Prejudice against Muslims is widespread in the U.S. In one study of all terrorist attacks in the world, researchers discovered that when the perpetrator of a terrorist attack was Muslim, the news story received over 300 times more media coverage than when the terrorist was non-Muslim. It's not fair.
What I've come to learn so far during my time in Malaysia is that Muslims are portrayed inaccurately in the movies and media. One time during Ramadan, when I was walking by a mosque in Langkawi, the island off the coast of Kedah, a Muslim man saw me and waved me over. He said, "Come and eat." It was about time to break the fast. I apologized and told him I wasn't Muslim. His response took me by surprise. He said, "That's okay. Everyone's welcome here. Come. Sit." So there I was, over 9,000 miles away from home, enjoying a grand meal with kind and brotherly Muslims— the people whom we are often taught to fear in the U.S. through negative stereotypes.
Malaysia is a special place. It's nothing like I could have ever imagined. I've already learned many things during my time here that have made me a better person. I am grateful for the people in my local community not only because they are some of the funniest, most generous people I will ever meet, but also because they teach me how to recognize, appreciate and respect different perspectives everyday.
