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The Daily Illini Online
published Friday, September 14, 2001
The Christian undertones of the president's address, the University and University community's support gatherings, and written and spoken statements by the established media in response to Tuesday's terrorist attacks are appalling. If freedom of religion is guaranteed in this country by the Constitution, then I cannot understand how alienating non-Christians through constant religious references can possibly bring the country together in this time of confusion and uncertainty.
I can feel sadness, empathy and fear without first filtering my emotions through religion. I am a human being, and I have, and will, always treat my fellow women and men as human beings. I believe people should express their feelings and emotions in whatever way they see fit, but they should keep their religious rhetoric to themselves.
Since religion seems to be a significant cause of the circumstances that resulted in Tuesday's terror, I cannot possibly see religion providing any real solutions. Only by not demonizing our fellow citizens, be they of Islamic or of any other faith, will our country be able to recover.
Cyrus Pireh
senior in LAS