De-Muslimization: Flying while Muslim after the travel ban
In 2014 I traveled to Ghana for a friend&#x27;s wedding there. The day I flew back, I had to go through a second, thorough security checkpoint at the gate before I could hope to board my plane. I didn&#x27;t have anything to worry about - I&#x27;m considered one of the &quot;&#x27;real&#x27; Americans&quot; that the OP mentions - but I was still struck by what sort of impression this might leave on others coming to the United States with me. Namely, I thought that it sent the message that the US, before even receiving visitors, was saying &quot;I don&#x27;t trust you&quot;.<p>There is always that balance between security and openness; I don&#x27;t deny that it&#x27;s difficult to manage. Let&#x27;s not pretend, however, that people aren&#x27;t affected by xenophobic rhetoric. They are. What message does it send to actual Americans citizens like the OP when we lambaste them for their religion? Is that who we are as Americans, those who spread fear to those who don&#x27;t look or act &quot;real&quot;?<p>I&#x27;m not liking where this country is going.