Read other letters about this article
I have enough self-assurance as an American Muslim to acknowledge that there are Muslims extremists among us (a minority) who would like to see a Caliphate in this country based on their extremist tendencies. They will never succeed because we will not let them. I also know of many Americans who believe that it is the extremists who represent "true" Islam because they interpret the Quran as it should be, and that moderate Muslims are the aberrations. Paul Barrett has done an admirable job in steering a middle path and showing how Muslims of different backgrounds can sustain conflicts and contradictiosn within themselves and yet lead pious and noble lives. We are not a monolith; in our diversity lies our humanity and our capacity for greatness.