The news of Osama bin Laden’s death was overshadowed in Maine this week by an act of ignorance when graffiti was discovered on the wall of the Maine Muslim Community Center mosque in Portland.
Someone painted graffiti including the words (misspelling included) “Osama today, Islam tomorow” and “Go Home” on the wall of the mosque in red spray paint on Monday.
Officials, including Portland Police Chief James Craig, denounced the act, and he said to the vandals, “We will find you and arrest you.”
The case is being treated as a hate crime because it targeted a religion. Craig says the case remains a Portland investigation, but that the FBI has been consulted.
These kinds of acts have no place in Maine nor in the United States.
We do not support guilt by association when it comes to the Muslim faith. Not all Muslims believe in violence, nor are they all terrorists, even though bin Laden may have identified as a Muslim.
Timothy McVeigh, who was responsible for the Oklahoma City Bombing that killed 168 people, was a member of the U.S. Army, but that does not mean all members of the Army are terrorists either.
Despite the anguish and pain still felt after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, no justice will be served from people acting out against Muslims. If anything, such acts incite further violence against innocent people and put both American civilians and U.S. troops abroad in danger of retaliation.
Earlier this year, Terry Jones, pastor of The Dove World Outreach Center, burned a Koran after many months of threatening to do so. The act incited a mob in Afghanistan to attack a U.N. compound there, killing at least eight foreign staffers.
In September, Gen. David Petraeus, who was commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan at the time, said burning Korans “is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems ”“ not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community.”
He said the act could endanger U.S. troops and the overall effort in Afghanistan.
And he was right.
Once word of Jones’ plan reached Afghans, demonstrations were held in September. And after Jones followed through and burned a Koran, loss of human life resulted.
Acts like this ”“ even a few words spray painted on a wall ”“ can cause much damage and are directed at the wrong people.
Muslims are not responsible for acts of terrorism, terrorists are responsible for acts of terrorism.
We hope that Maine people and Americans will continue to celebrate the news of bin Laden’s demise without letting fear, ignorance and hate prevail.
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Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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