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Columnist confuses fanatics and religion

In his May 13 OBSERVER column, “A religion with deadly consequences,” Stephen Kershnar has fallen into categorical mistakes that shame a philosopher.

Instead of lamenting the actions of fanatics – a kind of person to be found professing almost any faith – he has called Islam a savage religion and recommended that we limit Muslim immigration into this country. A religion, he says, must be judged by what its adherents do.

By that light, the Crusades and the Inquisition should have denied Catholics a place in our society and the wars between Catholics and Protestants in Europe should … but there’s no need to continue. That was then? What about Christian attacks on Moslems in the former Yugoslavia, what about Jewish terrorist groups that attack Muslims in the West Bank, what about Catholics and Protestants in Ireland? Not to mention Hindus who attack Muslims in India or Buddhists who attack Hindus in Sri Lanka.

Do Muslims attack free speech? Unfortunately, the followers of no religion have a monopoly on that.

Like Kershnar, I value free speech and like him, I deplore the subjection of women in many Muslim countries. And in some other countries as well. We women in this country had to fight for our rights for many long years, and still face those who try to decide for us when we should have children. Women in Muslim countries will also have to carry on this struggle and many are doing so.

The very use of the word “savage” to describe a culture is an anachronism and insults the vast majority of peaceable people. But Kershnar goes further, and states that the Muslim religion is both “destructive and false.”

This takes us right back to a time when there was only one true religion. I think most people now believe that God lets himself be sought in many ways. If they thought otherwise, why would recent Popes have visited mosques and synagogues in friendly fellowship?

By the way, Kershnar’s own language suggests something “savage,” if you will. Turks “keep a boot on the neck of the Muslim religion,” and politicians who disagree with Kershnar “should be kicked to the curb.”

I trust that the many respected Muslims in Chautauqua County will not confuse this kind of reasoning with the thinking of their other neighbors.

Minda Rae Amiran is a Fredonia resident.

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