|
Updated August 2nd, 2007
Letters to the Editor
‘Proud Liberal’
Laments Tanabe
I can’t help but wonder what
Jesus Christ would have thought of
the hate and venom and ugliness
spewed forth in Bob Tanabe’s letter
last week? You know ... Jesus. The
man who taught us to “love your
neighbor,” to “do unto others”, to
“turn the other cheek?”
As a proud “liberal,” I’m sure
glad you’re on the “other team”,
Bob!
Sandra Wallace
La Cañada Flintridge
More About
Tanabe
I was dismayed to read Bob
Tanabe’s letter to the editor
(“Democratic Presidential
Candidates,” July 26). His baseless
attacks on Senators Obama and
Clinton and on the religion of Islam,
in general, smacked of ignorance and
xenophobia.
First, Obama was not schooled in
“the most radical of Islamic doctrines”
as a child. This issue was
brought up early in his campaign and
quickly refuted by journalists who
researched his background and discovered
that the school he attended in
Indonesia at the age of 7 and 8 is simply
a public school that serves
Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and
Confucian children, far from being
radical.
Tanabe demonstrates his lack of
knowledge again when he questions Obama’s authenticity as a practicing
Christian and demands that he
denounce “Allah,” which simply
means “God” in Arabic. It’s a term
used by Christian and Muslim Arabs
alike, and refers to the common God
of Abrahamic traditions of monotheism
and not some strange deity that
only Muslims worship.
Tanabe further displays his xenophobia
by stating that “it’s one thing
to have a radical Muslim in Congress,
but another to have one occupying the
White House.” The “radical Muslim”
he is referring to is Keith Ellison, the
recently elected congressman from
Minnesota who has a distinguished
record of public service and whose
family has lived in the U.S. since
1742. But his patriotism is questioned
and he is branded as a radical because
he happens to be a Muslim.
Tanabe next lays into Hillary
Clinton, warning us that she too
would sell us out to the “Muslim terrorists
if the price was right.” I
believe she deserves to be judged
based on real issues and polices, not
imaginary and unfounded charges.
It is wrong to malign any religion
based on the actions of a few fanatical
individuals who regrettably distort
the teachings of their faith to justify
their horrific crimes. I suggest Tanabe
stop his fear mongering and start educating
himself about different religious
or political ideologies. He may
be surprised to find out that Islam promotes the same universal values
of peace, justice and compassion
that are advocated by other major
religions. He may also be surprised
to discover that right here in our
wonderful city, there is sizeable
Muslim community whose members
are patriotic American citizens,
Republicans as well as Democrats,
who are actively involved in the betterment
of their community and
their country. (See the website of
the Islamic Congregation of La
Canada Flintridge at www.iclcf.org).
Nahid Ansari
La Cañada Flintridge
|
