Liberty and Justice for All Still
Matter
Below are sample letters of support
received by CAIR from Southern California interfaith
leaders in solidarity with the Muslim community.
They are a reminder that liberty and justice for
all still matter to us Americans.
Thank you so very much for thinking
of me for the Town Hall meeting. I would have
been w/you in a heartbeat. I have an ecumenical
commitment that night that has been long standing.
PLEASE keep me posted on this urgent issue, know
that I stand firm with you, and uphold you and
the Muslim community in my prayers for a resolve
to this most distressing issue. As of humanity
is impacted by this act of inhumanity.
Blessings,
The Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord
Officer of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Concerns
The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
******
While no one disputes the need for security in
our country, it is dangerous to presume that because
of events of terror in the world, we need to therefore
suspend the basic rights of citizens of the United
States, or those legally within its borders. The
most dangerous form of terrorism is the characterization
of ethnic or national groups as being a threat
in and of themselves. We have witnessed the mistakes
of ethnic discrimination too many times in our
world’s history, and at no time should it
be justification for limiting the freedoms of
the American people or those within our country
legally and rightfully. Due Process is an integral
part of our legal system, and is what maintains
the integrity of our country. When individuals
are singled out without justification or due process,
it only hurts the very fabric of the country we
seek to defend.
Dr. Stanley D. Smith
President
Interfaith Council of Central Orange County.
*****
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice,
you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If
an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse
and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will
not appreciate your neutrality.”
- Bishop Desmond Tutu
Stanley D. Smith
Orange, California
******
I apologize for not being able to join you next
Monday evening to speak in support of the Muslim
community and those targeted by Homeland Security.
I send my hopeful wish that justice be accorded
to all our brothers and sisters regardless of
race, faith tradition, or amount of time in the
country.
May God’s mercy be shown that night.
Reverend Fr. Edward Poettgen
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Santa Ana, California
*****
Peace be upon you!
In the aftermath of the horrendous events of 11
September 2001, I vividly recall His Eminence,
Cardinal Roger Mahony, issuing a statement which
read in part:
“As we begin to cope with the magnitude
of these terrible crimes, may our nation’s
leaders be guided. Let each of us be mindful to
avoid unsupported speculation and to refrain from
indulging in harmful stereotypes. In this time
of unprecedented tragedy and fear, we ask God
in a special way to pour out his abundant blessing
upon all of us, to comfort us, to strengthen us
and to bring us together in a spirit of unity
and solidarity.”
The unprecedented harassment and detention of
several Muslim religious leaders recently is clearly
contrary to the sentiments expressed in His Eminence’s
prayer. I am appalled that members of the Muslim
Community are being singled out for such treatment,
clearly an indication of “harmful stereotyping,”
and hardly conducive to “bringing us together
in a spirit of unity and solidarity.” Please
be assured of my continued support.
I myself recently witnessed such harassment directed
toward two of our Catholic priests of Lebanese
origin with Arabic surnames. The three of us were
traveling together, the two of them wearing clerical
garb, myself dressed as a civilian. We were separated
by the airport security people: the two Lebanese
priests were detained, thoroughly interrogated,
and physically searched, while I, an Anglo, easily
passed through security unscathed. I believe the
only reason they were selected out for such scrutiny
was their nationality. So also members of the
Muslim Community are being selected out for similar
harassment merely because of their religion. This
simply is not acceptable, and I stand willing
to assist you in whatever way I can to combat
this deplorable situation.
I pray for the day to come soon when we will be
truly “together in a spirit of unity and
solidarity,” one people, acknowledging our
common origin, and sharing a common goal, the
betterment of the people of the United States.
In the One God,
Rt. Rev. Alexei Smith
Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles
*****
I find it grievous and outrageous that my country
-- founded on principles including religious freedom
and toleration -- now finds it expedient to violate
those very principles by oppressively mistreating
Muslim Americans under the excuse of national
security.
Reese M. Riley
Past President of the Interfaith Council of Central
Orange County
And Rector
Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church
Tustin, CA
*****
Government must act with compassion, justice and
consciousness, otherwise we will become the evil
and oppression we are fighting. We must not single
out an entire group or community for unfair treatment
in spite of what some members of that community
may do. In these difficult times it is the difficult
responsibility of those whom we trust with our
security to act only when a true threat is known
and avoid interfering and disrupting the lives
of the innocent in our country.
Nirinjan Singh Khalsa
Executive Director
Sikh Council of Southern California
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