In recent years, it has become a default expectation that certain communities, and Muslims in particular, apologize for and formally distance themselves from matters that occur in other parts of the world – especially acts of terrorism. The consequence is that certain groups and individuals are constantly associated with terrible events they have nothing to do with. This mechanism – also known as “guilt by association” or the imposition of “collective guilt” – has become normalized. Rather than bringing people together, it causes segregation.
The idea was sparked to use a short educational film that reveals how children handle these kinds of accusations, prejudices and suspicions. What happens is that their self-esteem, self-image and self-confidence is damaged. You see, for example, how rapidly a young boy who wants to become a superhero can be talked into seeing himself as a villain. This is what is happening at a macro level, where we have been talking certain communities into feelings of collective guilt for years.
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