For your consideration:

1- There will be an Interfaith gathering in Portland, OR, next Sunday, 9/11/2011, will include representatives from the following faiths or organizations:

- Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

- Islamic Society of Greater Portland

- Interfaith Council of Greater Portland

- Congregation P'nai Oregon

- Oregon Area Jewish Committee

- St. Luke Lutheran Church

- Inter-Religious Action Network ofWashington County

2- On Saturday, 9/10/2011, in Vancouver, WA, there is an “Interfaith Workday,” joining with Habitat for Humanity to paint two homes and work on the playground at the Martin Luther King Elementary School.

3- In addition, NATIONALLY, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, partnering with the American Red Cross, has embarked on a massive blood drive, calling the initiative “Muslims for Life.” The object is to honor those who died on 9/11/2001, and in the ten years since, by saving lives through the gift of life represented by donating blood. In case you would like to sign up

at one of the locations nearest to you, here is their website: http://muslimsforlife.org/ There are several dates and locations. Scroll down to “Find a blood drive” and input your zip code for the option closest to you.

I am not a religious person myself. However, I do believe that it will take outreach initiatives such as these, bringing religions together to celebrate their common values, to eventually get the upper hand in the global war on terror - by breaking down barriers and decresing the likelihood of radicalization and extremism - certainly, as we associate it with Islam, but wherever it might lurk at the extremes of any religion. Dan Sockle