Come to the Dark Side; we have bagels!!!

Annie revealed that she’s been carrying a mixed bag of misinformation about Muslims. Annie decried the actions of ISIS and repeatedly claimed the Quran encouraged the group’s violence (although she was unable to provide scriptural references). She expressed fears about Sharia law in America and seemed convinced that President Barack Obama was not a Christian…. The counter protestors from the mosque, joined by their interfaith allies, offered her water and invited her to come inside for conversation. She was adamant about not stepping into the center — until one member of the mosque closed in on her for a hug.

There are a couple things that can happen when the ignorant and ill-informed make assumptions based on fear, prejudice, and misinformation. One is that hatred and discimination become the coin of the realm, with fear of The Other being used to foment divisiveness, intolerance, and acrimony. Another possibility is that the object of said calumny decides to take matters in their own hands and demonstrate that while they may certainly be different, they’re capable of reacting to hatred with love and compassion. Whether you follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi, or Nelson Mandela, meeting hate with love can be a devastatingly effective tactic. It certainly was in this instance.

Cynthia DeBoutinkhar could have returned hate for hate. It would have been easy to write Annie off as just another angry, ignorant hater who couldn’t be bothered to learn anything about Islam and assume the worst as a matter of course. Annie was just another bigot who decided that being Muslim ipso facto makes one a terrorist…right? DeBoutinkhar could have written Annie off and returned the disdain and mistrust in equal measure…but there was something about Annie that made her decide that she needed a hug. Once that initially awkward bridge was crossed and Annie considered, however briefly, that DeBoutinkhar might not be the America-hating terrorist she’d convinced herself being Muslim made her, the walls began to come down.

Eventually, Annie allowed herself to be shown that Muslims and Christians really aren’t all that different when it comes to the really important things in life. Muslims, like Christians (or anyone regardless of the label one might attach to them), want to love and be loved. They want to live in a way that feels real and authentic. And they want to be able to do so in an atmosphere of peace, tranquility, and security. Annie realized that, once she got past her fears and misconceptions, Muslims are pretty much like anyone else once you strip away the label and associated stereotypes.

Turns out that love really will handily defeat hatred when employed with sincerity and conviction. It’s just a battle than needs to be waged one heart and one mind at a time.