In Your Opinion: I Dream Of A Loving, Peaceful, And Safe America!

By Dr. Alex Kharazi.

“I see sorrow and trouble in this land

Although there will be struggle

We’ll make the change we can

We’ll work it ‘til it’s done

Every daughter, every son

Every soul that ever longed for something better

Something brighter”

Last week was a difficult week for our nation. A white supremacist killed 11 worshipers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27. Another white supremacist murdered two Black customers in a Jeffersontown, Kentucky grocery store after failing to attack a predominantly Black church minutes before the attack. These killings happened in the same week that several bombs were sent to CNN and leading Democrats.

Hate and gun violence are killing us – not just people, but America itself. We live in fear and are concerned about the safety of our children, our neighbors and our friends in public spaces, in our homes, and even houses of worship.

Synagogues are not the only houses of worship targeted for attack. In June 2015, white supremacist Dylann Roof killed nine worshipers in a Black church in North Carolina. In August 2012, Wade Michael Page killed seven worshipers in a Sikh gurdwara in Wisconsin. In Texas alone, more than 15 mosques (Muslim house of worship) have been attacked in the last five years.

The interfaith community in Somerset wanted to do something and show our love and support to the Jewish people during this time of grief. On Sunday, October 28 over 200 people gathered at Masjid-e-Ali (Ali Mosque) to condemn any act of terrorism and hate and expressed our sorrow for the victims of the recent shootings. We gathered to reaffirm our commitment to work together to liberate America from hate, fear, and violence! The vigil was intended to be a ray of light and a beacon of hope to show that good can happen when people come together and share their love and dreams for a better today and tomorrow.

We must come together – Democrats, Republicans, independents, conservatives, liberals, faith groups and others – to liberate America from its illnesses of hate, fear, and violence.  To eradicate hate and bigotry, we should start with our own selves. We should open our hearts toward our neighbors and hope they open their hearts towards us.  We should stand up for the other and speak up against any form of hate, bigotry, and discrimination both in public and private! We should exercise our civic responsibility to vote on November 6 and support candidates who promote respect, unity and peaceful co-existence.

Together we can make Franklin Township an example of a tolerant, peaceful, and united American community.

Dr. Alex Kharazi is the president of Franklin Township Interfaith Council and director and vice president of Masjid-e-Ali. He has broad involvement in serving the community as a volunteer to promote peace and unity.

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