Interfaith Group Joins Peace Town Observance

Staff Reports

The Mountain Area Interfaith Forum has announced that it will join the Peace Town Asheville International Day of Peace observance on September 21. The observance will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the “Peace Pole” in the shadow of the Pack Square magnolia tree in front of Asheville City Hall. In doing so the group hopes to make a strong statement in support of religious tolerance.

The interfaith group’s decision was motivated by the growing
anti-Islamic mood in the country, especially the plan of an evangelical
church in Gainesville, Florida to hold a Koran-burning ceremony on
September 11, the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World
Trade Center and other American landmarks. Other examples of
intolerance include the blogger-generated controversy, intensified by
biased media coverage, over a proposed Islamic community center near the
WTC site; the burning of construction equipment and repeated vandalism
of signs at a mosque under construction near Murphreesboro, Tennessee;
and the stabbing of a Muslim taxicab driver in New York.

MAIF comprises faith leaders from several Christian denominations, as
well as Jewish, Earth Religion, Unitarian, and Ethical Culture
congregations. One member of MAIF—who preferred not to be named because
she was speaking for herself rather than the group—said she believed it
was essential to speak out strongly in favor of the First Amendment: “In
America we don’t burn books.

Fundamental principles since our founding
protect freedom of speech and religious freedom, and there is no cause
ever to disrespect any religion in this country.”

For more information about the International Day of Peace, visit
www.internationaldayofpeace.org. For more information about the
Asheville observance, contact [email protected].