Letters: Thank you, from the 'Taliban'

WE SEE there is major opposition to the construction of a Muslim cultural center near your Ground Zero in Manhattan. Good! We, too, are intolerant of any other religions but our own. You are able to ignore the fact that Muslims died in the attacks as well - we encourage your selfish behavior! You say it's too close to Ground Zero? We say the same thing, but our radius of intolerance is much, much bigger, that's the only difference.

Some of you are saying that the center is a sign of conquest. We agree! After all, what did you Americans do after you invaded and partially destroyed a nearly defenseless Iraq but build the world's largest embassy there? Did you take a poll of the Iraqi citizens about its construction? No, of course not - and neither would we! Our question is: Why are we portrayed as bad people when you do the same things we do?

Please continue down this path, and destroy one of the pillars on which your country was founded. We'll be here, watching and laughing when America comes tumbling down. Do you not feel the tremors already?

The Taliban

(Mark F. Walker, Philadelphia)

nolead begins

The media seem to think that Americans need to be educated toward tolerance for a mosque being built near Ground Zero in New York, when all they insist upon is having a say in the matter.

Intolerant? Please tell me when was the last time you saw a Jewish suicide bomber? Do Catholics cut the noses and ears off sinners? Do Mormons stone people for infidelity? And it wasn't the Mummers dancing in the streets of Palestine when the Trade Center towers came down.

I think the learning of tolerance needs to come mostly from the other direction.

Richard Iaconelli, Philadelphia