I did that once

So I’m watching the Rachel Maddow show from Monday where she talks about the attack on the Sikh temple.

All I can think is that this is reaping what we, as a culture, sow.  This is what happens when inflammatory language about immigrants is the norm.  This is what happens when someone’s national identity is the subject of political debate.  This is what happens when the damn President’s national origin is considered debate fodder. This what happens when our culture lumps all non-white people under the label “Muslim.”  This is what happens when “Muslim” is considered a slur, an epithet, something to be denied.  This is what happens when multicultural education is null and void.  This is when “freedom of religion” is simultaneous with White Protestant Christianity.

Make no mistake, fellow ethnic and religious minorities.  This is not the last of attacks on us.  We can no longer pretend that domestic terrorist attacks— and yes this is terrorism— are just for “them.”  It’s not just for people who look markedly different.  This is an attack on all of us.

But we can’t forget that there are literal, physical victims here.  My thoughts and prayers are with the Sikh community, and I hope that they know that they are not alone here.