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We keep hearing our 45th president, Donald Trump, make hurtful and hateful comments about various minority groups. Although marginalization of minorities has always been the case universally, let's put Trump's views alongside past presidents' and founding fathers' views. The contrast is stark.

Benjamin Franklin He once wrote about how he wished for the Mufti of Constantinople to send a missionary to preach “Mohammedanism” at a pulpit in Philadelphia. He also praised the compassion of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, writing on the humaneness of the soldiers on how the prisoners of war were treated.

John Adams “The United States of America…has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility of Muslims”.

George W. Bush “Here in the United States our Muslim citizens are making many contributions in business, science and law, medicine and education, and in other fields… upholding our nation’s ideals of liberty and justice in a world at peace.”

Jimmy Carter “On the basis of both values and interests, the natural relationship between Islam and the United States is one of friendship.”

Barack Obama “Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.”

The United States is build on diversity and tolerance. Let's hope my least favorite president does not ruin this in his four years in office.

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