LEDGER FORUM
I was pleased to see the letter by Iffaaz Salahudeen in the Oct. 4 edition of The Ledger. It was helpful for a prominent Muslim in our community to speak out against intolerance toward American Arabs and Muslims, which has increased markedly since the Sept. 11 tragedy. I share his conviction that understanding is the most powerful medicine to alleviate suspicion and judgment. When we look at the violent conflicts in other countries, they almost always stem from religious differences. It is a supreme irony that, despite the universal message of love that all world religions teach, much violence is committed in the name of God. Such a betrayal is hard to understand, but I believe it begins when a group perceives a fellow human being as "alien" or "other." After that happens, it is relatively easy to justify violence against that person. Though we are probably all guilty of numerous acts of judgment or categorization in our daily lives, it is important to see this behavior in the larger picture. Therefore, we must all strive to dissolve those perceived distinctions of race, nationality, religion, language or personal preference and see each of us, even those whom we may despise, as inherently human.
I am not saying that it is easy to do this. But sometimes a tragic event helps the process along. I have witnessed both in myself and among my close circle of friends some miraculous acts of reconciliation since the Sept. 11 tragedy. Somehow that terrible act of violence put our differences into perspective, and we were able to move beyond our patterns of fear and resistance, and allowed love to enter our hearts. Thus, I believe non-violence is the only way it must begin in our personal lives, and from there can spread out into our communities and culture in general.
Princeton Pike