How Not to Judge Others

I've just finished Funny in Farsi, which was readable and lovely and which I recommend to anyone who loves their family. But I wanted to share one part in particular. Describing her father, who could not find a job in the U.S. because he was an Iranian and because of the Iranian hostage crisis, the author has this to say:

Throughout his job ordeal, my father never complained. He remained an Iranian who loved his native country but who also believed in American ideals. He only said how sad it was that people so easily hate an entire population simply because of the actions of a few. And what a waste it is to hate, he always said. What a waste.

How much difference does 25 years make?