By Dominique Rychlik, Mike Rychlik
The Daily Star

The recent anniversary of 9/11 was a poignant occasion to reflect on why we insist on seeing people of other faiths as fundamentally “other” when there is so much that we share. While great strides have been made in promoting inter-religious understanding, people in the United States and elsewhere are being attacked because of their religion, both verbally and physically. These attacks are often fuelled by fear and misunderstanding.

Just this summer, we saw the terrible killings of Sikhs in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, the burning of a mosque in Joplin, Missouri and the terrorizing of Jewish children at a summer camp in Pennsylvania. Many more instances of religious bigotry go unpublicized. More than ever, people of conscience must stand together, showing the world that people of different faiths can focus on what unites us, rather than what divides us.

In my own life, I have found such an occasion to stand with others by helping organize and attending the annual 9/11 Unity Walk. The 9/11 Unity Walk this year in Washington, D.C., was a Gandhi-style walk where every church, synagogue, mosque and temple along the city’s “Embassy Row” opened its doors, and people of different faiths and cultures came together to build bridges of respect and peace.

The walk was conceived in the years following the attacks of Sept. 11, partly in response to growing intolerance, suspicion and fear directed toward Muslims and, more broadly, in response to a general increase in inter-religious tensions. This year, the walk’s theme was “From Different Paths, We Walk as One.” During the walk, we were addressed by faith leaders and observed a moment of silence for victims of religious prejudice and violence.

The most memorable experiences of the walk included hearing the Muslim call to prayer at a synagogue, and being served a meal by the Sikh community during which we experienced the bountiful hospitality traditionally offered to those on a journey.

Numerous Christian churches – Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Evangelical – opened their doors, giving tours showcasing the practices, art and music of their traditions. The Buddhist Temple welcomed visitors, offering them a chance to chant, and a mantra meditation was led at the Gibran Khalil Gibran Memorial Garden.

At the Islamic Center of Washington, we listened to the Jewish shofar (a horn traditionally used for religious purposes) and a children’s Gospel choir sang on the steps of the mosque. We sat in awe at the beauty of the mosque and were present as our Muslim brothers and sisters prayed. These reciprocal and radical acts of hospitality between faiths are integral to the Unity Walk and send a powerful message.

Dominique Rychlik and Mike Rychlik are co-directors of community building and outreach for the 9/11 Unity Walk. THE DAILY STAR publishes this commentary in collaboration with the Common Ground News Service (www.commongroundnews.org).

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Commentary/2012/Sep-18/188342-people-of-all-faiths-lets-focus-on-what-unites-us.ashx#ixzz26nvPuXBo
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)