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Statement of Sahar Zaidi
President of Knox College Islamic Club
We, the students representing the cultural, religious and civic organizations of Knox College, wish to offer our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to all of those people who have lost loved ones in the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001.
This shameful act represents an attack against democracy, civilization and peace-loving people everywhere. We, as a community, wish to affirm that these barbaric actions have failed in their objectives. Instead of inciting fear and hatred, our resolve has become only more united and steadfast.
In the events of the past few days, it is becoming increasingly more apparent that the global community faces a challenge unlike anything that has ever been encountered before. The forces of terror, hatred and violence have drawn a line that can only be overcome by our unified commitment to peace, love and justice. We can not avoid fear, but, we can avoid intolerance, injustice and hatred within our ranks. The perpetrators of this heinous act must be brought to justice. However, we can never achieve true victory over the forces of hate if we forget the essential foundations this nation was built upon. Our diversity and our capacity to love and respect people of every faith and creed is the cornerstone that makes our society a symbol of liberty for all.
We men and women of all faiths stand together in mutual understanding and solidarity as a nation and as a world. We must remember that this act of terror in no way represents the principles of the Islamic faith — or ANY faith for that matter. No religious tradition known to mankind condones, justifies or forgives senseless bloodshed and disruption of social peace. In this time of crisis all of us must turn to that part of our soul that believes in a higher power to find solace. Regardless of religious affiliations and ethnicity, all people of faith must rely on our love of peace and humanity to carry us through this dark hour.
Now is the time to come together to support all those who mourn the loss of their families, friends, relatives and fellow countrymen, for whom we have inadequate words of consolation and sincere prayers, as we share their grief and mourn the immense loss. May we be blessed with the strength, conviction and determination to weed out terrorism, injustice and intolerance, so that we may establish peace in the world by promoting love and defeating the forces of hatred and bigotry within our ranks. May God bless our community, our nation and our world.
Remarks delivered at Galesburg community vigil, Sept. 18. 2001
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