<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div>As the saying goes (I'm kinda paraphrasing here) . . .</div><div><br></div><div>"Those who limit their vision to black and white, miss the rainbow."</div><div><br></div><div>Courtesy of today's (February 12, 2016) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with thanks to Rula Awwad-Rafferty.</div><div><br></div><div>---------------------------------</div><div><h1 id="blox-asset-title" style="font-size: 30px; outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: 400; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 34px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span class="blox-headline entry-title" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); line-height: 38px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Letter: Playing on Islamaphobia</span></h1><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 24px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In regard to the Feb. 3 Our View, "Bill to change Constitution paves way for Islamic schools" by Devin Rokyta, for the Daily News editorial board, this is not the first time the newspaper, or some other decent figure, has used this type of rhetoric, particularly invoking Islam and Muslims in this way - whether as an expression of opinion, or in satire to provoke a reaction. It is much more than an "unfortunate way of expression." It seriously troubles me.</span></p><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 24px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Why the immediate link with Islam, Islamic schools and Syrian refugees? What is wrong with "Islamic schools"? There are Christian schools. There are Jewish schools. Actually, we have an Islamic school here as part of the Islamic center, just like with Sunday schools; these all are important cultural and spiritual institutions of our diverse communities. Even the way the final "Peace Upon You" greeting comes out with what sounds like malice. This sickens me. It is a beautiful greeting. Just let that be what it is.</span></p><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 24px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Does stopping a bill from passing justify writing opinion that plays on stereotype, fear and hateful reactions? No. I am completely opposed to the bill, however, I am more opposed to this type of message from the local editorial board on the pages of our local newspaper because it really plays the fear factor, the hate factor and the ignorance factor.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 24px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You should not be perpetrating such fears and ignorance from your pulpit. And because this is not the first time this type of rhetoric shows up, I would really appreciate the Moscow Human Rights Commission to speak up to that, from the commission itself, not only for my own feeling of belonging in the community, but for everyone's benefit. Here, the impact far outweighs the intent in its reach.</span></p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: none !important;"><p style="text-align: start; outline: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 24px; background-image: none; float: none !important;"><span style="outline: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: 700; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Rula Awwad-Rafferty, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow</span></p></div></div><div>---------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>How about it, Moscow Human Rights Commission? Remind us all (especially David Rokyta) in a letter to the editor of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News of what you have said so many times before . . .</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/humanrights">http://www.moscowcares.com/humanrights</a><br><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" </span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>