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Shooting Should Make us Angry and Ashamed
I stand today in solidarity with the Jewish community. My blood ran cold when I read about the shootings in the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington -- the choice of venue and the clear implications that there are those who would like to revive the Holocaust is horrific for me as a non-Jew; how much more so it must be for my Jewish neighbors and friends. I pray for your safety and your peace of mind.
The shootings echo both the attempted bombing of two New York synagogues by Muslim extremists a few weeks ago and the recent murder of Dr. Tiller. In all three of these incidents, people resorted to violence to impose their world view, their politics, their sense of what is moral, their feelings of superiority and entitlement on the world.
As a Muslim, I was shamed and saddened that my co-coreligionists could try to bomb the houses of worship of People of the Book, our brothers in faith. As an American, I was angered and ashamed that my countrymen would take the life of someone whose completely legal moral choices they disagreed with. Today, I am ashamed again, and horrified by the levels of hatred which continue to exist in our country.
We of good hearts, who believe that the human race is one race, who believe that we are all interlinked, and fundamentally the same in desiring a dignified life, a family, friends and community to love, work we find meaningful, and time to enjoy the pleasantries of this world, need to find the ways to convince those who harbor racism, bigotry, prejudice and hatred in their hearts that such feelings only lead to destruction, despair and unhappiness. We must hold fast to the belief that love can heal the wounds humanity has inflicted and continues to inflict upon itself.
By
Pamela K. Taylor
|
June 10, 2009; 6:02 PM ET
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Posted by: avp_65 | June 13, 2009 4:59 AM
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What is a "progressive" muslim? How does Ms. Taylor square the concept of "bidah"/ innovation into her practice of the deen?
Posted by: safiyah111 | June 11, 2009 1:11 PM
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Excellent sentiments, thank you.
Posted by: job22 | June 11, 2009 6:27 AM
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Well said imam Pamela.
''Surely the believers and the Jews, Nazareans and the Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last Day, and whosoever does right, shall have his reward with his Lord and will neither have fear nor regret '' ( Quran )