National non-Muslim Leaders Call for Two-Way Street

National [Non-] Muslim Leaders Call For Two-way Street

By NY1 News

[Non-]Muslim leaders from across the country are asking for a "National Week For [Two-way Street] Dialogue" next month, in reaction to the controversy over a proposed Islamic cultural center near [and mosque in a building partially destroyed by the jihadist attack] on the World Trade Center.

Members of 20 of the nation's leading Muslim organizations [freedom lovers, patriots and defenders of Judeo-Chrsitian values] asked for tolerance and said that Americans of all faiths have the right to build houses of worship where they please [but this is not a religious freedom issue. There are hundreds of mosques in NYC and thousands of mosque across America. This is an issue of common decency and human compassion. We urge Islamic supremacist to abandon their support of a 15 story mega mosque at Ground Zero and show sensitivity to the 911 families and all Americans deeply offended by this flag of conquest.]

During the weekend of October 22-24, mosques [churches, synagogues and temples] are asked to hold open houses and welcome non-Muslims to visit and learn more about Islam [Judeo-Christian ethics and values.]

"It is a hope and desire that these events will help to allay tensions in society caused by the Park51 [Cordoba insult ] controversy and will build bridges of understanding that unite and strengthen our nation," said Imam Al-Amim Latif of the Islamic Leadership Council. said Pamela Geller of the Freedom Defense Initiaitve

[We know that] "Park51 [Cordoba] is not a case, it is a cause," said Nihad Awad of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "We believe the entire nation has been engulfed into misunderstanding and misinformation. There has been a campaign against this project [the 911 families, millions of Americans] that we believe is unfair and unnecessary."
[...]

The coalition is also encouraging Muslims to reach out and attend services of other religions to increase understanding.

Jeha's Nail

Global Voices

Jeha’s Nail makes the point of differentiating between “talks” and “dialogue” among other things:

There has been much talk about talk in the news lately, and our insignificant little slice of the Middle East has been the center of much of it, even some ominous talk and “interesting” moves…
Yet for all the useless attention we’re getting, most are missing this little truth;
There’s talk, and then there’s dialogue
The two are not necessarily the same. Such a distinction evades otherwise smart politician. He should take heed from those “leaders” of ours, now in Qatar to continue talking past one another as they had been talking forever. Their talks serve no function other than provide underpaid journalists with a much needed excuse to window shop in Qatar. Yes, Beirut would be more fun, but the yellow rose of downtown has yet to unpack her UNHCR tent.
All this talk about talk misunderstands the real dynamics of the conversation between the United States and the Persians. Before mouthing off about engagement, those “realists” need to consider the persons they are engaging.