Waving the Flag with Muslims

(celebrating our freedom of religion)

When you hear the word, "Muslim", my friends, what image does your mind evoke?

(By the way - whatever the image may be that just entered your mind, it actually tells you more about yourself it does about Muslims.)

Edis Hadziahmetovic invited me to dinner one evening in downtown Bristol. Edis is one of the brightest and wittiest students I ever taught (and I taught a heckuva lot of people in my life). He graduated Bristol Virginia High School at the very top of his class. Edis is not only very smart, but extremely kind and thoughtful.

Indeed, Edis is an honorable American citizen who loves and appreciates our country every bit as much as anyone who may read these words.

Yet Edis is often mistrusted - and sometimes even hated - by too many people. Simply because of his religion. He is a Muslim.

The writers of the U.S. Constitution were adamant that the religious choice of American citizens would always remain a highly cherished and adamantly protected individual freedom. The purpose of this particular piece of writing is to remind us all (yes, including myself, as all writing is ultimately autobiographical) of that wondrous fact.

I would like to share with you a few quotes taken directly from some of Edis’ Facebooks posts: