MOORHEAD - America has established "one of the most astonishing traditions of pluralism," even in the early years as the country was being founded, Eboo Patel told a crowd of hundreds on the Concordia College campus Thursday evening.
Patel, a national leader for interfaith cooperation, said the country hasn't been perfect and committed its "original sin" by allowing slavery.
He said Muslim Americans like himself had to deal with animosity and intolerance after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The issue reached a boiling point in 2010 when plans to build an Islamic community center near the former site of the World Trade Center prompted hatred and ignorance toward the religion's followers.
Patel said it was a moment of confusion and sadness as he wondered how things had gotten so bad in the country he loved.
But he was reminded by a colleague of a situation civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. faced as the Montgomery, Ala., boycott to end segregation on buses ended.
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A journalist asked King if he was angry, Patel said, but he instead saw it as a time for "redemption" and "reconciliation."
Patel said that had parallels to his own experience in the country, and instead of getting angry, he has focused on working with people of all faiths to make things better for everyone.
"We are experiencing that new moment," he said.
Patel told Concordia students that all Americans "inherit" the country's legacy of pluralism. But it's not enough to just take the work of those who came before them.
"Pluralism never fell from the sky; it never rose from the ground," he said. "People built it."
Patel said there are three steps to act as an interfaith leader: "voice," or sharing personal stories about pluralism to overcome religious differences; "engage" with people from different backgrounds; and "act" on problems together.
He said they all must live up to America's legacy and make sure it's still there for the next generation.
"Why shouldn't you be the people building that cathedral of pluralism," he said.
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