When I type in "Korea" to find fellow writers about my mother country, South Korea, I finds tens of articles about North Korea and the many threats it presents. When my wife and I search "China" to find more about her beautiful home country--the varied cuisine, ancient philosophy, tenacious farmers and workers--we find bat soup "jokes" and "Fuck China," as if the entire country and its people are to blame for transgressions of the CCP. It's understandable for threats to hold more of our attention, but unfortunately, too many people have been swept into thinking Asia and the Middle East are shrouded in vile darkness.

Thank you for writing this eloquent, approachable guide. Like other commenters, I've always thought of the Middle East as the birthplace of civilization and mathematics and a home to wonderfully rich art. Here's towards hoping people can move beyond crude stereotypes; different groups can hold each other accountable without completely dehumanizing one another based on their extremists.