This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

There are 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide, and .003 percent of them make up the Islamic State, Al Qaeda and Boko Haram.

Read that again.

This is a simple fact a lot of people are overlooking as they react to last week's tragic attacks in Lebanon and Paris. How many tweets, Facebook posts, Instagram photos or signs need to be placed in front of the world's eyes to comprehend that being a Muslim does not equate to being a terrorist? That the refugees are fleeing from the exact same people who caused these attacks? Because all of my social media feeds are overflowing with these messages.

I can tell you that every single Muslim I know rejects these radical groups as much as you and I do, and I'm betting most would be willing to answer any doubts or questions you may have about their religion. Furthermore, as someone who works with refugees in Germany on a weekly basis, I can personally confirm, in case you were doubtful, that these are human beings who are escaping war and death in their home countries. Many have had incredibly difficult and traumatic experiences in leaving, and they desperately need the world's help, now more than ever.

Yet my Muslim friend is telling me how her little sister received death threats the other day and how her hijab irks people, causing them to avoid making eye contact.

Yet everywhere I look, be it in Europe or the United States, people are pointing fingers at the refugees saying "no more, no more."

Clearly, what we're doing is far from enough. The message isn't getting across. So the question now is: What more can I, an average, working-class citizen of the United States do to help stop this discrimination? To answer this question, we must first look at where this discrimination is truly stemming from.

As people read more articles about the attacks or watch more news stories, fear begins to control them, fear that causes them to discriminate and spread hateful messages. I'm not saying we shouldn't be afraid. Of course it's natural to fear terrorism after so many innocent lives are lost in the span of a few minutes. But what is not natural, and what is occurring right now, is a fear of Muslims and refugees. This fear stems from not understanding. Namely, many people do not understand Islam nor the situation the refugees are currently in.

So educate yourself and educate others. Use social media as a tool to explain Islam and the situation of refugees. Discuss this issue with those who have a different opinion than you.

Understand that the fear and emotions we all feel now are just a glimpse of what the refugees have been feeling this entire time. Now is not the time for exclusion, discrimination and hate. Now is the time for helping, acceptance and love.

Marcelina Kubica is a recent graduate of Salt Lake City's West High School and is currently taking a gap year in Germany funded by the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange.