Letter to Editor on Islam

Category: Editorials Editorials
Published: 01 December 2015 01 December 2015

I was shocked and appalled to read Pete The Burro's hate piece: €œA memo to Republicans... € How can any rational person honestly believe that it is ok to publicly call for death of his political opponents and genocide of an entire religious faith?

The author does not hide his agenda- Republicans should win the Presidency based on intolerance and extermination. And Democrats should be €œimpaled on that stake €. Does that sound like the America where you want to live?

Quoting extensively from a book written 14 centuries ago, P. T. Burro does his best to scare his readers with tales of slaughter and slavery. Only one and a half centuries ago, these same things were practiced and written about (by mostly nonMuslims) right here on this continent.

Mr Burro wants to paint all Muslims with the same stroke. There are many who abhor what is being done and who are personally suffering. Those Muslim refugees from Syria are fleeing because they are in fear for their lives.

Yet in his column, the author seems to want to both forget and perpetuate actual history. It recommends that we continue with the same policies that brought us the Crusades, Colonization, and Genocide.

People in the Middle East, and elsewhere, are angry with the US and other western nations. And why shouldn't they be? For centuries, our nation has been undermining their governments and exploiting their resources. It is no wonder they are fighting back.

The author clearly thinks the best course of action is the Old Testament inspired solution- fight fire with fire! I recommend we learn the lessons of the peacemakers: An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

I am not condoning their violence or ours. I am simply saying we have two choices: continue the hate, violence, and destruction without end, or, own up to our transgressions while acknowledging theirs, and look for a peaceful path forward. It's a small world we share.

A perspective from the Gospels: Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.

May we find some, and follow their lead.

Rick Lass
Silver City

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