In received emails today came a chain letter. It was forwarded by a highly respected, retired local public figure and titled "It does take a lot of nerve!!!" in all caps.
It asks readers to remember Americans lost in "vicious Muslim attacks" including Pan Am Flight 103, two bombings of the World Trade Center in New York City, attacks on barracks and embassies and the USS Cole. It expresses outrage against President Obama for directing the United States Postal Service (USPS) to issue a new stamp honoring a Muslim holiday, asking patriotic Americans to forward the email to everyone they know.
It concludes by stating "they (Muslims) don't even believe in Christ and they are getting their own Christmas stamp....truly unbelieveable!"
Yes, it is unbelievable. Ten minutes surfing the web and a little critical thinking shows how blatantly ignorant and prejudiced this message truly is.
The Eid stamp was first issued in 2001, and reissued in 2002 and again 2006 through 2008. Who was President then? This Holy Day, or holiday, celebrates an end to a period of fasting and religious introspection. How many "people of faith" keep Holy Days today, rather than just taking a day off from work? Aren't holidays all about eating?
According to Wiki the USPS is an independent agency of the federal government, established in 1775. A Board of Governors sets policy, procedures and rates. This body is normally comprised of eleven members, nine appointed by the President with advice from the US Congress. The current board has ten members and one apparent vacancy. Seven sitting members were appointed by George W. Bush, with an eighth reappointed after December 2000.
Islam recognizes Jesus Christ as a Prophet, known to Muslims as Isa.
Human history is full of horrific tragedies, many based on religious beliefs or fidelity to one's homeland. No country or people is without sin, but individuals should not be painted with a broad brush of untruths.
Receipt of such hate mail felt very un-Christiansburg.