When most Americans heard about the San Bernardino terrorist attack this past Wednesday, most were outraged in reaction to the obscene crime. The attackers were couple Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, both are assumed to be radicalized. Terrorist attacks frequently anger and devastate Americans, it would be absurd if they didn’t. Americans always surge with sense of patriotism and pride after such atrocities occur. However, most citizens go about this the wrong way.

It is completely acceptable to become a USA fanatic after this attack. You can paint your face red, white and blue if you want to show your support for our country; but this does not give any citizen the right to take their anger out on anyone of another race or religion, especially Muslims. It is not that difficult to be a decent human being, and some Americans forget this when such a tragedy occurs. Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik committed this crime, not the 6.67 million other Muslims in the US. Do not generalize these poor people, they have done nothing wrong. Two people attacked the United States, not an entire religion.

Most politicians, specifically Republicans, need to be reminded of the basic rules of humanity. This especially when it comes to targeting specific religions. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump recently announced that he wants to ban all Muslims from coming into the United States. “It’s going to get worse and worse, folks,” he said at a rally in South Carolina.

“You are going to have more World Trade Centers.” He claims this is just until we figure things out, but his previous racist comments lead me to believe otherwise. Chris Christie believes another war is on its way. Ted Cruz wants to “carpet bomb [ISIS] into oblivion” and thinks war is also on the horizon. I guess according to Republicans, violence and the shaming of specific religions is the answer to solving terrorism issues!

Furthermore, just because our country was horribly attacked by two people of the same religion does mean every single Muslim is capable of committing such an abhorrent crime. The motives of radicalized Muslims should not be branded on each and every person of the same religion. Most Muslims nowadays are afraid they will be attacked just leaving their households. Mosques are preparing for hate crimes and Muslim women are afraid of what will happen when out in public. Although unfortunately, it is not uncommon for Americans to take their anger out on Muslims when one single person is accused of a crime, it is something that we need to overcome. We cannot blame an entire religion for a handful of people’s wrongdoings. Let’s try to remember basic fundamental human values when these things happen. We cannot stand for this anymore. Let us remember those whose lives were lost in the San Bernardino shooting, and let the two attackers take the blame for the crime; not an entire religion.