EXCERPT:
Although I disagree with many of the steps Bush took in the years after 9/11, Republican politicians and others fomenting hate against American Muslims today could benefit from remembering the words he spoke on that tragic September evening at a Washington mosque. “Those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take out their anger don’t represent the best of America,” he said. “They represent the worst of humankind, and they should be ashamed of that kind of behavior.”
Indeed, the most fundamental American value is freedom: the freedom to think how we want, to pray how we want, to speak freely.
Look outside and you will see that the American flag continues to fly over New York, Texas, Michigan and other states with significant Muslim populations. By the blessing of God, American Muslims will continue working to ensure that the democracy the American flag represents serves everyone.
By Nihad Awad – National Executive Director and Co-Founder, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)