Lying, Stealing, Blasphemy OH MY!

Several months ago I was sitting outside a theatre waiting to head into rehearsal. A young woman (W) about my own age approached me (A) and we had a very interesting exchage:

W: Do you mind if I ask you a question?

A: (knowing this was going somewhere fishy) Sure.

W: Are you a good person?

A: Yes, I would say so.

W: Ok, so let me ask you a few questions to see if you are a good person in the eyes of God.

A: (uh-oh) umm..

W: Have you ever told a lie?

A: Yes.

W: What do we call a person who lies?

A: Human.

W: (a little dumbfounded) Oh well, umm, not exactly. We have a word to describe someone who lies.

A: I think the word you're looking for is "liar," but I don't think things are quite so black and white.

W: Have you ever stolen anything?

A: Yes.

W: What do we call a person who steals?

A: A thief.

W: Have you ever taken the Lord's name in vain?

A: Yes.

W: We call this blasphemy.

A: Right.

W: So by your own admission you are a lying, thieving, blasphemer.

A: (a little baffled by her gall) Well that's a very limited view of a person.

W: God doesn't want you to be a sinner, he wants to forgive you. Here is a pamphlet of our church group...

A: You know, I think it is really great that you believe enough in something to go out and try and tell other people about it. That takes a lot of courage and dedication. A lot of people are really lost and have no beliefs at all. But I don't feel lost, and I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on our religious beliefs.

W: Well thank you for your time. I'll keep you in my prayers.

A: How kind of you.

She went on to try and convert more heathens and I went to rehearsal where I lied about my identity, stole the words of someone else, and committed blasphemy at least against Chekhov if not God too.

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It is impossible to open a newspaper or turn on a news program and not see something about the plans for the Muslim Community Center in the works two blocks from Ground Zero. To make my opinion perfectly clear: I find opposition to these plans to be ridiculous, narrow-sighted, and down-right prejudiced.


Why must we always view any other culture (or subculture as it were) as an assault to our "American-ness?" Why is something different always viewed as an aggressor and have to be offensive to us? Is it not possible to view this is a gesture of peace and unity after a horrible event? To me it would be a vastly progressive and beautiful statement to have them build this community center closeby to prove their peaceful intent. Let's get one thing perfectly clear: Muslims did not commit the horrible crimes of 9/11, terrorists did. Are all Christians members of the Nazi Party or the KKK? Exactly.

This "guilty by association" attitude toward Muslims has got to stop; it is tired, outdated, stale, and nothing beneficial is growing from it. Yes, it has been my experience that many Muslim people find Islam superior to other beliefs and do everything in their power to educate others on their faith. Yes, it has been my experience that for many Muslims dedicated worship is the main reason to exist. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Islamic states have not taken violent action in order to propegate their own beliefs, but does anybody remember that little event in history called "The Crusades?"

I know that many people, including people in my own family, would read this post and call me "Un-American." I would like to remind these people of a little holiday we invented called Thanksgiving. This is when we celebrate two specific events: the escape from leaders which would not allow religious freedom, and the feast in which we solidified friendship with the native people of America. We all know how things went down after that, but none-the-less we gather each year to celebrate our gratitude for acceptance, tolerance, and the value of friends both new and old.

We have all, as individuals and nations, been guilty of hatred and judgment of others. But I cannot believe that perpetuating it is the way to win anything. Perhaps my peer in the hallway only saw a "lying, theiving blasphemer" when she looked at me. Maybe I am those things, but that's not ALL I am, and I refuse to assume others are ever ALL I see them for.

If we could just accept our own ignorance we might finally get somewhere.