Religious Discrimination: Putting American Safety in Jeopardy

     Muslims across the world are up in arms after the short film "Innocence of Muslims" was published on YouTube earlier this week. The film, which mocks the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, has already prompted a string of assaults in Yemen, Egypt and Libya. The most recent attack included hundreds of angry protesters storming the U.S. Embassy's compound in Yemen and burning the American flag. Although no embassy personnel were harmed in this attack, four Americans were killed in an attack in Benghazi on Tuesday.
     It amazes me that people are capable of such blatant discrimination. Although the staff and crew of the film stated they were "grossly misled about its intent and purpose," the question still remains- how could the film's producer (identified as Sam Bacile) make this video without regarding the effect it could have on America's situation in the Middle East? He even went so far as to tell The Wall Street Journal that "Islam is a cancer." People who think like Bacile are the reason we've had such problems accepting Islam in America. Discriminating against people because of their religious beliefs isn't right, and it's only straining American relations more in the war on terrorism. Freedom of religion is a right guaranteed to Americans in the Bill of Rights. If our founding fathers supported this as a fundamental right of every human being, why can't so many Americans do the same thing today? Americans should be more open-minded about accepting other people's religious beliefs. Just because a person accepts that someone else believes something different doesn't mean that person has to agree with the other person's beliefs. This is a lesson we should all take to heart, for our own country's safety in the war and for the safety of citizens at home with diverse beliefs.