NewsHour Special Reports: Terrorist Attack

U.S. Response

September 11
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Washington D.C.

Attack Investigation

New York

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Reaction to the attack

Mary
Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Muslim Friends,

Just as you do not wish for non-Muslims to force upon you a posture of violence and murder, please do not assume that all non-Muslims hate you. I believe it was the intention of the people who murdered on September 11 to carve up these United States into a segregated, confused, paranoid hysterical people, and to cause us to kill each other with our coldness and hatred. We cannot permit this.

I'm a plain old Baptist, raised in Sunday school, Wednesday Night Supper, my mother's chicken pot pie and Amazing Grace, and my parents never taught me to hate anyone but Satan. And Satan can make his wretched presence known by calling himself "Christian" or "Muslim" or anything else that will allow him to perpetrate his evil on this world.

Just as a friend who refuses to call you by your given name cannot change who you are, neither can anyone change the nature of Satan by calling him by another name. Though momentary confusion may cause fear, God will prevail, as will His love.

"Christian" does not mean "closed-minded." "Islamic" does not mean "terrorist"."Southern" does not mean "red-neck."

Just as Americans and all true Christians should not use the terms "Muslim" and "Islam" interchangeably with the word "Terrorist," if anyone would lie, and call himself Christian and harm one of you or your sisters, there are thousands more (true) Christians who will see your sisters wearing the hijab and take her hand and give her any assistance she needs, even if that assistance takes the form of a simple word of understanding.

We must unite ourselves in order to fight against this insanity. My heart breaks for you who are struggling precariously with your desire to remain in America, thus escaping the type of madness that besieged the WTC, and with your absolute conviction to your (true) Islamic faith.

I would wear the hijab; I would stand beside any of you who would welcome me to do so. And I will accept any stone that may be meant for your heart, or the spit that may defile your face. And, I will turn my back on anyone who, upon given the opportunity to understand that the Qu'ran does not condone terrorism, still chooses to believe that Muslims are evil and violent.

I have lived in India among many, many Muslim people --men and women. In the months that I was there I was very visible as a tall, very fair-skinned American woman traveling alone. I never once encountered any kind of hatred or threatening behavior on the part of any Muslim man or woman.

In the months since my return to the U.S. from India, I have done all I can to tell anyone who will listen that there is no such thing as an "Islamic Terrorist"! The two words are mutually exclusive of each other.

My prayers and love are with all of you -- all of us (U.S.) who suffer in our belief in God and His divine love.

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