Peace During Trying Times: Foiled Bombing Plot of two NYC Synagogues

While reading today’s New York Times article on the foiled bombing plot of two New York City synagogues, I couldn’t help but feeling outrage at this event.

On one hand, it is painful to realize that people would willfully wish to inflict harm on others with no apparent reason, or behind the concept of seeking “reparations” from what they interpret as wrong doings of a particular government. In this case, the target was the Jewish community in the Bronx, which is many miles removed from the Pentagon and Afghanistan.

On the other hand, it is perplexing to me how someone can misinterpret Islam as advocating violence against civilians like in yesterday’s foiled bomb plot. It is my firm belief that those “home-grown” failed terrorists did not fully comprehend Islam, and instead chose to follow a perverse ideology that masks itself as such.

My experiences working at Intersections have allowed me to interact with many Muslims, more so than I did previous to living in this area. I have learned and seen first hand the misinterpretations and stereotypes that accompany members of this faith in the United States and abroad. I have also seen how Islam (as opposed to how it is portrayed and sensationalized in the news) is a religion of peace and respect that is fully compatible with our American values and Judeo-Christian faiths.

Having traveled to the Near East and living in New York, I have had the opportunity to interact with different Muslims, and base my perception and ideas of Islam from this and not from scholarly investigations. Many of my close friends are Muslims and call countries such as Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan home. Our friendships—as are all my other ones—are based on trust, respect, and peace. Despite our differences in religious worship and theology, our religions share a common teaching found throughout all world and traditional religions: peace.

I urge you to not buy into the perception that Islam condones violence. I urge you to believe that a holy book such as the Torah, Bible, or Qur’an does not advocate violence. I urge you to learn more about Islam, a religion that is of peace but has been misrepresented. Finally, I urge you to practice what all religions preach: peace.