As Tennessee officials wait to declare Tuesday’s fire at a future Islamic center a case of arson, the nation, and particularly our very own Gainesville, face a bigger dilemma.
And we’re embarrassed we have to give this talk.
The recent surge of so-called “Islamophobia” has torn our country into an ideological bloodbath where rights to prayer are trounced by leftover, misplaced sentiments.
Whether the Islamic center was turned to ashes by a woefully misguided, racist arson or by a simple electrical failure will not change the current disappointing and, frankly, anti-American religious climate in this country.
When American Muslims are terrified to build new houses of worship out of the fear of religious persecution, or as it appears here, vandalism, we become no different than the religious zealots of the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s we fear and analyze in history books.
However, as obvious supporters of our First Amendment right to freedom of the press, we, perhaps more than most, realize the freedom of religion is as vital to our national pride and security as our freedom to voice our objections to anything we should disagree with.
But how does it feel when we’re able to say the majority of Muslims, including the American Muslim Association of North America, are being the bigger people as they issue calls for nonviolence in response to these blatant persecutions in their fight for social equality?
Grow up, America. We’re tired of your bickering. And, Dove, we’re not even starting with you. We just don’t have the strength.