Muslims in America

May I say I was deeply encouraged by the thoughtful and accurate article “Muslims a Growing U.S. Force” (Column One, Jan. 24) by staff writers Terry Pristin and John Dart.

I found the article well-balanced and interesting reading, and your sources, Yvonne Haddad in particular, extremely knowledgeable about present, everyday reality in the Muslim community, as opposed to the stereotypes we so often see which rather strain credibility sometimes.

I am an English-Muslim married to an Arab and we are doing everything we can to bring up our children as good Muslims and good American citizens. I do not see that this always has to be a contradiction. The Anglo-Saxon virtues of hard work and thriftiness, combined with the close family life and good morality of the Muslims can fit together very well if given half a chance.

I do hope you will continue to write in such a vein, and please remember there are hundreds and thousands of Muslims who feel great loyalty to America, and are not responsible for a war going on beyond our shores.

ISABELLE ABUAWAD, Tempe, Ariz.