Reflections on an Islamic Center in Lower Manhattan

Submitted by Fazal Habib Curmally (Pakistan), Aug 28, 2010 at 00:22

Greetings Jeff And many thanks for seeing how I feel. Jeff, I am nearly 72 years old. I grew up reading Whitman, Thoreau, Thomas Wolfe, James T Farrell, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Gregory Corso and Ken KeseyThese people spoke of humanity and the human spirit and I have treasured this above all things. I am a Jazz Freak. I'm still crazy about the Chicago styles of jazz from the beginning and I think Rock n Roll, which had a different meaning altogether,is very enjoyable.When I was was in the USA in September 2004 till third week of December 2004, I found the average American to be kind, extra helpful to the extent of going out of their way to help me, straightforward and all the good things that make for a good human being. But what happens when you see what the USA does outside? Have you lost you people lost your souls somewhere along the way? Because as I see the USA today, I see it unsure of itself. Its as if James T Farrell's quote from the Danny O Neill Trilogy. A book bearing the title "A world I never made". has come to be and I'm quoting it below. "I am a stranger and afraid, Of the World I never made" Whats going on? Why must hatred and fear be the order of the day? Where is the love/ Why must you be bad for me to be good or the other way around? Why can't we just be? If we can't then we must be enemies. Wary of each other. Let me end with something George Harrison of the Beatles sang. "Somethings take so long, Now how can I explain. For all to many people , See it just the same And because of all their tears, their eyes can't hope to see The beauty that surrounds us. Isn't it a pity"

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".