when we had 9/11. I remember watching it on TV live, my mom was crying and I was just sitting there watching, deep wrenching feeling in my gut, and ever since then, I had been under the impression that everyone in the middle east was our enemy, and the older I got, going through history class, the media makes it out to be that they really are that bad, but the media always typically blinds us of false apprehensions. Some kids in my class to today still think we should set out a full blown world war with all those countries. Maybe it was foolish of me to have mentioned to the class that I'm friends with a Muslim. I loved the way their faces were horrified, and that dead silence just covered the room, my god I felt so…shocked. My teacher didn't say anything, just a simple look of you better be careful what your doing. A couple my friends told me that I was toying with the enemy. Can you believe that? That really ticked me off, cause it had been months since I met this online friend from Syria. And he's a great guy, I love him to death. Some people are fascinated that we share a lot about culture here in the US and over there. I've learned that, the teenagers in Syria are just like us, and most middle eastern teenagers are no different, they like to be with friends, socialize, go out to eat, play sports, there is no difference, just countries.
What I don't understand is why my country is blinded by media, rumors, and false advertisement. Sometimes when I watch the news I see these things that happen over there, in the streets, younger generations rebelling against an unfair government. When a news flash or image of Damascus or somewhere is Syria pops up on the news I panic, cause if something ever happened to him I would be killed with devastation, you just never know. And I see that here. It's true that we are different in terms of systems of government, but their over there just trying to live like we are.
I want to dedicate this piece of writing to Ahmed. Because of you, I'm blessed to know you, the things you write to me just make me smile. And I love learning about your culture. Knowing you makes it so that I can respect most Muslims, Syrians too. it's funny because, my generation that thinks that Islam culture is bad, they are so wrong. I can't even explain how wrong they are. Typically when I was younger if I saw a woman in public wearing a Hijab, I would have looked at her funny, wondering to myself you know why do they wear that? Now I can walk by her and smile and say hello, then carry on.
So what if my friends think I'm crazy to have respect for others outside our world. I think it's incredibly important that my generation of people know that not all of them are bad, why do people think I'm crazy? (Laughs) they think I'm mental because I say I want to see the middle east someday….I don't see how that's a problem. My god, I've been called a rebellious American!…… well, what is says on my Facebook political views is…never mind.
I sit there early in the morning as the golden sun turns the sky red and I think how lucky I am to have the ability to reach out and connect with others. I think, "Morgan, you are fortunate to have a friend like him."

Description
I was in government class just the other day, when the teacher wrote on the board, END WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST. The class discussion was mostly targeting how we need to end the war…like now…But having the knowledge about America, about the government, I've learned that there are millions of American's, who think that all Muslims in the east are all murderous terrorist, and the truth is that not all of them are. There are many middle eastern countries who are against each other, it's not just us. And what's funny is that I've never known anything about Muslims, until I came across a friendly face. Why I'm writing this is simply because I mostly want to express how I feel, and it angered me the other day in class, it shows how stupid some of us are. You don't really know much about anything until you meet that proof, or maybe that person.
I remember I was only ten when we had 9/11. I remember watching it on TV live, my mom was crying and I was just sitting there watching, deep wrenching feeling in my gut, and ever since then, I had been under the impression that everyone in the middle east was our enemy, and the older I got, going through history class, the media makes it out to be that they really are that bad, but the media always typically blinds us of false apprehensions. Some kids in my class to today still think we should set out a full blown world war with all those countries. Maybe it was foolish of me to have mentioned to the class that I'm friends with a Muslim. I loved the way their faces were horrified, and that dead silence just covered the room, my god I felt so…shocked. My teacher didn't say anything, just a simple look of you better be careful what your doing. A couple my friends told me that I was toying with the enemy. Can you believe that? That really ticked me off, cause it had been months since I met this online friend from Syria. And he's a great guy, I love him to death. Some people are fascinated that we share a lot about culture here in the US and over there. I've learned that, the teenagers in Syria are just like us, and most middle eastern teenagers are no different, they like to be with friends, socialize, go out to eat, play sports, there is no difference, just countries.
What I don't understand is why my country is blinded by media, rumors, and false advertisement. Sometimes when I watch the news I see these things that happen over there, in the streets, younger generations rebelling against an unfair government. When a news flash or image of Damascus or somewhere is Syria pops up on the news I panic, cause if something ever happened to him I would be killed with devastation, you just never know. And I see that here. It's true that we are different in terms of systems of government, but their over there just trying to live like we are.
I want to dedicate this piece of writing to Ahmed. Because of you, I'm blessed to know you, the things you write to me just make me smile. And I love learning about your culture. Knowing you makes it so that I can respect most Muslims, Syrians too. it's funny because, my generation that thinks that Islam culture is bad, they are so wrong. I can't even explain how wrong they are. Typically when I was younger if I saw a woman in public wearing a Hijab, I would have looked at her funny, wondering to myself you know why do they wear that? Now I can walk by her and smile and say hello, then carry on.
So what if my friends think I'm crazy to have respect for others outside our world. I think it's incredibly important that my generation of people know that not all of them are bad, why do people think I'm crazy? (Laughs) they think I'm mental because I say I want to see the middle east someday….I don't see how that's a problem. My god, I've been called a rebellious American!…… well, what is says on my Facebook political views is…never mind.
I sit there early in the morning as the golden sun turns the sky red and I think how lucky I am to have the ability to reach out and connect with others. I think, "Morgan, you are fortunate to have a friend like him."