Today's Muslim ban reminds me of around 10 years ago when my dad sponsored a young doctor from Egypt to come work for him in San Francisco for a year. His name is Muhammed, and he is a practicing Muslim. When he stayed at our house for a few days while looking for an apartment, he was a very gracious, kind, and polite guest. Eventually, his wife and 2 small children came to join him in San Francisco, and my family and I became close friends with them. Muhammed's wife, Rasha, would always tell us how she was nervous to go out in public wearing her hijab. It makes me so sad that such kind hearted people lived in fear, right here in the U.S. We still keep in touch, but I remain discouraged by today's anti-Muslim sentiment in a country that supposedly values the freedom of religion.
~ Julia Bonacini