Letters: Muslims and violence in America
Ali Mushtaq, 19, of Brentwood, stands at the Masjid Darul Quran Mosque during Friday prayers. (July 29, 2011) Credit: Craig Ruttle
Regarding “Roosevelt imam: Muslims should take action to root out extremists” [News, Dec. 4], I say thank you.
Who better to know what’s going on within the group? Many within the Muslim community are offended by any suggestion of profiling, yet how else are we to know? I am in no way suggesting all Muslims are bad people. Unfortunately, there are some who have evil in their hearts and want to kill Americans.
Enough with the nonsense and worrying about who is offended. Nothing is more offensive than seeing innocent people killed simply because they are Americans or practice a different faith.
Rosemary Cain
Massapequa
Editor’s note: The writer is the mother of firefighter George C. Cain, who died in 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center.
The first mosque I visited years ago in Florida had a bullet hole placed by a drive-by shooter while adults and children were inside at prayer [“LI Muslim residents condemn Calif. massacre, defend Islam,” News, Dec. 10].
It reminded me of the bomb that killed four black children at a church in Alabama in 1963. We eventually found better ways to address the violence, hatred and terror of segregation, and we will find better ways to address the violence, fear and terror of Islamic extremists that has gripped America in 2015.
In the past 15 years of interfaith initiatives, I have learned that the majority of Muslim-Americans are peaceful, purposeful and patriotic. It is unfortunate that the entirety of Islam is being held accountable for the heinous acts of a few fanatics claiming to be devout Muslims.
We would benefit by providing an opportunity for Muslims and Christians to do such things together as helping to prepare and serve a meal at a soup kitchen.
People get to know each other a little by reading newspapers, watching television, emailing and writing social media posts. They get to know each other better by breaking bread, sharing stories, exploring the art of each other’s cultures, and learning the personal and religious protocol of visiting each other.
It’s time to roll up our sleeves, not to fight, but to form a fire bucket brigade to put out the fire of hatred and prejudice that is approaching the front door of our houses of worship.
Rev. Dwight Lee Wolter
Patchogue
Editor’s note: The writer is the pastor of the Congregational Church of Patchogue and founder of adopt-a-mosque.org, a website that connects Christian and Muslim faith communities.
