I believe in learning about different cultures. Cultures bring together vast amounts of people who believe in the same things. The world is a gigantic place full of opposing views, racial bias, and ignorance. We can bring the world closer together by learning about other cultures history, beliefs, and tradition. I believe our generation has what it takes to inform the public about common misconceptions that they may have about any culture. Our generation can get education about other people and disperse that knowledge throughout the world.
One warm summer day in the middle of September of 2001 I remember sitting in the back seat of my mother's teal Chrysler van waiting for a red light to turn green when a middle aged man started vigorously honking and cursing at us. When we looked over at him, he showed us his middle finger and said, “Go back to your own country!” This man was obviously ignorant and racist but mostly uninformed. Had he known that Afghani Arabs were responsible for the attacks, he would not have been yelling at us innocent American citizens. This type of response came to my family along with many other Muslim families around the United States . People who did not know me on the street would walk away quickly, stare or same something ignorant. My mother told me not to talk to strangers, but I wish I had told them that I was born in this country, that I have no relation to any of the people involved on 9/11, and for them to just stop being so ignorant and to just listen.
Even though I got terrible responses from people I didn't know, I got treated exactly the same at my Elementary School. LaSalle Language Academy was a tiny school that had grades Kindergarten through the eighth grade. I had known the same students for more than two years when the attacks happened on a Tuesday morning while I was in Mrs. Wallers second grade classroom. The staff and students knew me, my older brother, who was three grades ahead of me and my parents very well for a long period. They knew that my father had moved here when he was younger with his family to get a better education. They knew that my family sought education over all in this country. Most of all they were informed that our religion and culture didn't teach violence or hatred toward any individual or group. I loved that since my friends were well informed, they didn't treat me any different than before the attacks. Just like how this small community of LaSalle Language Academy lacked ignorance any community, a worldwide community can get rid of ignorance and hatred.

Knowing about different cultures can make a person have a more diverse group of friends. Being a member of Diversity of Council at my school has given me many opportunities to know about cultures that I did not even know existed. I have learned why religions celebrate certain holidays, the history of how they came to be and how they affect us. It has also made me realize that I am proud of being different, because that is what makes me, me. I believe our culture is willing to gain knowledge on others. We need to grasp on to that knowledge and release it when we hear ignorant remarks coming from someone.