Whenever we come in contact with a new, unfamiliar culture, we get the opportunity to either expand our world view or reject the people as a whole. To me, this isn’t so different from the question of whether the rest of Americans should learn to treat Muslims with respect by learning a few cultural facts to make a small minority of people more comfortable. By being kind and taking the time to learn about the need for hijabs for many Muslim women, practices for Ramadan, and the need to avoid pork, this small effort can make my Muslim friends feel much safer and more comfortable in a country that hasn’t always been as welcoming as it should be. I’ve never had a Muslim friend suggest that I should change anything about myself for them, but I have been able to foster some lovely friendships over the years by challenging my own ignorance and making an effort to learn. I’ve even managed to learn to speak and understand a little Arabic, much to my Arabic speaking friends’ amusement. I think this was worth the effort for a small group of often refugees locally who really needed support and a friendly face. 😊