I just read about a gathering of 50,000 Muslims that is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C. on September 25th, 2009. Apparently, in response to Barack Obama’s inaugural remarks about finding a way forward with Islam, a man named Hassen Abdellah got a permit to hold a national prayer gathering at the Capitol. His hope is that 50,000 Muslims will gather near the Capitol building and pray for the “soul of America”. Mr. Abdellah says that “most of the time when Muslims go to Washington, D.C. it is to protest. This is not a protest.” He wants America to know that there are Muslims who love America. He also says that any and all are invited to come.
I am about to go out on a limb here and run the risk of alienating friends and dissuading people, but I hope it works out the way he has portrayed his intent for it to be.
Mr. Abdellah’s decision to lead a national prayer of his faith is what America is all about. Freedom of religion is a sacred principle to the cause of America and I believe this man’s exercise of that right is a good thing. And just as I hold that I have the right as a practicing Christian to express my faith in whatever public setting by organizing friends and fellow members of my faith to pray for the soul of my country, so I acknowledge his right under the law to do the same.
More than that, I hope it goes well for this man because I believe his intent is an honorable one of simple faith in his God. I hope that no one gets harmed or does anything to foolishly endanger the lives of anyone at the event. And I hope that Christian America will take hope from a show of love, strength and tolerance from moderate Islam. The radical extremists of Islam are only a portion of what Islam is, just as the radical extremists of Christianity are only a portion of what we are.
There are a great many of us on the conservative side of things who talk a good game about freedom of religion and how intolerant others are to Christianity. We decry any slight to our religion and cry foul because we’re supposed to have freedom of religion and free speech in this country. Well, this is our opportunity to put our money where our mouth is and show that we believe in religious freedom not just for ourselves but for all Americans.
And then we should hold a prayer vigil of our own on the Capitol lawn… 100,000 strong.
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You are absolutely right that they have the right to peacefully assemble and worship, that's one of the primary things that makes the United States such a great place to be. It would be great if that's what the "gathering" turns out to be. I will remain skeptical until shown otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI could be way off, I probably am, but this strikes me as being similar to the million man march when it was primarily just black men marching on Washington. If there was an equivalent to this where it was only white men then you can bet that there would be an uproar. I feel the same would hold true if 100,000 Christians showed up in Washington to march.
Wade,
ReplyDeleteYour logic is right on target. This country is about being able to express our religious feelings in public places. We are built on Freedom of Religion.....not freedom from religion!!
My experience in the Muslim World showed me that in most instances Muslims identify themselves by religion first and nationality second.I think it is good that they are gathering to pray for the blessings of Allah to be put upon the US. I wonder how it will be perceived in the news media and the conservative corners of politics etc.