U.S.: Reach out to distant neighbors

It is quite evident Uyless Black spent many hours studying the Muslim religion and the long-range effect it could have on our freedom of religion. I certainly will not brand him as xenophobe but a person of deep thought.

Study what he has to say and adjust your thinking and possibly his predictions can be avoided. If persons of Christian faith would follow Christ’s teachings and leave judgment to God, their neighbors will not turn against them. God will walk with those who walk with Him.

The Dec. 2 piece by Esequiel Vasquez with his philosophy of “one true church” troubles me much more than Mr. Black’s “absolute separation of church and state.” I quote Black’s caveat to our Muslim neighbors: “I welcome immigrants of all stripes. (but) Keep ancient lands your storied pomp! That is the story of America.”

I agree, and if 99 percent of Muslims do not endorse the slaughter of innocent people, then they should be more vocal, speaking out against the extremist actions. Practice the Quran’s positive aspects and abhor the violence against those of other faiths.

America has been a beacon of freedom and remains atop the list of philanthropy and giving. However, on a personal average, we are donating less and less to chronically undeveloped nations. When we spend more on our pets than our impoverished neighbors, it is hard for third world nations to respect us. America seems to be entering a materialistic age where less of our thoughts are directed toward others. We rise in force to help our close neighbors, as it should be, but sometimes it seems we put our distant neighbors out of sight and out of mind.

Idle hands promote mischievous minds. We haven’t come up with an effective means for keeping our present minority communities employed, so how will we merge the flow of more exiled immigrants? The great majority of the refugees are families needing homes and employment. The Statue of Liberty still stands tall in New York Harbor and reads: “...give me your tired, poor, your huddled masses...” So, do we flee from this concept or find a means to let the displaced enter our land?

As I was keying in the final paragraph of this note, an NBC News special announced that a facility in San Bernardino had just been targeted. This compounds the need for answers to the above questions.

LEONARD BRANT

Post Falls