Now imagine that this place is the United States, in the year 2006.

On November 20th, 2006, six Muslim men were removed from a US Airways flight after a passenger raised some concern about their behavior. Three of the men had been praying in the airport prior to boarding.

It’s ironic that this should occur just three days before Thanksgiving, during the time of year set aside to remember the arrival of our ancestors to the New World. The Quakers who settled were just one of many groups who came here seeking religious freedom. It is a promised liberty enshrined under the First Amendment to the Constitution of The United States.

Our country was founded as a place where members of all sects could live together in peace, just as our nation was created by those fleeing religious persecution.

Where was this freedom when the six men were removed from the aircraft?

Loss of human rights has unfortunately occurred many times throughout the course of history. It is not a new phenomenon that a group of people is subjugated out of fear, misunderstanding, anger, or a combination of all three. It happened for many years to the mistreated Africans sold as slaves around the world. It happened to the Japanese in this country who, suspected as spies, were sent to concentration camps. It happened under the totalitarian leaders of the WWII era. And it is happening today in Iraq, where sectarian violence daily claims the lives of many innocent people.

The situation in today’s world is also mirrored in a number of utopian novels, such as Orwell's Nineteen-Eighty Four, that were written in an attempt to warn humanity against giving up its freedoms. No reader of these books wishes to be in the character’s position. They are barred from performing any action that may separate them from the rest of society; they are forbidden individual qualities, beliefs, or practices. But a case may be made that these Muslim men were already under such discriminatory scrutiny.

In an interview available on CNN’s website, passengers noted the men “kept to themselves”. Also mentioned was that one of them had worn sunglasses while indoors (this may directly correlate with the fact that, according to CNN’s own accompanying article, one of the men was blind). Both are relatively harmless allegations, unless of course you are a Muslim male flying on an aircraft. Then your position is more reminiscent of the characters in utopian literature.

The fear and negative sentiments doubtless arise from various incidents in recent history, beginning with September 11th and including all other occasions when people committed acts of terror under the false banner of “Islam”. But fear is often a product of the unknown.

That is why it is even more important for Muslims today to be visible promoting charity - a cornerstone of our faith, to work united and talk about our beliefs and not be afraid to practice our peaceful religion and keep up prayer five times a day, as commanded in the Holy Koran wherever we may be - whether it be at airports, in the park on in our homes. For after all, we are American Muslims in one Nation Under God, with Liberty and Justice for All.

We, at United Muslim Foundation would like to wish you all a Joyous Holiday Season and wish all the Holy Pilgrims to Mecca this Hajj a Blessed and Fulfilling Voyage.