The Reporter’s May 27 front-page story “Hate speech spurs Bellevue College students to question safety” highlights the hate speech campaign carried out towards the Muslim community. This should disturb all right-minded people if it is a matter of fact.

If otherwise, it would be worthwhile to endorse the views expressed by Kawthar Bakhach, who happens to be a female student at Bellevue College. She is aware that a number of cases of domestic violence, imprisonment without trial, police violence, etc. are being noticed and discussed. There is, therefore, no point in adding fuel to the fire. At least creating an issue out of a non-issue. She has earnestly appealed to her friends that everyone can get calm down, go home and study for finals. That’s the most sensible thing to do at this moment.

This unhappy episode reminds me of an event in May 1944 when almost a million people were assembled in Central Park, New York City, to celebrate “I Am an American Day.” Judge Learned Hand, of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, addressed 150,000 newly naturalized citizens preceding their pledge of allegiance to the American flag. In his speech he said, “The spirit of liberty is the spirit which seeks to understand the minds of other men and women. The spirit of liberty is the spirit which weighs their interests alongside its own that not even a sparrow falls to earth unheeded … In that spirit of liberty and of America, I ask you to rise and with me to pledge our faith in the glorious destiny of our beloved country — with liberty and justice for all.”

At a time when America, being the leader in the technological advances, has attracted a number of techno-savvy youth from across the globe, it’s time to redeem the pledge to ensure justice for all, the well being of all irrespective of their color and creed.

Suhas Patwardhan

Bellevue