I recently attended a luncheon that was held in the ballroom on the University College of Bangor campus that focused on awareness of Islam. At first, to be completely honest, I felt rather annoyed by the sound of such an event.

I soon realized that this feeling had something to do with a news broadcast that I happened to catch on MPBN the night before. It was a story produced by the “Frontline” team of investigators and journalists. Its focus was on Islamic extremists and their dark ideologies that exist in radical cells positioned throughout Canada. The story showed how the extremists were recruiting high school students who were being taught to hate Americans and what “we” stand for. This sent a shiver down my spine.

With this knowledge embedded, I entered the campus event and saw two friends of mine, wearing Islamic clothing. All of my idiotic concerns left my seemingly uneducated mind in an instant.

My negative view of the event turned positive as I began to think about our nation’s history of slave owners who beat and murdered countless numbers of innocent African-Americans. The men who held those whips were of my color. How could anyone from this country, including myself, even begin to judge another person because of his or her beliefs or attire?

As I shared a wonderful meal with my friends, I felt somewhat immature. How could thoughts I had earlier rush into my mind in such an offensive manner? Is hatred built into the minds of everyone? Does it lay dormant, waiting for a trigger to release it? Television and newspapers throughout the world, with their sometimes “one-sided ways,” need to be examined carefully. Each religion and every race has a thin line, like a tightrope, that we must walk upon.

Our younger generations need a hand, an extra eye, to help them discern between wrong and right. A strong support system at the family level will build a stronger foundation for our children’s future.

Jonathan Michaels is a junior English and literature major at University College of Bangor.