A country that was built on the foundation of multiple cultures, ethnicities, and beliefs should, in a perfect world, lack stereotypes and misconceptions about people different from themselves. Because the United States is not a utopia, this is unlikely, and this can best be seen in the recent cases of discriminatory violence against people seen as minorities.

The most notable of these incidents is the Trayvon Martin case. Martin was an 17-year-old African-American who was walking around the gated community of his dad’s fiancée when he was shot and killed by the neighborhood watchperson.

The alleged shooter, George Zimmerman, and the incident are shrouded in mystery as there is a lack of details surrounding the event.Zimmerman claims he shot Martin in self-defense, but there is little to prove that he was attacked. Martin was carrying Skittles and iced tea, things few would consider weapons.

Zimmerman had a history of suspicion, calling 911 more than 40 times while working for various securities.  Allegedly, Zimmerman used the n-word to describe Martin in his call to 911.

Civil rights groups are now swarming upon this incident, using Martin as a martyr to gain the attention of the continuing profiling of minorities in the country.

Across the country in California, a similar incident has taken place, but with less media attention. A Muslim mother was found in her home beaten, in a pool of her own blood with a note saying “Go back to your own country, you terrorist.” The Iraqi immigrant, Shaima Alawadi, was found by her daughter and taken to the hospital where she later died.

There are many unanswered questions with both events, but one thing is clear: neither Martin nor Alawadi were people to fear.

Both of these cases are just growing instances of xenophobia, the fear of foreigners or strangers, in the United States.

People are claiming to attack children and mothers for the sake of personal protection and protecting the country, but all they are doing is adding more fuel for animosity in a country that is beginning to lose sight of what its values are supposed to be.

Those who believe they are doing the greater good by assaulting and killing those deemed different are not making the country any better. They are taking away parents, friends and children by claiming they are riding the country of threats and terrorists. In reality, the terrorists are those committing these “acts of help.”

Contributing to these hate crimes are extremist political pundits who claim that as Americans we need to take back our country.

We are in danger of losing our country, but not because teenagers are wearing hoodies at night or a woman is wearing a head scarf. We are in danger of losing our country because of the unwavering hate.

America’s biggest enemy is not North Korea or the Taliban, but its own people. In a country that is obsessed with the outside world, there is no way we can continue that thought unless we begin to help ourselves.