Some Refreshing Thoughts amidst the Clamour of Hate

Well, I am a non-theist but I think that people should be able to believe in a god if they must. And when I lived in New York and had to walk home amidst the rubble of my city 9 years ago to my 'hood in Brooklyn near Atlantic Ave., I can only say that there was an outpouring of community support for our Muslim falafel vendors. And I really resent the stupid comments of New Gingrich et al, about an Islamic Cultural Center in downtown Manhattan that will help serve all of the people of New York like the Jewish Cultural Center (which it's kinda modeled on, I hear) does.
Extremists who cloak themselves in religion and call for the deaths of my friend are complete fucking assholes who brain wash and isolate "followers" so that they commit evil, evil acts. And so it is refreshing to see this petition that defends the right to live and to speak of my friend Molly Norris who has been put on an Al Queda "hit list" because some people want to spread their evil so they can gain power.
And this is also an example of what I keep on saying about this country and the West and the Enlightenment ideas that founded this country. "We Win By Being Better Than Them." Better means more tolerant, more educated, more rule of law, more transparent in our democracy and less torture, less corruption, with better senses of humor. And this petition is a wonderful example of Being Better.