FW: A call for religious tolerance

[Guest guest]

From: Cohen

Subject: A call for religious tolerance

Sept. 10, 2010

Dear Friend,

As we mark the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy and

remember its victims, the signs of a renewed backlash against the Muslim

population are everywhere.

In New York, a cab driver was stabbed and slashed after a

passenger asked if he were Muslim. Also, a man urinated on prayer rugs at a

mosque while shouting anti-Muslim slurs.

In ville, Fla., a pipe bomb exploded in an Islamic

center occupied by 60 worshippers.

In Tennessee, an arsonist torched construction equipment

at the site of a planned mosque.

These apparent hate crimes, and others, have come amid an

ugly debate over whether an Islamic center should be built near Ground

Zero. Unfortunately, reasoned dialogue has been drowned out by incendiary

denunciations of Islam itself, creating a dangerous situation for millions

of Muslims in the United States and, as General Petraeus has pointed

out, for U.S. troops overseas.

Although most recognize that any religious group has the

right to build a place of worship at a place of its choosing, some —

Newt Gingrich among them — actually contend that Muslims should not

be allowed to build the Islamic center near the site of the 9/11 attacks in

New York. Many more pay lip service to religious freedom but condemn its

exercise in such vitriolic terms as to create an atmosphere where violence

is all but inevitable.

With all the constant vilification, one has to wonder

about the peace of mind of the hundreds of thousands of Muslim children

— American children — in our nation's schools. As they hear

their religion condemned and their patriotism questioned, they surely are

experiencing an increasing sense of isolation and fear. They must wonder

whether their classmates are turning against them. They must wonder whether

they and their families will be safe in their own communities.

For this reason, our Teaching Tolerance program is urging

educators to commemorate 9/11 by using this opportunity to help

students overcome misconceptions about Islam, confront stereotypes and

deepen their understanding of different religious beliefs. We're offering

lesson plans for every grade level to address these issues.

It's important that we not only think about the impact of

our words on our country's children but that we also engage them in a

dialogue so that they can lead the way toward a more respectful society.

In the days following 9/11, President W. Bush

delivered a speech to Congress in which he defined the terrorists who

attacked us as radical extremists who reject the peaceful teachings of

Islam. He punctuated his speech with calls for religious tolerance.

" No one should be singled out for unfair treatment or unkind words

because of their ethnic background or religious faith, " the president

told the nation.

It's a reminder, not just for our nation's school

children, but for all Americans.

Sincerely,

J. Cohen

President, Southern Poverty Law Center

This commentary is also available on splcenter.org.

You can donate to the Southern Poverty Law Center online.

Take advantage of corporate matching — contact your employer's HR

department to see if they will match

your contributions to SPLC.

Follow SPLC on Twitter.

Become our fan on Facebook.

We welcome your feedback.

Contact us online.

Or by mail:

Southern Poverty Law Center

400 Washington Ave.

Montgomery, AL 36104

If you no longer wish to receive e-mails from us, please send an e-mail to:

unsub_center-ctg0aib6yaaez2ea4ie6mfgiuw5jaija@...