I have lived in Thailand for 9 years. While Thailand is 95% Buddhist, there is a large Muslim population in Southern Thailand. I have a Muslim attorney, my project manager is Muslim, more than half my employees are Muslims (10 of 14, most government officials I work with on a weekly/monthly basis are Muslim, the village wherein I reside is 75% Muslim. And I love it.
I was born into the Episcopal Church, in Irvington, NY....20 miles from Ground Zero. I have friends and business associates that died on 9/11. Through out my youth I had almost no interactions with Muslims, in my neighborhood, or at school (both public and private). But now I am surrounded by those of the Muslim faith and hear their prayers from the Mosques in the morning and evening. In my late teens, I became a Buddhist and have practiced the teachings of Buddha as best I can in my life...teachings which reflect the same concepts of tolerance, turning the other cheek, loving thy neighbor and unrestrained compassion...that Christianity...that Christ...also taught. It is sad for me to see these universal teachings of compassion and tolerance disappear in the hearts of a vast political cross section of Americans... who now view Muslims with hate or at least dis-trust.
In my personal experience...I find the vast majority of Muslims I interact with to be honest, kind and spiritually aware. Their communities emphasize good moral behavior; and most try diligently to live a good and honest life... as best I can see.
But my point really is....for most Muslims on our planet, 9/11 was a "horrific" and shocking event that they watched on TV real time with the rest of us, knowing how insane and "evil" the perpetrators were, and commiserating with those that died and suffered. They would no more do an act like that than would you or I.
Yet their religion is being promoted as an evil religion by large numbers of US citizens. I find this deplorable and makes me embarrassed over my fellow Americans who can be so ignorant and intolerant.
I don't always agree with Michael Moore's rants....but his letter today is right on target. If America can be defined or distinguished in one simple way...it is our commitment to being a Country which tolerates all religions, faiths and philosophies...not only embraces total freedom of religion but stands firm and defends religious freedom when challenged.
I often share with my Muslim friends here, that they should not judge American by those crazies who brandish hate toward Islam. I explain that those are the vocal minority.... and that most of us believe in religious freedom and are proud of having millions of Muslim Americans share in the American dream.
AS Michael says... we need to take a strong stand for freedom, for Muslims and for all religions, otherwise, we forfeit the dream that our forefathers fought so hard to attain and pass on to us.
Threatening to Burn the Koran is the same as spitting on all the great Americans who founded our Country. None of them would condone this. Those who want to dictate where and what Muslims can do in America, as distinguished from other religious groups...forfeit their own identity as Americans, in my humble opinion; and risk squandering for all of us the greatest legacy our Country offers.....a haven of total religious freedom.