Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump speak at separate campaign events last week. (Daily Camera and Getty Images photos)
Re: “Telling the truth about radical Islamic terrorism,” Nov. 25 editorial.
Hillary Clinton is correct in rejecting the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism.” Itap a pejorative label that insults Muslims in our country. It stigmatizes them with the unfair perception that being Muslim is tantamount to being a radical terrorist. The doltish mind of the general populace isn’t capable of discerning that the great majority of citizens who are Muslims are also patriotic Americans. The popularity of the hate-mongering bombast of Donald Trump is proof of that.
Names, labels and identities are important to people. Itap against our national interest to besmirch followers of Islam with derogatory labels that devalue personhood and social standing and promote bitterness and anger. It makes no sense to make enemies out of friends.
Perhaps while we celebrate the Christian holiday season, we can let our Muslim neighbors know that we respect their religious values and that we appreciate them as members of our community.
Walt Heidenfelder, Denver
This letter was published in the Dec. 2 edition.Your editorial poses an interesting question regarding labeling “radical Islamic terrorism.” Your editorial board states that itap hard to believe the phrase is controversial. After the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood murders, letap try the phrase “radical conservative terrorism.” When it becomes clear that this murderer is incited by hateful rhetoric that denounces the law of the land and changing norms within our society, will we all embrace the term “radical American terrorism”? We’ve had mass murders from Oklahoma City to Charleston in the name of anti-government and anti-abortion sentiments, racism and homophobia. Americans find it easier to label these heinous events as a gunman with a mental illness problem as soon as we find out that itap not perpetrated by a Muslim. Maybe we should agree that labeling terrorism is more difficult than many of us want to admit.
Mark Zaitz, Denver
This letter was published in the Dec. 2 edition.
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