Last Thursday you might’ve noticed some empty seats in some of your classes. Most of the AHS population is aware that day is Eid Mubarak, a Muslim holiday where families gather and money is distributed among the younger family members.

That evening when talking to my parents, I discovered that they had no idea what Eid was. Although their ignorance wouldn’t necessarily be classified as ethnocentrism, it’s clear that Islam is a misunderstood religion.

Americans still expect assimilation from other races, and don’t bother to learn about the cultures that surround them every day. Along with ethnocentrism comes a fear of other races and religions, especially Islam.

Islamophobia is a real thing, and it permeates today’s society in a marked way. Ahmed Mohamed is a perfect example.Just a couple of weeks ago, there was a media outpour when the 14 year old Muslim boy was suspended and harangued by police forces at his Texas high school just for bringing a homemade clock to show to his engineering teacher.

Ahmed’s engineering teacher, upon viewing the clock, was wary of its appearance and told Ahmed he shouldn’t show it to anyone else. Ahmed complied, but in his English class it kept beeping so after class he showed it to his teacher. She didn’t say much, and he headed to his next class, during which he was arrested. It later came to light that the clock was mistaken” for a bomb, and Ahmed had already been handcuffed, transported to a detention center and interrogated by the time he was cleared of blame.

This is not the first time such an event has happened. Muslims all around the country are mocked, shunned and discriminated against due to their religion on a daily basis.

Discrimination against Muslims can be detected almost anywhere, but it is especially evident at airports.

Anyone who appears to be Muslim or from the Middle East are especially watched and examined. They receive unnecessary stares and extra screening just because of their religion or ethnicity. This makes them feel like they have done something wrong simply by being Muslim, which is a ridiculous notion.

Being Muslim does not mean someone is a terrorist and does not guarantee that someone is a threat to this country, but plenty of people throughout the country believe nonetheless that Muslims are inherently more dangerous, even innocent kids like Ahmed.

In many places, such as Irving, Texas, the town where Ahmed is from, being a Muslim puts you at a disadvantage. Trustworthiness is an important aspect of success, and it wouldn’t matter if Ahmed was the trustiest kid in the town, the teachers and police of his area stereotyped him nonetheless, imposing on his 14 year old frame decades of mistrust.

If Ahmed were a white kid, chances are the authorities would not have been called. On the other hand, if Ahmed were at AHS, he probably wouldn’t have had the experience either. It all comes down to diversity and the comfort and trust that comes along with it.

We exist in a different environment than most of the country. Annandale is a diverse microcosm in a country that loathes diversity. Students would find it hard to be racist in a school so full of different cultures, races and religions.

For the most part, our student body embraces different cultures, and would have no trouble understanding that a Muslim student showing off his new invention is just that– and nothing more. It’s a matter to be appreciated and considered.

If the whole country was so accepting of all cultures, wouldn’t things be better?

Diversity is something you can learn from. Having numerous different cultures surrounding you can give you a new perspective, or several. You learn how to interact with people who have different backgrounds, different aspirations. It makes life interesting. Being accepting of others, regardless of race or religion, and being willing to learn can change someone’s life in countless ways. I can’t wait for the day that America is ready to embrace that.