Among those partaking in Indiegogo's services is the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), an organization classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group. They are using the platform to raise money for another batch of anti-Muslim ads.

Often, when Muslims in the U.S. reference "the community," they are alluding to fellow co-religionists. Perhaps there is a silver lining to the anti-Muslim hate ads: an opportunity to redefine the traditional parameters of that reference to encompass so many more.

Opponents of Islam claim it denies freedom of speech and censors those who insult Islam. This is factually incorrect. After all, the Prophet Muhammad called differences of opinion a blessing in society and never sought to censor or threaten those who verbally attacked him.

We must say a collective "no" to the shameful campaign to stigmatize and scapegoat our fellow Americans of the Muslim faith. By taking that stand, we re-affirm the credo of our nation's founders -- that all Americans are equal and are worthy of being be treated with respect.

By Doug Stanglin USA Today/Religion News Service (RNS) An ad campaign on San Francisco buses is aimed at trying to change public perception of the...

Jihad, Jihadi, jihadist, even -- most ridiculous of all -- counter-jihadist. These labels are used by laypeople and journalists alike, often using jihad as a synonym for "any violence undertaken by Muslims." So what does jihad really mean?

Each of us can decide whether we will feed conflict or feed peace. As Americans, we can play the role of bridge-builder, innovator, bringing together parties in conflict -- to listen to the pain and grief that are embedded in stories currently in circulation.

In his famous letter to the first Jewish synagogue in America, George Washington wrote that the United States government grants "to bigotry no sanction." But because our government does grant to all its citizens freedom of speech, it protects the rights of Pamela Geller.

I could imagine walking through the subways of New York City seeing these racist ads, and Mona's actions seem to strike at the very real and raw reaction we should all have towards hate.