Ted Cruz says we need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized. Donald Trump says that waterboarding people would be fine, and if they could expand the laws, he would do a lot more than waterboarding. Pope Francis says that faced with disconcerting episodes of violent fundamentalism, our respect for true followers of Islam should lead us to avoid hateful generalizations, for authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Quran are opposed to every form of violence.
Recently I had the opportunity to speak at the Turkish Cultural Center of Pittsburgh on the topic of Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan and its lesson of mercy for people of all faith traditions. It was a wonderful evening of food, fellowship and dialogue between Muslims, Christians and Jews. It was the kind of evening that dispelled fear and reminded everyone that our common bonds as human beings far outweigh our ethnic, racial and religious differences. I wish Cruz and Trump could have been there.
Keith Kondrich
Swisshelm Park
