A.S. Ibrahim has a warning on the increasing assertion of Islamic presence in Michigan. Having grown up as a Coptic Christian in Egypt, and holding two doctorates relating to Islam and Islamic history, he knows of what he speaks. He warns that “Islam isn’t only a religion but also a cultural and nationalistic force.” He wisely cautions,

“Without resorting to anti-Muslim rhetoric seen in some online reactions, we must call for reasoned discourse. The patch controversy underscores the need for transparent, rational dialogue to pursue a cohesive national identity rooted in shared American values, without Islam and Arabic taking over any other.”