"In recognizing the tragedy that was '9/11' and the sensitive feelings that surround the day AND the site itself: I can only imagine the continuing pain that exists in the lives of those who lost so much on that terrible day. OPINION / BTW: burning Korans and protesting Islamic Centers represent the kind of simple-minded, jingoistic mentalities which incited the kind of hatred that caused 9/11 in the first place.
"We are not at war against Islam. We are fighting to dissolve the power that terrorist organizations, many who FALSELY USE the banner of Islam to promote their own agenda, have around this world. In this fight, we need all the allies we can get, which especially includes the overwhelming majority of the people of Islam. They have the most power to influence their brothers and sisters to reject the extremist’s twisted views."
And I might add to this my own OPINION / BTW: The mistrust, suspicion and judgement that many Americans hold against Muslims may be part of why many Muslims, in an instinctual effort to protect themselves from persecution, remain silent to avoid becoming a target. I think many of us in marginalized / maligned communities have been guilty of this kind of silence at one point or another in our lives, and we all have to work together to overcome it!