I have never before been brought to tears by the ignorance of others. Yesterday, on my bus ride across downtown Seattle, the judgmental words of Seattleites enraged me to tears.

Me at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, UAE.

I recently returned from a month long Peace Journalism course in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During my amazing month abroad, my knowledge of Islam, global issues, peace journalism, and Arabic culture all increased ten-fold. Of course, I still have a lot to learn on all the subjects. I don't claim to be a know-it-all by any means. But, hearing the misinformed words of my neighbors affected me on a much deeper emotional level than it would have mere months ago.

To the man who said that Islam imprisons its women through the traditional dress of burqas (or, as they are called in Dubai, Abeyyas); for many Islamic women, especially those from progressive Arab nations like Dubai, the Burqa is a choice. A beloved choice and tradition embraced by many Islamic women. In Dubai, Islamic women are proud to wear their traditional dress and see it far more liberating than the dress of western females. In many ways, I agree.

To the woman who said that Islamic people smell bad because they eat a lot of curry… come on. What a ridiculous racist stereotype. Are all Americans fat because we eat a lot of hamburgers? All Seattleites cursed with bad-breath because of coffee consumption? It is time for these stereotypes to be put aside and some ignorance to be informed.

These are just a few examples of the racist and ignorant comments made on our twenty minute ride. The conversation continued into a discussion of how bad "these people" are. I am ashamed to say that I sat in shocked silence as tears filled my eyes. I never uttered a word.

Where does this ignorance come from? Our government is doing nothing but reinforcing it with an anti-Arab viewpoint. Unfortunately, the media only worsens it as we only see images of Islamic extremists. People need to realize that not all Islamic people are semi-automatic yielding radicals. I get comfort from that fact that not all Americans are Arab-hating extremist like those on yesterday's route 1.

In my time spent in the gulf region, I gathered that Islamic people are loving and welcoming people. We as Americans might be able to learn a thing or two from them. So please, inform yourselves. Visit a mosque. Read the Qur'an. Or, at the very least, keep your ignorant hate statements to yourself.