A change of heart about Muslims: Column

"Nothing but a bunch of murderous thugs."

That's what Don Carter said to me in an email last month.

A week or so later, he said he was wrong.

It was mainly the fear that Carter, a retired Louisville firefighter, had inside him that led him to make statements that were shocking in their harshness.

But nothing in his words was as startling as his turnabout.

"I'm living proof that a person is never too old to learn," he wrote.

The whole thing started after I wrote a column about a middle school in Floyd County, Ind., where parents had raised concerns about a class in which students learned about a fictional Saudi woman. They felt that the narrative made Islam and Sharia law seem far too positive.

I suggested everyone should learn more about Sharia law and about Islam. Since 9/11 — and even before — Islam has been in the news almost daily as our western culture and Islam's eastern culture have sometimes struggled to exist together.

Carter, who had written to me occasionally over the past year, disagreed.

“I took issue with your article on Sharia Law," he wrote. "I think just the very thought of it scares the hell out of a lot of people, including me. I don't give a hoot and a holler about Muslims. ANY MUSLIMS! When I see a woman in a burka I recoil with disgust. I don't like 'em, I don't trust 'em, and want nothing to do with them!”

The right can't defend Trump's behavior: Jonah Goldberg

Conservatives reject liberal humor in Trump era: Dave Berg

In another email in that thread, Carter wrote, "I don't trust Muslims. Never have, never will. As far as I'm concerned, they're nothing but a bunch of murderous thugs."

Carter was, undoubtedly, like many Americans.

When he thought of Muslims, he thought of the extremists who took down the World Trade Center or blew up the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. That sort of fear likely helped Donald Trump become president and led him to temporarily shut down immigration from seven Islamic countries.

After the exchange with Carter, I didn't think of the discussion again.

Until a few days later.

"Since our little dust up, I've been doing some investigating. Seems most Muslims AREN'T radicalized," he wrote. "I stand corrected. My bad. It's just that the ones doing all the bad things get all the press."

The subject line on the email said, "I think I was wrong."

Carter is on the cusp of his 68th birthday. He voted for Trump and he's proud he did. You won't find him protesting against the president's new immigration policy.

He lives in a narrow sliver of Bullitt County — pinched between Fern Creek and Taylorsville. After retiring as a firefighter about 25 years ago, he started a second career teaching in the Bullitt County school system.

It’s not easy to admit when you’re wrong, especially when the error is rooted in your deepest emotions and darkest fears.

Carter said he realized he was wrong after he began reading about Islam, including a piece in Southeast Christian Church's Outlook newspaper that tried to dispel myths about Muslims.

That story talked about how Jesus is considered a prophet by Muslims and is mentioned in the Quran numerous times.

And most importantly, the article said that 93% of the world's Muslims don't have extremist views.

Carter pointed out that that means there are still around 100 million Muslims who do hold extreme views, which continues to make him uneasy, but that he now understands that the vast majority don't want to harm Americans.

"Actually I'm still fearful when I see Muslim men," he said. "Hopefully my thinking will evolve and I won't be so scared of them."

But, he said, he's making progress.

POLICING THE USA: A look at race, justice, media 

Muslim-Mexican scapegoats in Trump’s America: Voices

On a shopping trip to Costco the other day, Carter said he asked an Islamic couple about cooking lamb chops. "We had a nice conversation and I felt like a heel for feeling like I do about Muslims."

More people on both sides of the political spectrum could learn from Carter.

Far too many people retreat with their beliefs and refuse to listen to folks with whom they disagree. Carter sought out those ideas.

Muhammad Babar, a geriatric physician and a Muslim in Louisville, has now invited Carter for coffee, just to talk and show him that they really aren't that different. "It's just the fear of the unknown," said Babar, explaining why he believes some hold views like Carter once did.

Carter said he plans to accept Babar's offer.

"I've never seen our country more divided. I keep telling my wife, there are two separate and distinct Americas now days. Split right down the middle. It's scary," Carter said.

Maybe folks like Carter can begin to bring the two Americas together.

Joseph Gerth is a columnist for The (Louisville) Courier-Journal, where this piece was first published. Follow him on Twitter @Joe_Gerth.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @USATOpinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To submit a letter, comment or column, check our submission guidelines.