The anniversary of 9/11 reminds us why we need the Charter for Compassion. It should be an annual summons to compassionate action. The need is especially apparent this year. In the United States, we have witnessed an upsurge of anti-Muslim feeling that violates the core values of that nation. The controversy surrounding the community centre near Ground Zero, planned by our dear friends Imam Feisal Rauf and Daisy Khan (who were among the earliest supporters and partners of the Charter) has inspired rhetoric that shames us all. And now we have the prospect of the Quran burning proposed by a Christian pastor, who seems to have forgotten that Jesus taught his followers to love those they regard as enemies, to respond to evil with good, and to turn the other cheek when attacked, and who died forgiving his executioners.
If we want to preserve our humanity, we must make the compassionate voice of religion and morality a vibrant and dynamic force in our polarised world. We can no longer afford the barbarism of hatred, contempt and disgust. At the same time as we are so perilously divided, we are drawn together electronically, economically and politically more closely than ever before. A Quran burning, whenever it is held (it appears to have been delayed for questionable reasons by the pastor behind it), would endanger American troops in Afghanistan and send shock waves of distress throughout the Muslim world. In an age when, increasingly, small groups will have powers of destruction that were previously the preserve only of the nation-state, respect and compassion are now crucial for our very survival. We have to learn to make a place for the other in our minds and hearts; any ideology that inspires hatred, exclusion and division is failing the test of our time. Hatred breeds more hatred, violence more violence. It is time to break this vicious cycle.
In response to the prospect of a Quran burning, some people planned readings of the sacred Quran. Others are organizing interfaith gatherings on September 11. Each person who has affirmed the Charter, each one of our partners and associates, will know how best to respond in his or her own community. It is an opportunity to protest against the hatred that is damaging us all; to sit and do nothing is not an option. Instead of looking at one another with hostility, let us look at the suffering that we are seeing in so many parts of the world -- not least in Pakistan, where millions of people have been victims of the flooding. On September 11, let us all try to find something practical to do that can, in however small a way, bring help and relief to all those in pain, even -- and perhaps especially -- those we may regard as enemies. We are all neighbours in the global village and must learn to live together in harmony, compassion and mutual respect.
Imam Feisal Rauf is a Sufi. Over the centuries, Sufis, the mystics of Islam, have developed an outstanding appreciation of other faith traditions. It is quite common for a Sufi poet to cry in ecstasy that he is no longer a Muslim, a Christian or a Jew and that he is at home equally in a synagogue, mosque, temple or church, because once you have glimpsed the immensity of the divine, these limited, human distinctions fall away into insignificance. We need that spirit today -- perhaps especially near Ground Zero. Here I would like to add some words of the great thirteenth-century Sufi philosopher Muid ad-Din ibn al-Arabi, which I have found personally inspiring:
Do not attach yourself in an exclusive manner to any one creed, so that you disbelieve all the rest: if you do this, you will miss much good; nay, you will fail to realize the real truth of the matter. God, the omnipresent and omnipotent, is not limited by any one creed, for He says, "Wheresoever ye turn, there is the face of Allah" (Quran 2.109). Everyone praises what he believes; his god is his own creature, and in praising it he praises himself. Consequently he blames the beliefs of others, which he would not do if he were just but his dislike is based on ignorance.
It is time to combat the ignorance that inspires hatred and fear. We have seen the harm religious chauvinism can do; now let us bear witness to the power of compassion.
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush: How the Quran Burning Threat Showed What Is Good About America
"...has inspired rhetoric that shames us all."
The constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Both the free exercise clause and the establishment clause place restrictions on the government concerning laws they pass or interfering with religion. No restrictions are placed on religions except perhaps that a religious denomination cannot become the state religion.
http://www.allabouthistory.org/separation-of-church-and-state.htm”
There is a difference between separating church and state and permitting public display of religious artifacts and symbols during religious holidays. I see nothing wrong with Christians being able to hang lights and outdoor displays in December if I am allowed to light an oversized Menorah on Hanukkah. Avoiding public displays of any religion that might offend Muslims is not the same as separating church and state.
Having done away with crimes of passion asa defense for killing non-Muslim women has not eliminated the killing of women by Muslim fathers and husbands in America.
So far, the 9/11 attacks themselves were far more deadly than any "mob threats of violence against non-WASPS." The Imam Rauf´s threats concerning the consequences of not building the mosques and the invective vomited out by a Muslim street preacher in NYC (see You Tube) are truly worrisome.
8:59-60 "Let not the unbelievers think that they can get the better (of the godly). They will never frustrate (them). Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies of God and your enemies and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom God doth know ..."
Next, we can peruse the Bible and the Talmud and come up with equally hideous examples of man's inhumanity to man.
Then, we can come to the obvious conclusion that religion is pretty much the cause of all these acts.
Their hatred is 'a priori' and their reasons are 'a posteriori'.
These American Taliban are the same disease as the Islamic radicals-two sides of the same coin.
They feed off each others' hatred. They need each other.
It is like an iceberg with two tips above water that look like two different icebergs, but underneath the surface of the water one discovers it's the same iceberg.
Abdurrahman, Morocco
As I read Ms. Armstrong's article, I am inspired to remember that each step taken off the path of spiritual love is an invitation to return. Any movement in the direction away from of our divine intent is an opportunity to take two steps in the direction of that intent. Any act of unkindness or hatred, observed or committed, is a reminder to be our best selves.
