The anguish and sensitivity of the American people in regard to the barbaric 9/11 attack by Islamic fanatics and terrorists should never be questioned or violated.

The same applies to the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and, for the Jewish people, to the Holocaust and Nazi plan for their extermination.

The proponents of an Islamic cultural center and mosque in close proximity to ground zero of the World Trade Center massacre are asserting only bridge-building and religious outreach intentions. But what was their reaction to the outcry and opposition to this insensitive proposal? A stubborn denial and angry, “in-your-face” refusal of any expression of understanding for the sensitivities of the American people.

Instead, opponents are demonized and called bigots, racists, fascists, haters of the Islam religion — even un-American, and generally “bad persons.” That would make approximately 70 percent of Americans “un-American.”

Such behavior by the ground zero mosque proponents does not project an image of bridge-building, outreach, decency and compassion, or a religion of live, brotherhood, human dignity, peace and tolerance.

Let us hope cooler heads will prevail in this horrible and divisive affair, so that our Muslim fellow citizens can find total acceptance, a sense of belonging and security in America — the greatest country on this Earth.

Klaus D. Kuck, Lewiston

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