Politics, religion and the American way
“Amen” translated in English generally means “let it be so.” That affirming word resonated in my ears on March 11 as I witnessed Imam Johari Abdul-Malik lead the Virginia House of Delegates in prayer.
“We all worship the same God,” Imam Johari Abdul-Malik said. “We only use different names.” At that point, however, he paused and verbally acknowledged his god by name. Concluding his prayer, he proposed a unifying “strength to go beyond tolerance to understanding.” Upon closing his prayer with an Amen, the House chamber echoed Imam Johari Abdul-Malik’s final word to express agreement, “Amen.”
Imam Johari Abdul-Malik is the first Muslim to open the Virginia House chamber in prayer. I was with my C.V.C.C. government class touring the Capitol and meeting with our delegates when I experienced this historical milestone. I pondered our Constitution’s First Amendment (freedom of religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly and petition) during this event. Many questions came to mind.
What’s in a name? Can everyone worship the same God with completely different names? Among the billions of people in the world, doesn’t an individual’s fingerprint indentify them alone? Can God Almighty be both Allah and Jesus? Does Buddha share Shiva’s temple?
As Americans, we are free to seek after, acknowledge and worship God. We are free to question and investigate questions such as “Who is God?” We are also free to disagree. If distinction becomes unpopular, will that be synonymous with un-American?
DANIEL PAUL WARNER
Amherst
Get him out now
With Rep. Tom Perriello’s votes on cap and trade and health care reform, it is imperative that we get him out of office.
We should support whoever wins the Fifth District Republican congressional primary in June. It would be ludicrous to have a third party split the conservative vote and enable Perriello to return to office.
He would then continue to walk in lock step with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama to enact a radical agenda.
Cap and trade will not only cost jobs in the coal industry, but also raise energy costs resulting in higher unemployment. Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives health care reform bills will increase the cost of health care and raise the deficit to unacceptable levels. This will further raise unemployment as companies try to absorb higher health care costs through the reduction of labor costs.
Having run a company of 2,500 employees, I well understand the effect of higher labor and benefits cost and their effect on competitiveness.
TALBOT S. HUFF
Huddleston
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