I am an atheist. But I respect people regardless of their own religious beliefs. My faith in humanity was shattered last night when I saw that feed on my social media about the fatal stabbings on a Tri-met train in Portland. A white male, the most likely type of American terrorist according to data, spouted hateful things to two women, one of whom was wearing a hijab. Strangers came to their defense and sacrificed their lives for her freedom of expression. A right guaranteed by our Constitution.
I have a daughter who is a nurse, who converted to Islam a long time ago, lives in Portland with her wonderful family, and works in a hospital nearby that location. I could not reach her. I panicked. Finally she got back to me told me she was safe and she and others are organizing a vigil to honor the victims tonight in Portland.
The face of terrorism does not reside in a single religion. It resides in the hearts of, largely, men in power. I cannot abide this any longer. I will not remain silent any longer. It is time to end the perception that terror is purveyed within one religion and it is time to end support for those nations and organizations that do so. It is also time to call out those extremist sects in any religion that purvey radicalism in the name of faith.
Unlike others, I will not blame our president solely for this reality. I have had the privilege of knowing some wonderful priests, pastors, rabbis and imams in my life. But I have also witnessed personally others from the bloody pulpit spew hateful messages that have created this problem in our societies.
This tragedy in Portland also hit me hard at this time because I was just asked by the Lane Community College Islamic Student Association to help them with a video about Ramadan. I was honored to have been asked to participate as Science Dean. I hope that I didn't embarrass myself on their video.
America, your broader paternalistic flaws and white male privilege is being exposed. I've been a beneficiary of that WMP, but I've owned up to that and have been trying, I think somewhat effectively, to make amends throughout my life on behalf of others who have been less fortunate.
Let's pay the positive forward, not the hatred and vitriol.
