Letter: Faculty asks for respect for Muslims from URI GOP

10/24/07 - To the Cigar,We acknowledge the University of Rhode Island's College Republicans for their previously stated support of women, gays, Christians, Jews and non-religious people. We share their support of these groups, and we deplore any violence, intolerance, repression or hate directed against any group of people.

The URI Republicans are raising awareness of extremism by Muslims. This exists and such extremism is dangerous, as is all extremism - practiced by any individual or group of people - that breeds intolerance, hatred and violence. But it is bigoted to assume that every Islamic culture is repressive to women.

We seek to counter such intolerance by supporting reasonable people all over the world who are working to bring about social justice. We applaud the numerous women's groups in all parts of the world who work daily to foster equality and to stamp out social and economic injustices that confront them. Support to these women and to the NGOs supporting women's rights should be unwavering.

Violence has never produced long-term solutions to problems between people, since throughout history we have observed that violence begets violence. Nonviolence, as practiced by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., is an active force for justice and social change. Nonviolence promotes community building, collaboration, negotiation and reconciliation among people. The results are long-lasting solutions to tensions between groups of people.

When Elie Weisel spoke at a URI commencement several years ago he reminded us that the opposite of intolerance is not tolerance, which is too narrow a concept. Rather the opposite of intolerance is respect. We hope to join with others to build respect among communities and groups so that we may reach a goal of social justice and peace.

As Americans, we have much to do in this country to support women, gays, the disabled and people of all colors and religions and offer them an equal place in this society. Consider the women battered by their partners, the women who are unemployed or underemployed. Consider poverty with its particular manifestation in the lack of affordable health care. Consider the limits on access to birth control and sex education. Consider the issue of child abuse. These are the issues we should be actively facing as well as issues of international equity and safety. We ask the URI Republicans to join us.


Gail Rashed Faris, URI Women's Center
Carolyn Sovet, URI Women's Center
Karen Stein, Director, Women's Studies Program