As an
American, I welcome
religious
pluralism. What
American would not?
Letters attacking the local Islamic community’s aspiration to build a mosque and community center make many dubious arguments, and share an underlying problem: the writers have no personal experience with the South Valley Islamic Community.
In 2005 I joined a group of other Gavilan College faculty in a unique effort: we brought together the SVIC and Congregation Emeth, the area’s synagogue, for dialogue centered upon an extraordinary art exhibit called the Piece Process. The exhibit, which originated in Chicago, included artists of Jewish, Muslim, Israeli, Palestinian, U.S., and Arab descent. Our extraordinary dialogue lasted all fall with seven public meetings and many private ones. For some of us, the exploration is ongoing. Since the day I first phoned a member of the SVIC board to ask whether SVIC might be interested, I have been learning about this community. The first thing I learned was that SVIC is eager to reach out. “Yes, we want to work with you'” he said, five seconds into my invitation, despite the serious commitment of time and resources the project demanded. And work together we did.
As an historian, I must say that the suspicions and prejudices towards Muslims in our community that have been expressed on the pages of the newspaper evoke a wry and weary sense of deja vu. Letter writers of French, Irish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Hungarian, Mexican, Native American, African, Southeast Asian, or Filipino descent may not realize that identical stereotypes were fixed, just as unfairly, upon their ancestors. Religious prejudice is likewise well-worn in the Americas. The colonial trial and banishment of Anne Hutchinson, however, and the tarring and feathering of peaceable Quakers were remembered with shame and dismay by our nation’s founders. That’s why the first guarantee in the First Amendment is a guarantee of religious freedom.
As an American, I would hope that this guarantee be enacted beyond grudging tolerance. The United States has no state religion. There is no legal norm from which Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Mormons, Buddhists, Sikhs, pagans or other religious devotees deviate. Like people of other religious faiths, Muslims in our midst wish to instruct their children in their faith, have a place where they can worship, and put down roots to become part of the community.
As an American, I welcome religious pluralism. What American would not? And I sympathize with a group that has had to make do so far with meetings in peoples’ homes and in a converted barn. I am glad SVIC has chosen San Martin because this gives us all a chance to put into practice the universal religious dictate to welcome the proverbial stranger. But I hope no one stays strangers long. To that end, the SVIC is holding its annual open house on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 5pm at the Lions Club, 12415 Murphy Ave, San Martin. Everyone is invited. Writers of unfriendly letters may be surprised by what they find.
As a member of the broader South Valley community, I am impressed by the wonderful cross section of American Muslims – a veritable stew of people from all walks of life and all occupation groups. There are people from families who have been Muslim since ancient times, there are recent converts, there are Egyptians, Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Indians, Malaysians, Pakistanis, U.S. citizens, Saudis, and others. There are doctors, realtors, teachers, florists, housewives, college students, toddlers, the usual mix. There are Republicans, Libertarians, and Democrats. Talk about diversity!
And lest I be accused of being naive about terrorists lurking in our midst, perhaps I should mention that since 911 members of SVIC have cooperated graciously with federal intelligence agencies when asked to do so. In fact, FBI employees were guest speakers at last week’s gathering.
While I am personally critical of the FBI for stepping over clearly established lines that protect civil liberties, I think the SVIC is aiding the really important intelligence work – grassroots, communicative, and relationship-building – that has been neglected for too long.
As a professor I am grateful to SVIC’s members, who have visited my U.S. history classes to talk about immigration issues, and my World History classes to discuss Islam with my students. I’ve learned that SVIC hopes to name its new mosque and community center The Cordoba Center.
Cordoba, Spain was in the 10th century a great center of learning, poetry, philosophy, art, beauty, and trade. It was a diverse and thriving marketplace of religious and political ideas. That is the kind of legacy the local Islamic community wishes to invoke with its center. Like any good neighbor, SVIC hopes to share by inviting other groups to use the Cordoba Center as well.
As a human being I am saddened that such decent, productive, positive people are subjected to attack in this newspaper. Where, I wonder, are the religious leaders, elected officials, and educators whose leadership could – and should – change the tenor of this discussion from “Don’t let the terrorists near me” to “What can I do to encourage these human beings to stay and enrich in my community?”
Guest columnist Leah Halper is a Gilroy instructor. Anyone interested in writing a guest column may contact Editor Mark Derry at ed****@****ic.com
