United around a stereotype

Re “Millions of miles, a hard landing,” Column One, March 3

It is despicable that more than six years after 9/11, citizens with skin color remotely resembling Osama bin Laden’s are being suspected as terrorists. Mohamed Fikry’s terrifying experience on American Airlines is probably not a rare one. It is horrifying to learn that after such treatment, the airline did next to nothing in response. Americans seemed to have unified after 9/11, but many have stereotyped an ethnicity, which is less than American. We need to stop suspecting those who need not be suspected and come together as a country, no matter what skin color or what background one may come from.

Frances Zapanta

Los Angeles