To my mind, the challenge for each of us is to heal our wounds. As we face and begin to meet this challenge, bit by bit, something unique and beautiful is brought forward into the world -- our true selves. We start to become the love that we seek in others. We create the peace in ourselves that we want for the world. It's a tough challenge, but each of us is capable. It all begins with Compassion -- for ourselves and others.
Not to bust up the warm-fuzzies, or anything, but folks might wanna start waking up. Maybe read the new terrorist assessment report released yesterday.
Bipartisan Policy Center Report Finds Homegrown Terrorism Presents Key Challenge for the United States
[excerpt] Key findings of the report identify an increase in homegrown terrorists in the United States, underscoring how much the threat has changed since September 11, 2001. Al-Qaeda leadership is becoming increasingly 'Americanized' and U.S.-based jihadist militants do not fit any particular "ethnic, economic, educational, or social profile," according to the assessment.
"We are seeing more Americans turning on their country, going abroad and making common cause with terrorist groups," said Dr. Bruce Hoffman, one of the report authors. "The array of perpetrators and the nature of their plots against America are remarkable and there is no single government agency responsible for deterring radicalization and terrorist recruitment. The terrorists may have found our Achilles heel – we have no way of dealing with this growing problem."...
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bipartisan-policy-center-report-finds-homegrown-terrorism-presents-key-challenge-for-the-united-states-102640854.html
And that somehow gives them the right and/or justification to fly aircraft into our buildings and take out 3,000 innocent Americans? Not quite following the "logic" here.
It should be a wake-up call for reform, so that we don't enable the radical movement to get so many followers that it can become the ruling power.>>>
IOW, let's cower in fear of the enemy. Or, here's another suggestion: Let's not. Let's continue killing their leaders and crippling their ability to do major damage to our homeland. And, here in America, were the enemy has embedded itself within communities, with the goal of conquering America from "within," let's ASK QUESTIONS, instead of launching into political correctness mode, when we see a self-defined "moderate" saying and doing things that are the complete opposite of "moderate" behavior and speech. Because just as dangerous as embedded "moderate" posers are to America these days are liberals who robotically defend Muslims being scrutinized, no matter how many red flags are shooting up all around them. That indoctrinated "programming" provides the likes of guys like this... http://chris11962.com/videos/research/info.html ... to get allllllllllllllll the way up to the highest levels of our government, feigning peace, love and Kumbaya, because even people INSIDE the government are afraid to be accused of BIGOTRY by ranting, knee-jerk liberals. That's how Major Hasan was able to pull off his attack; that's how al-Amoudi was able to rub elbows with presidents; and that's how Rauf, in my personal opinion, is continuing to pull off his construction of a victory mosque — "Cordoba," hello — at the foot of the holy warriors' conquest site. That guy's a "moderate" like my dog is cat. This kind of stuff doesn't smell right, either: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/sketchy_tax_break_for_gz_imam_prayer_4DtxTQNfOotrzkJ3FFrPWJ And his intention to fund-raise in Saudi Arabia and IRAN? Red flags, anyone?
But no matter which side of the issue you stand on, let's ALL be good, responsible Americans and read the Terrorist Assessment report, released two days ago, and at least know the facts of what we're dealing with:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bipartisan-policy-center-report-finds-homegrown-terrorism-presents-key-challenge-for-the-united-states-102640854.html
It does not have to be real. It just has to be visible.
Similarly, muslims can simply be more sensitive and realize that Ground Zero is not the right place for a mosque. Of course, they have a constitutional right and all that, but even if a large number of americans believe it is not right to have a mosque there, muslims can be compassionate and move it elsewhere.
Compassion goes both ways. It seems strange to appeal for it one way in India and another way in the US, both ways to benefit Islam. There has to be a give and take.
The mosque is not on Ground Zero
You bombed Iraq for no reason.
Give and take.
America has only taken.
The congregation at Park51 already has leased prayer rooms/mosque at ground level for over 2 years!
They want to MOVE that mosque to the top two floors of that building, so that the lower 13 stories will have open access to EVERYONE for the cultural/educational/recreational/memorial to NOT just the 60 Moslem American victims, including first responders, but ALL victims of that attack on OUR country with marvelous amenities which are a fantastic gift to Manhattan and a slap in the face of al Qaeda, which hopes to destroy our American values and principles that Park51 displays. The Hindu temple is not comparable in any way to the Islamic cultural center.
Some Qumran scholars tell us his refusal to lead the violent Zealot insurgency as their Davidic Messiah was the very reason Jesus was betrayed and handed over to the Sanhedrin, who saw him and the Essenes as a dangerous challenge to their power and status.
Yet Zealotry continues today at the center of mainstream Christianity as well among evangelical groups such as Christians for Israel, headed by Rev. John Hagee. The Moral Majority, founded by Jerry Falwell, perhaps more than any other group swept into political power during the "Reagan Revolution," brought the Zealot Party to power in America. The Gainsville sect is no less zealous.
Like salt that has lost its flavor, Christianity in its current nationalistic presentation must be thrown out. It is now irrelevant to the great work of transformation and individual transcendence we so desperately need. Who will tell this nation the Truth? Who will dare risk it?
May we live in Peace together, despite nationality, race or