What does a terrorist look like? Drive along Massachusetts Avenue NW in Washington DC and at some point you'll pass the Islamic Center of Washington DC. I believe that the average American (although what is average?) would point out an Islamic Cleric as an example of a terrorist. The terrorist who attack this country happen to be Islamic Fundamentalists. Sitting across from the Center, I'm watching cab driver after cab driver arrive and leave for daily prayers. This is a busy center. The Center is located on the East side of Mass Ave. I see a group of tourists on walking "Embassy Row" tour. They are all wearing red jackets and being led by a woman holding a folded umbrella above her head. They are walking on the same side of the street as the Center. They reach the intersection of Belmont Road NW and Mass Ave. They Cross at the intersection to my side of the street, the West side of the street (so ironic that it’s the West side.) The group walks past me. The kids look to be about 8th grade. Their behavior is typical of 8th graders. The tour guide, probably one of their teachers, says nothing about the Center. One of the Students asks, "What's that place across the Street?" The guide replies, "I don't know. It looks like an Iraqi church." I have a hard time blending in while controlling my reaction to this comment. The group continues up the road toward the Naval Observatory. A trailing pair of girls I overheard saying, "they look like terrorists." I can't help but thinking that the cab drivers that come and go from this place are in their own world. They probably come here to pray once if not multiple times a day while ferrying passengers around that want to know nothing about them or have anything to do with them. ignorance
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