True but...

Until we knock down the notion that we are the enemy of Muslims everywhere, our war on terrorism will never end.

[ DallasNews.com | Local Columnists ]

Mr. Blow has a very good point. Those Americans who do feel that they are at war with Islam clearly don't understand the war. Mr. Blow also states:

Then get to know your Muslim neighbors. You have 7 million of them here. Build bridges of understanding. Seek justice. Fight prejudice.

Excellent advice. Some of us are American born and love the US. Some of us came here as an invitation by America or Americans, and you should treat your guests well, no? Others came here fleeing bad conditions or dreaming the American dream. So few Muslims came here with hate, and all of us would prefer if they hadn't.

However he also states:

And that brings me back to a column of a few weeks ago. I expressed my longing to see Muslim Americans rise up in a highly visible repudiation of terrorism – and as a sign to the world that the U.S. isn't hostile to Islam.

I guess that means all of our efforts so far haven't reached his ears. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has put together an online petition with over 600,000 signatures denouncing terrorism with rather strong language:

We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group or individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts.

[ Not in the Name of Islam Petition ]

And they've sent out press releases about it, I'm sure to Mr. Blow's paper. Unfortunately I don't have a syndicated newspaper column to use as soap box, I just have a crappy blog. I would love to know if there is a better way to communicate these feelings. If websites don't do it, and petitions don't do it, and press releases don't do it, and rallies don't do it, what will help the American Muslim community to communicate these feelings of disgust for the minority of “Muslims” who feel that the proper thing to do is resort to barbarism?