Speaking up is part of fight against bigotry

I offer a standing ovation to your Dec. 9 editorial "Don't let 'grave wrong' destroy 'American way'" that ended with, "We have to stand up for the American way."

The suspicion, fear and irrational bigotry that you note are rooted in ignorance, and ignorance is overcome with education in the same way that opening the curtains or turning on a light lets you see in a dark room.

For this reason, I applaud the students at Vernon Hills High School who initiated and participated in the "Walk a Mile in Her Hijab" event.

It bears repeating that no one was "forced" to take part.

We can all learn from the young women who volunteered to try to see the world through the eyes of someone different from them, and to let others see them differently.

Further kudos to Professor Larycia Hawkins of Wheaton College, whose donning a hijab in solidarity with Muslim women and saying that Christians and Muslims worship the same God (echoing Pope Francis) brought her a suspension, because as J.K. Rowling said, it takes even more courage to stand up to your friends than to your enemies.

In "A Christmas Carol," Charles Dickens personified Want and Ignorance as children of human creation, and warned, "Beware of them both ... but most of all beware this boy (Ignorance) for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased."

We are not at war with a religion. We are at war with murderous thugs. To the caution, "If you see something, say something," I add, "If you hear something - a slur, a blanket condemnation or ridicule or sheer meanness - say something.

Speaking up is part of standing up for the American way. Let in the light.

Connie Purcell

Mundelein