On seeing this image at a photo exhibition of my work from Syria, several attendees chastised me for ‘spending time with terrorists’.

The man in the picture, Abdulsalam, is a Bedouin entrepreneur who welcomed my family into his home. His name actually means ‘servant of peace’, and yet he was labeled a criminal and a terrorist simply because he’s wearing a traditional Arab headdress.

That experience helped me realize the power of the most dangerous four-letter word in the English language, one that is responsible for the suffering and death of millions. This word is used to isolate, to insult, to marginalize. It has a devastating impact on geopolitical and societal levels, as well as within personal relationships, yet we continue to use it every day. This four-letter word is T-H-E-M.

Read the full article on the Peace and Collaborative Development Network website.