"We" are Muslim, Too

Dear Editor
It was a shame to open the DNR and read a letter suggesting that "We are at war with Islam." What could that "we" have meant? Certainly it could not refer to Americans. A war with Islam would threaten millions of Americans who profess the Islamic faith, and destroy the religious freedom that has been claimed as an American core value since the nation's founding.
The letter-writer suggests that we remember 9/11, and it is good if we do. Muslims died that day who were not hijackers. Muslim Americans died at work in the twin towers, whether waiting tables or managing large-scale financial transactions. Muslims were among the innocent passengers on the planes that were turned into bombs. There were also Muslims in the ranks of the emergency responders who died trying to rescue people, and who are rightly remembered as the heroes of that grim day.
Recently a farm in this area was damaged by fire. Members of Harrisonburg's Islamic community were at the front of the line to offer whatever help they could. The spirit of cooperation and mutual aid among people of different faiths went far beyond "tolerance." It was an example of a kind of "we" to be proud of and to cultivate: we in America help each other in a crisis. I hope this sense of community among neighbors can't be injured by a few hateful words in a newspaper.
Sincerely,
Ben Chappell
Harrisonburg