Just when you think it might be safe to be a Jew or a Muslim in Seattle…
July 29, 2006
What really worries me about the shooting at the Jewish federation - apart from the fact that Jews are being targeted - is that this brings the “Jews vs. Muslims†mentality into the Seattle area in a very real way.
Jews and Muslims are brother and sisters in God and we need to start acting that way. A show of solidarity is needed to make it very clear that our faiths are not enemies here - despite whatever political differences we may have.
You hit the nail on the head - the religions are not enemies - it is the politicians that make them so.
that’s fucked up. there was a protest by some muslims last week by the jcc by the condo during a rally at the jcc that featured the mayor and some other peops. i took for granted as jeff and i got out of the car by the protesters (we were trying to find a place to park) that everything was peaceful, despite angry words being vollied (sp?) across the street from one group to the next. i’m sorry to hear about this violence. i think that despite differences, our rights in the US to assemble and to free speech are what make us unique in a world where those rights really are not afforded to many others. i’m also glad to read the statement by Council on American-Islamic Relations, Seattle. there needs to be more of this sort of response on a greater, more public level. when radicals finally see that they do not really represent islam, then maybe we’ll see a turn away from this sort of violence. now more than ever it’s time for the moderates to step it up, because i think they’re really the only ones who can effectively create change from the inside-out.