I went to the mosque today. Such wonderful people!
After 9/11, the community of the Bilal Mosque in Beaverton, OR realized they needed to reach out to the larger community and let people know that not all Muslims are bent on violence. So every year on September 11, they hold an open house where people can come and meet Muslims, ask questions, enjoy delicious food, and make friends.
The graciousness of these people, their tolerance and acceptance of all who step through their doors, and the curiosity and gratitude of the guests were such a powerful demonstration of the human spirit. Again and again the hosts were thanked for their courage and initiative in holding the event.
Channel 8 showed up. There were newspaper articles on the display table about Jewish-Muslim collaboration efforts.
While the nightly news may focus on the violence and tension in the world, there are people everywhere who are quietly working toward peace and understanding.
Thank you Bilal Mosque. You are indeed a ray of hope.
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