Fear drives so many complex emotions in all of us. We all fear something, whether we recognize it or not. What do the folks in town, who pen letters rife with intolerance and distrust of Muslim refugees, fear?

They quote statistics and form arguments as to why we should turn our backs on Muslim immigrants. They state that we need to clamp down our borders, expel refugees and be “on guard” lest Muslims start killing people. What is this fear?

I can only speculate, but I’m willing to put forth a few guesses: They fear a threat to America, upheaval in the existence they know, and fear losing loved ones.

I truly wish that those writers could be comforted. Not to imply that their feelings aren’t legitimate; what they believe would drive anyone to intense emotion. Nobody wants to peer into the future and foresee widespread suffering and loss.

However, the problem with the sentiment being expressed is that it’s fear without reason. If we used the same rationale and applied it to “all young males,” bearing in mind all school shootings have been perpetrated by young males, the irrationality becomes clear. Should I now fear all young men? I should hope not.

Recently a writer stated that you can’t trust any Muslim person because you don’t know if they’ve been influenced by extremists. By the same token, you can’t tell which young male among us may have “snapped” either. Fearing “all” becomes unmistakably irrational.

I know that no matter how vehemently I protest in support of the Muslim people living in harmony, and for acceptance of new refugees, the same fearful writers will battle back with their “truths” and state that I am woefully misled.

My fear is that they will never find peace.