How do we teach young Muslims to struggle for justice, but without resorting to terror tactics? How do we teach them that a just cause is not a justification for unjust means?

The conservative mainstream still calls the president's religious beliefs into question, but they stop just short of accusing him of apostasy and concealment. What they consider safe is the assertion that Obama is acting as if he were Muslim.

The truth is that intelligence experts with far more integrity than Gingrich or others who have specialized in demonizing Muslims agree that homegrown jihadists now pose more of a direct threat to America than al Qaeda.

Sharia has become a convenient way to harp on nonexistent, yet anxiety-producing, "threats." Since no one knows what you're talking about when you decry Sharia, it's even easier than usual to say anything, no matter how bizarre or duplicitous.

So what was missing from Rep. Kings hearings? A little thing I like to call: Facts.

The role of the travel writer is to bring people to places they never see, to explain things to them, to make the unknown, the forbidden, the intangible, known quantities, things to no longer fear.

This war of symbols reveals ugly stereotyping and prejudice on nearly all sides, including those on the left who spewed hateful rhetoric to those opposing the Islamic Center.

During the past week, the predictable dance of Republican demagoguery and Democratic cowardice were on shameful display for the whole nation.

The hatred and anger towards Muslims in this country and around the world has gone beyond the tipping point. This is not acceptable. We have to cleanse ourselves of this horrible disease.