To the Editor:

Like Andrew Morgan (see Mountaineer, Feb. 25, Guest Columnist), I too am alarmed by the rhetoric from the anti-jihadist who spoke at the local Republican Party Headquarters. Unlike Mr. Morgan, I am not a Muslim. I have, however, lived in Muslim countries for several years and lived in Muslim homes. You do not need to fear Muslims. True Muslims, like true Christians, are striving to follow a high moral code and lead a spiritually guided life. The people you should fear are those who believe that they have cornered the market on truth.

One example of misinterpretation in Mr. Gaubatz’s article regards the Muslim call to prayer, which is heard five times a day. It is a reminder to the faithful to reaffirm their spirituality through prayer. It does not mean to drop everything they are doing at the moment and pray. The prayer can be five minutes later, an hour later, or if on the job, whenever the person has a break. 

I wonder about such fear-mongering. Fear is a very powerful motivator and is often used to control people, especially those who react instead of thinking through “hot button” issues. Could this talk possibly be politically motivated since we have a major election coming up next year?  The message that hardened criminals are pouring across our southern border has been repeatedly fact-checked and proven false. Since that “fear” has been debunked, it is no longer as effective. Is it being replaced by stirring up a fear of Muslims?

Seems we always have to have an “us against them” bogeyman in an attempt to sow fear. There is more strength in unity than in division, and our nation desperately needs that strength. Like Mr. Morgan and Mr. Gaubatz, I am a patriot. I was deeply moved by the words of John Harris recently as he talked about thinking of his children at the time of making a major political decision. “We have got to come up with a way to transcend our partisan politics, and the exploitation of processes like this for political gain. That goes for both parties, Democrats and Republicans. And Libertarians,” he said. “I’m just left thinking that we can all do a lot better than this.”

We must do better.

Joanne Strop

Waynesville