Desensitization - Is it the way to go ?

I consider myself a very emotionally sensitive person. Anything that is said about anything relevant to me effects me. One such very important thing in my life is my religion. I am trying to be as good a Muslim as I can be. The importance I give to my religion is also making me extremely sensitive to what is said and thought about Islam and Muslims.

I cringe when Islam and terrorist is used in the same sentence. And I cringe several times a day. Especially the times when I read rediff.com. I should break out of this stupid habit of reading rediff articles and comments. How caustic those comments can be... Every single things is taken out of context, made a mockery of, twisted and spat out. Without any regard of hurting anyone sentiments or making any attempt of checking facts. Growing up I studied in a Catholic school my classes were always a mix of several religions. Not once did I feel out of place. Religion never even entered any kind of discussion but for the time of festivals. And even then the only context was new clothes and food. Today reading those comments in black and white was disturbing.

Today the Muslim population around the world is 1.5 billion and contrary to popular belief although Islam is often associated with the Arab world and the Middle East, fewer than 15% of Muslims are Arab. SO now Can 1.5 billion people be all rogues and terrorists. Does that seem logical. Why is not the conflict in the middle east treated as a regional conflict and not religious conflict. Do Muslims in India participate or in any way are directly effected by what happens in the middle east. May be in some distant philosophical sense any human suffering someplace effects you. But in a practical sense does it. Then why do people in India even bother to demean their fellow citizens.

I once read the suggestion that Muslims should call themselves something else to avoid the bad reputation. I am an Indian, a proud Indian. If a few criminals from my country, say 20 from a population of 1 billion were to commit an atroicious act somewhere in the world. Say the media was splashed with news about how the Indian criminals did something so awful. Do I change my identity. Should I change my identity. Should I rename everything associated with my culture and heritage. Does that seem right, no, it is not.

I am a walking billboard of Islam if you will. I wear the scarf and everyday trash every stereotype one might have about Muslim women. I try to be extra nice to people around me and when I am asked questions about my religion I try my best to give facts, and trash out some more stereotypes. I am independent and good at what I do. I am extra careful to not give anybody an opportunity to underestimate me and all I need to do now is to develop thick skin and pray for the ability to forgive and forget.