In light of the recent string of terrorist attacks and violence abroad as well as here in our own country, it seems like everything from going to school to going to a night club is risky to one's safety. The paranoia has become widespread with people living in fear; second guessing decisions as simple as going to see a movie.

Recently I heard a story about a movie theater only a few minutes from my house in which during a showing of a new movie, the theater goers became panicked after hearing fireworks being shot off in a nearby neighborhood. The audience rushed to the exits of the theater before realizing their mistake. This severe show of paranoia could have resulted in the trampling of an innocent person all over a Fourth of July fireworks display.

This story is not unique. Americans have seemingly become completely distrusting of their neighbors— Muslims in particular. At my restaurant job, I had a kind Muslim couple come in to meet some friends. While I was mostly concerned about getting them a drink as they were dressed in traditional Muslim clothing and it was over ninety degrees outside, my other customers called me over to their tables to inquire about what the couple wanted. One older white woman even made a comment about them "scoping the place out." This expression of paranoia disturbed me even more than the hasty and potentially dangerous theater evacuation.

The goal of terrorists is to make civilians live in fear. By persecuting innocent Muslim-Americans who are just trying to enjoy some pizza with their friends or jumping every time a car backfires when you're out and about is only giving the terrorists what they want.

While the news makes it seem as though terrorists are hiding around every street corner waiting to brutally murder you, this just isn't the case. Staying home and only associating with people of the same faith as you will not help anything. It will only make you miserable and divide our country in its time of need.

So go to that concert, travel abroad, go out with your friends after a long day at work— you can't put your life on hold because of fear. When you see a Muslim-American, give them a smile instead of walking in the opposite direction. Believe it or not, they have it worse than you right now because of the heavy amount of discrimination and could use a bit of kindness and humanity.

There are a lot of horrible things happening in the world right now, but letting your life slip by won't do a thing except ruin your life.