Bring National Unity Home

When the complacency of our lives was shattered by the events of Sept. 11, we responded. In Orange County, throughout America, and indeed throughout the world, we immediately gave our gifts of money, time and blood. From young schoolchildren with their pennies to individuals and corporations with their millions of dollars, we rallied around our passion, our patriotism and our perseverance.

But now, with the specter of an extended conflict hanging above us, we are faced with different, longer-term challenges. Here in Orange County, now that the initial horror has passed, what do we do now?

Martin Marty, in his book “The One and the Many,” talks about America as a land of many people who are potentially united by common values and a desire for freedom. In reality, however, most of us stay in our own groups, only occasionally stretching across the boundaries of race, religion and culture.

Yet it is indisputably true that Sept. 11 created both a compelling shared experience in our nation and a compelling need to learn about and engage one another on a continuing basis. The tragedy that hallowed the ground in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia really can bring us together if we use our energy to reach out to each other right here in Orange County.

Mirroring efforts at the national level, many of our local leaders have articulated the need to maintain a safe and healthy environment for our Muslim, Arab and other potentially endangered communities in Orange County. In particular, law enforcement has greatly enhanced protection at local religious, cultural and educational centers that may feel at risk.

But let’s look closer at the problem, and then examine some practical solutions. While there have been amazingly few, albeit highly publicized, retaliatory criminal acts in America against individuals because of their appearance, religion or heritage, there is a much larger problem immediately beneath the surface, right here in Orange County.

That problem is the immeasurable level of fear that has been instilled in many of our neighbors. Many Muslim women are afraid to go out in public dressed in their traditional head covering; we have Arab, South Asian and other “foreign-looking” (whatever that means) neighbors who are afraid to walk alone on the streets or send their kids to school; Sikh men, who are neither Arab nor Muslim, are afraid that their appearance, because they wear turbans and beards, will draw the wrath of ignorant and revenge-minded individuals; and even Jewish individuals and organizations feel that there could be some convoluted string of logic that places them in the vulnerable category.

And let’s be very clear about this point: If these members of our local communities, where you and I live and work, are experiencing such levels of fear and displacement, then you and I, as Americans, as members of our communities, have a moral and just responsibility to ameliorate this situation.

So what can we do? First of all, we can stand up to bigotry. If you see or hear of anyone who is using this crisis to stereotype and scapegoat others, take appropriate and immediate action, ranging from notifying law enforcement to speaking up at work or school. And this includes standing up to such bizarre comments as those by Jerry Falwell, who blamed gays, lesbians and pro-choice groups for the terrorist attacks.

Second, reach out across the divide of cultural and religious differences. Go to one of the many mosques or synagogues in Orange County or to the Sikh Center in Santa Ana. They’ll be thrilled to have you there, and you will be warmly welcomed. Or simply go up and say hello to someone you don’t know at work, in your neighborhood or at one of your children’s activities. Yes, it might be a bit awkward, but this is the time to overcome such trivialities.

Third, learn about what you don’t know. How much do you really know about Islam? Let’s say it and believe it: Those who attacked us were not practicing Islam any more than Timothy McVeigh was practicing Christianity. Encourage your faith group or house of worship to become engaged in faith exchange with those of other faiths. Worship together and create a wider interfaith fellowship.

Finally, build community. There are many organizations in Orange County striving to build community, create leaders and foster more positive long-term relationships among people of all backgrounds. Get involved with an organization or do something on your own. Open your home, place of worship and your workplace to discussions and action planning. Applaud those who take the extra step, such as the Garden Grove Police De-partment, which recently hired its first Muslim police offi-cer.

Obviously, there is no guarantee that we will be safe from terrorists. But we can be safe from ourselves. “United We Stand” means all of us, not just some of us.