Russell  Simmons, whose downtown Manhattan apartment overlooks Ground Zero is using his window space to send a heartfelt message regarding faith and pluralism that I would hope we can all agree on.

Spelling out the word “COEXIST” by using various religious symbols in place of the letters (i.e. a Islamic Crescent in place of the C, a Star of David for the X and Christian Cross for the T), he is sending the message that we all need to tolerate (and, hopefully, respect) the beliefs of others.

It’s a good message, particularly for a site that’s been the center of so much controversy involving the construction of a large Islamic community center near the 9/11 attack.  Or actually on the site if you believe that the fact that the landing gear of one of the plane’s used in the hateful assault actually careened into the planned construction site (an old Burlington Coat Factory outlet) makes it part of the overall attack zone.

But, it’s also important to note that, away from Ground Zero, Americans of different faiths are more than just coexisting every day.  They are respecting and showing everyday kindness toward one another.

I spent the past couple of days out of town helping my elderly aunt move into a Catholic assisted living facility. Near her home is a deli run by an Arab family (I would guess Muslim though we never talked religion) who were always as nice and friendly as could be. I always enjoyed stopping in there almost as much for the smiles as the sandwiches — which were great.

While helping her pack, her mailman (a Sikh) dropped by to give her some chocolates and wish her the all the best.  He had been delivering her mail for years and, since my aunt couldn’t easily get to her apartment mailbox, would make a practice of delivering it straight to her door.  As I understand, he wasn’t even scheduled to come by that final day before she moved. He just did so to be kind and to show respect.  It was a lesson in the practice of Christianity that many of us Christians could learn from.

We hired a limo to get my aunt and us (my sisters helped) to her new digs. He was an Indian guy named Kumar and he had previously driven my aunt to many of her doctor appointments. A very nice man who treated my aunt (and us) very well.

The movers were a black guy and a white guy (I have no idea what their religions are but it doesn’t matter). Two really nice guys who work hard for a living — as most people do.

When we arrived at the Catholic assisted-living home, the staff couldn’t have been nicer.  We had missed the normal lunch time in the dining room but they made up a special lunch just for my aunt and us. So, Catholics can be nice people too.

I’ve also, in my experiences, have come across many instances of Christians reaching out in kindness and respect to non-Christians.  Respect and kindness travel in all directions, from every faith. No religion has the market cornered on simple human-to-human decency.

Perhaps that’s kind of the point of Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan, that good people defy labels and that God judges us not on our labels but on our love.  Perhaps we would all (no matter our religious or political persuasions) do well to replace the word Samaritan in the story with one describing whichever group we personally tend have prejudices against (i.e. gay man, lesbian, Democrat, Republican, Tea Partier, conservative Christian, Muslim, Jew, liberal, Fox News viewer, the list is literally endless).

And it might also be a good idea if both sides cool the rhetoric around Ground Zero — and, as the classic Max Ehrmann poem Desiderata suggests: “Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and
the ignorant, they too have their story.”

There are two points where I respectfully disagree with the well-meaning Mr. Simmons who says “I’m appalled that there’s even a dialogue about it” and “America is using the mosque and Ground Zero as a mask for its own Islamophobia.” 

In my view talking (and, perhaps more importantly, listening) is extremely important in resolving this issue. And if it’s right to call Americans “Islamophobic” do we then label Islamic nations not exactly noted for quick zoning approval of synagogues and churches “Judeophobic” or “Christiphobic.”  We all fall into it from time to time but, in the end, name calling will get us nowhere.

And, both sides might also want to consider that at some point another issue will arise (possibly involving a church or a synagogue at a place sensitive to Muslims), in which the perspectives and feelings will be exactly reversed. At which time we’ll likely see a lot of placard swapping going on — with current Islamic center opponents talking about freedom of religion and proponents rediscovering the value of historic sensitivity.

How about this as a guiding principle? When these issues come along (and they always do) we all resolve to talk first, listen to each other more and, with mutual respect, seek solutions.  There’s always a solution when both sides act with good will.