Overshadowed by the avalanche of NIMBY letters to the editor from trail opponents in Jackson Oaks have been some letters and a Red Phone caller decrying the proposed place of worship in San Martin for followers of Islam. Though one letter writer questions the propriety of the size and style of the architecture – a bit odd since no specific plans have been shown for the writer to protest – letter writer Bill Currie from Morgan Hill doesn’t bother to hide his bigotry when he challenges, “name one place in the known universe that has had its social environment or quality of life improved by the introduction of Islam.”
Unlike Mr. Currie, I am extremely fortunate to be able to name a few: Austin, Texas, Los Gatos, Almaden and South County: Gilroy, San Martin and Morgan Hill.
I was not in Texas for very long when I met Jamila and Tahar Boukhris when their daughter Sarah was in my daughter’s class and Daisy troop. We were lucky to be counted among their many, many friends as the years passed and we worked together on projects and Brownies. I am convinced they are human angels sent by God to gently teach everyone they meet how to be as the Divine wants us to be.
Their devotion to each other and their children were trumped only by their love and devotion to God. They are devout Muslims who surely “walk the talk.” To people of all faiths, with great sense of humor and hospitality that made you feel at home wherever they were, they modeled how to be a supportive and respectful partner in a marriage, how to be a loving parent with guidance and boundaries, how to be a generous neighbor and friend, how to be an engaged American, how to support education and be charitable to strangers, all with a profound love and generosity that is, alas, too rare. When I consider how I should live my Christian faith, I honestly don’t look to other Christians, but to them.
My brother-in-law in Los Gatos and his cousins in Almaden live their faith in Islam much in the same way: through their gentle and generous love and care of their own families, the people who work for them in their businesses, and their broader community. If only American Christians put as much emphasis on tending to and respecting their elders, particularly the women, as well as they do.
Called by their faith to create a just and equitable society, they ensure their workers are well-compensated. They also take time from their families and work to share their wealth with those less fortunate and not just in their own neighborhoods. Our south county communities have benefited regularly from their individual efforts. They work collectively with others as the Almaden Network, a group about which I’ve written before, has pulled together cash, goods and services to plug gaps in local services for those families and individuals in need served by our local schools in Gilroy and Morgan Hill.
Mr. Currie was referring to countries that are predominantly Muslim when he complained of their presence, but his statement was a hard swipe at Muslims everywhere, especially as he seeks to block those among us from having their own place of worship. All of these people I know, who are true followers of Islam, have improved their communities – our communities – and enhanced the quality of life many in ways that are measurable, meaningful and notably, peaceful. Heck, if all Christians were as Muslim as they were, we’d have a wonderful world. Why would we not want more of this in our midst?
A recent report on Muslims in America show most are moderate, like my friends and family. They are embarrassed and horrified at the way their faith has been bastardized in the hate and violence of the flaming lunatics that are Al Qaeda, just as we Christians are (or should be) by the Ku Klux Klan’s gross distortion of The Bible that drives their cowardice and putrid hatred.
In this case as in most, Don Gage has done his job well. The Mosque should go through all the regular planning hoops that all such buildings must go through. If it passes muster through those criteria alone, it should be built – and our community can look forward to the contribution to our local quality of life by the love and justice that followers of Islam seek.
Allah Akhbar, y’all.
Columnist Dina Campeau is a wife, mother of two teens and a resident of Morgan Hill. Her work for the last seven years has focused on affordable housing and homeless issues in Santa Clara County. Her column will be published each Friday. Reach her at dc******@*****er.net.
