As we once again approach September 11, I would like to remind everyone of some genuinely good quotes by former president George W. Bush. On Sept. 17, 2001, less than a week after the attacks, former president Bush gave a speech at the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., including the following words: "These acts of violence against innocents violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith. And it's important for my fellow Americans to understand that." He went on to say, "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace."

Now, I may have disagreed with former president Bush on many things, with the invasion of Iraq being a big one. But in retrospect, it disappoints me that for all the veneers of ostensible "unity" following the attacks, there was pure hatred aimed at Muslim Americans and even Sikh Americans, as well! Had we not learned from the prejudice and discrimination that was aimed at Japanese-Americans during World War II? I can only hope that we as Americans have grown to learn a bit more about our foreign policies in the 20-plus years since.

Max Ian Engle

East Lyme