I believe both faith and religion should break down social barriers and create dialect between societies. Unfortunately, it seems that recently, differences in religious views have created a distance between Americans.
In the past, my religious beliefs have often been a means of comfort in times of grief and disaster. In America, it has structured our legal system and morals as a society.
The days following Sept. 11 showed a country that could be united in the face of tragedy. Yet, as time continued, our nation’s fears created a society guilty of racial and religious profiling.
Too much time has been focused on the religious beliefs of the people involved in the Sept. 11 attacks.
Rarely do people consider that the men and women who lost their lives that day were Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and various other beliefs. The police officers, firefighter and citizens who rushed into the buildings that day were a collection of various cultural and religious backgrounds.
I agree with Obama’s message to the American people that our country is not at war with Islam and never will be. During his commemorative speech, the president said, “It was not a religion that attacked us that September day. It was al-Qeada, a sorry bunch of men which perverts religion.”
Losing over 2,000 innocent Americans on is undoubtedly a tragedy. However, America losing its civility and social freedoms would be the greatest loss of all. n