Matthew Jansen, an outspoken Donald Trump supporter, studied and broke bread with some of the new faces of America in Harrisburg Friday and, we're pleased to report, bridges of understanding were built.
Jansen's unlikely visit to a Ramadan celebration at Harrisburg's Hadee Mosque was prompted by what became a public furor over a voice-mail rant Jansen directed at a United Church of Christ pastor in York County earlier this month.
In Jansen's Donald Sterling-like moment, he called out the Rev. Christopher Rodkey for using a roadside signboard at his Dallastown church to offer Ramadan blessings to its Muslim neighbors.
He then peppered the imam and his congregants with a series of questions about their church.
In the healthy give-and-take that followed, Jansen heard:
* Pleas from congregants to understand that 30,000 Daesh fighters, and lone wolves who may act in their name, can not be allowed to represent 1.6 billion Muslims across the world.
The lessons taught in most American mosques, Ahmed said, are given specifically with an eye toward preventing radicalization.
Afterward breaking the fast with mosque leaders, Jansen praised his hosts as representing the very best of the American Dream.
"It was neat to do this, and I'm still enjoying myself," he said.
After all, they said, it is better to agree to disagree than rant before you've ever heard the conversation.
"I think this is a huge step in the right direction as far as Mr. Jensen is concerned, and as far as we are concerned," Mumtaz said as the ceremonies wound down.
"I think is a path to friendship. ... You don't develop a relationship, a friendship in one day. We might not be able to change his mind today. But maybe tomorrow," Mumtaz added.
source : hawzahnews
