One thing that I feel very very strongly is that we talk about Islamic countries Islamic people Islamic leaders as either moderates or extremists. It's almost like there are only two categories of Muslims. And actually that doesn't show respect. It shows lack of understanding of the diversity of Muslim thought.
I'm a modern Muslim. I pray and if I have a question I ask someone who is more educated in the religion than me.
The Muslims have as everyone else says the right to practice their religion and they have the right to construct a mosque at ground zero if they wish. What I am saying though is that they should listen to public opinion they should listen to the deep wounds and anguish that this is causing to so many good people.
Beside all this I think there was something personal being Muslim myself who lived in the west I felt that it was my obligation my duty to tell the truth about Islam. It is a religion that has a 700 million following yet it's so little known about it which surprised me.
The latest horror to hit the U.S. looks to have been caused by people of Middle Eastern origin bearing Muslim names. Again shame. This fuels more hatred for a religion and a people who have nothing to do with these events.
All too many Muslims fail to grasp Islam which teaches one to be lenient towards others and to understand their value systems knowing that these are tolerated by Islam as a religion.
Why should a great and powerful nation like the United States allow its relationship with more than a billion Muslims around the world to be defined by the narrow hatred and nihilistic actions of an exceptionally small minority of Muslims?
For as long as the power of America's diversity is diminished by acts of discrimination and violence against people just because they are black Hispanic Asian Jewish Muslim or gay we still must overcome.
Not just Christians and Jews but also Muslims Buddhists Hindus and the followers of many other religions believe in values like peace respect tolerance and dignity. These are values that bring people together and enable us to build responsible and solid communities.
I beg Osama to stop warring. He is a Muslim and Islam means peace. Nobody wins in a war... I wish I were tapped in the problem about Iraq. I knew Saddam enough that I could have talked him into surrendering. But it's too late.