visitor from the mosque

I live in a district that elected the first Muslim U.S. Congressman, Keith Ellison. There is a fairly large Muslim population in the Twin Cities. We are used to diversity in our midst. Presumably because of that, there doesn't seem to be the Islamophobia here that there is in much of the country at the moment -- the people being stirred up by by religious pseudo-leaders, Fox News, and desperate politicians who need fear to operate.

This morning in our church -- admittedly, one of the most progressive Protestant congregations you'll find anywhere -- an Imam from a North Minneapolis mosque was an invited guest to speak for a few minutes and read a passage from the Qur'an. It was a very moving service, celebrating inter-faith beliefs in common rather than hatred based on ignorance.

I was proud to be there.