Embracing religion is loving peace

Up until quite recently I had never heard of Ahmadiyah, nor would I have most likely except for the unruly acts of intolerance visited upon the unfortunate and apparently peaceful members of that sect by a mob of righteous fanatics who just happen to be Muslim.

I am a friend of many Indonesians and Muslims of other countries, including Egypt, Turkey, the occupied territories and Malaysia. I have been to mosques in Turkey and America and although I am not a religious person. I felt the peace and spirituality of the call to prayer. It is a profoundly powerful, yet peaceful experience that I would like all Americans to share and feel.

When tragedy strikes we see man reach out his hand to fellow man, but in times of peace we must also be ready to reach out or at least live and let live.

Please, my friends, we all have our biases and beliefs, but listen when I tell you; the greatest threat to Islam is not from without but from within. Hatred and intolerance will bring upon you and yours nothing but more pain, misery and suffering.

Do not be distracted by the peaceful acts of others, but look only to your own well-being and that of your family and your community. Anything less is a disservice to them and to God and mankind.

Remember the call to prayer is a call to peace for all religions. Those who call you to hate and fear are false prophets with black hearts and will only bring evil and suffering to you as well as others.

ANTHONY GALLIGANI New York