The temptation to condemn an entire group for the acts of the extremists among them unfortunately overcame a retired Christian minister, the Rev. Richard Rodes, recently. Speaking at a public hearing before the Howard County Planning Board, Reverend Rodes questioned if members of the only Muslim congregation in Howard might harbor dangerous extremists in the new mosque it wants to construct on Route 108 near Manor Lane.
Reverend Rodes is a neighbor of the proposed site, which would be the first Muslim mosque in Howard. The 200-member congregation currently meets in offices in Wilde Lake, but had previously traveled as far as Baltimore, Washington and Laurel to attend services.
Reverend Rodes' comments were couched in various caveats, but the message was clear.
"If this were a Jewish or Christian institution, I would be saying the same thing," he insisted. "Every religion I know has extremists, everyone. Hamas (an Islamic fundamentalist group), the cult in Waco, Texas, and so forth. They're exceptions, actually rare exceptions, but they sometimes are exceedingly violent."
What Reverend Rodes wanted from the county planners was to ensure that such extremists not infiltrate the mosque, using it as a training ground for terrorist activities. While we have no doubt that the reverend would condemn extremism no matter the source, we wonder whether he would have so easily assumed the worst had the congregation in question been Christian or Jewish.
Making such an assumption about a Muslim group shows a lack of tolerance and fairness. Stunned planning board members tried politely to steer the testimony in another direction.
In fact, the planning board, which confines itself to land-use decisions, has no power to dictate what is discussed or taught in a facility.
Despite Reverend Rodes' assertion that "none of us looks extreme, but we could be," that is not the standard by which our country determines if a group is likely to be engaged in illegal acts. And, in the event they are, law-enforcement officials have jurisdiction.
Zakia Makasa, the attorney for the congregation, was justifiably insulted by Reverend Rodes' comments. He and his clients deserve an apology.