Build bridges, not fear

I was shocked to hear of the rampant Islamophobia being spread by Shahram Hadian in the Inland Northwest.

While everyone has the right to believe whatever they want, no one has the right to actively add to the subjugation of members of our community. We at the Spokane Interfaith Council invite Hadian to listen and use compassion to bring people together rather than speak with a derisive heart and instill fear.

This is not only an essential duty for fulfilled spiritual practice, but it is also a civic duty. If I don’t share in the joys and sorrows of my Jewish neighbor, if I’m not seeking to understand the struggles of the Sikh community, if I’m not standing up against intolerance of the Muslim community, then I’m not contributing to the area I call home.

In the Inland Northwest, we need to build bridges, not walls. I call on all people, even Hadian, to help us as we move forward together. Seeking to understand and appreciate one another is the right first step in building what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called “The Beloved Community.” We can’t do this alone.

R. Skyler Oberst

President of the Spokane Interfaith Council

Spokane