Letter: We cannot allow fear or demagogues to lead us to discriminate

Colin Powell once reminded us “that if you break it, you own it.” We broke it, and must now live with the consequences.

For decades, we bought oil from and sold weapons to corrupt dictators who kept their people in ignorance and poverty. When we decided to topple the dictators, we invaded and essentially destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. We stood by while Syria destroyed itself. We alienated the very people we were trying to help. We created a vacuum which allowed ISIS to thrive. ISIS is unable to attack us militarily, so they rely on individuals to attack us on their behalf. They want us to invade them knowing that such action will create even more converts to their cause. We should continue our current methods of attacking them even more aggressively.

ISIS-inspired domestic terrorism is more difficult. Terrorists are already here and in spite of our best efforts more will come. We will discover and deal with them, but not without more attacks. We cannot allow fear or demagogues to lead us to discriminate against our Arab- or Muslim-American friends, co-workers and neighbors. That only re-enforces ISIS’ message that we are at war against all Muslims.

This story was originally published December 20, 2015 at 10:20 PM with the headline "Letter: We cannot allow fear or demagogues to lead us to discriminate."