To the editor:

Several years ago, I made my first journey to Turkey. While boarding a ferry to cross the Bosporus to an Istanbul neighborhood, I witnessed a blind man being guided to the gangplank. His guide tapped one of the ferry passengers on the shoulder, obviously asking his for assistance, which was readily granted. Once on board, someone guided him to a seat, and when we landed on the other side, someone guided him off the boat.

I noticed that, one by one, people who may have been strangers to the man took it upon themselves to guide him farther along to his destination. That was my first, but not last, impression of the kindness of the Turkish people, Muslims by the way.  

In my subsequent ten travels to and around Turkey, I have found Turkish people to be unfailingly polite, helpful and honest to one another and to strangers visiting their country. I share this in hope of diminishing the unreasoning fear and hatred fostered by some people regarding members of a nationality and religion different than their own.

And yes, I understand that such prejudice comes from many countries and religions, just as does compassion and kindness. We humans are a mixed bag, but on the whole, hopefully, the better angels of our nature will prevail.