The summary of the walk is great. I wish it had included the ceremony and picnic in Mitchell Park created by American Muslim Voice: singing, release of peace doves and great food.

Americans do want peace and it is great to see everyone unite against a common enemy.

By their own account, Radical Islamists seek to establish a religious caliphate around the world. First, they intend to eliminate all moderate muslim opposition. Next they want to destroy Israel and extend their control to the previous historical boundaries of the Ottoman Empire. From that center of mass, they will then expand their control into other muslim countries around the globe and start destabilizing other cultures.

Even a superficial scan of the news shows all of this strategy is already in full progress.

They hate us because we oppose them and give others the means to resist them. Most of all, however, they hate us because we are infidels and have a diverse culture that conflicts with their religious values. It is nothing new, they have been waging a war against us for over 45 years since the late 1960s through terrorism and armed conflict.

They refined their tactics of kidnappings, assassinations, murders, hijackings and bombings with the PLO, Heszbollah, Hamas and Al Queada. More recently, ISIS has risen to a pinnacle of daily sadistic beheadings, burnings, drownings and crucifixions. All told, Islamic Terrorism is responsible for genocide across the Middle East and Africa representing hundreds of thousands of innocent victims.

It is disappointing to see the emphasis of this article and walk has been focused on political correctness and islamophobia in the United Staes. Try having a multi-cultural peace walk in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, Turkey or any Islamic governed country. Islamic fundamentalists that teach true hatred and intolerance against women, gays and other religions are the real problem.

The "world trade" center was chosen (Not once but twice in 1993 and 2001) for a reason. Islamic fundamentalists want to destroy all of us and on 9/11 they murdered 3,000 people from 61 different countries and almost every religion. The people incinerated and crushed in the attack or who had to jump to their death from 100 stories suffered far worse discrimination.

Islamic terrorists won't stop until they are destroyed and defeated. Let's remember and recommit ourselves to that objective on this very sad anniversary.

Was this march announced to the public beforehand? Maybe more people would have wanted to participate but they didn't know about it?

@they can't they don't and they won't stop:
BRAVO! Well said-- you summed it up well.

The entire situation is actually complicated by the fact that " peaceful" Muslims are often in denial about the malefactions of their evil brethren, and feel no compulsion to stop them from ruining Islam for non-violent Muslims.

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Let me speak honestly. I don't trust so-called 'moderate' Muslims to oppose their fundamentalist brethren. If they do, most of them have been very quiet about it, although there are some exceptions. If these moderate Muslims would make a very public and organized statement (possibly involving a public march) opposing sharia law, under any circumstances, in this country I would begin to open up to them.

My perception of the walk was unity against war and violence, not against an "enemy" in the usual sense of that word. My perception of the walk is that it was good to join with Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and people of other and non religious traditions to become acquainted with all as human beings desirous of peace rather than vilify groups while hiding behind a pseudonym online. Walking helped moderate fears in my heart/mind. Although I was not an organizer of the walk, I did see/hear notifications of the walk in several congregations and elsewhere online.

War and violence are committed by people. Not butterflies or unicorns or abstract concepts. Thus, by definition if you are against war you are against the people committing the violent acts. Can one be against murder, cannabilism and pedophelia and not be against Jeffrey Dahmer?

Refusing to define the enemy is an intentional political ploy funded by oil monarchies and political organizations like CAIR to distract our attention, obscure culpability and diffuse our response. Radical Islamists have certainly defined their enemy. From their perspective, ANYBODY who does not adhere to a strict form of Sharia Law is an infidel, apostate or non-believer deserving of punishment and death.

Given that Sharia calls for complete submission to a religion, culture and set of laws that do not support freedom of religion, dress, speech, education, diet, commerce, marriage and sexual orientation it is incompatible with our constitution and immoral to support people who wish to practice it in the United States.

If you care about human rights, you should help to define, identify and confront those who are trying to take them away from you. Otherwise, you are just tacitly supporting the extremists and hiding behind the strength of others who are fighting to protect the freedoms you enjoy.

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It was one of the great joys of my life to participate yesterday in the Multifaith Peace Walk and picnic hosted by American Muslim Voice. The beautiful diversity of our community walking together, singing together, praying together, each in our own way, but also as a part of one human family was a life-giving enactment of the power of hope.

Please note that the correct spelling is Kristi Iverson. Many people came together to organize this event, but Kristi Iverson and Rev. Diana Gibson were the key people to keep track of the many details needed to make this beautiful day possible.

@longtime resident (Midtown):

Yes, the march was previously announced. Here at Palo Alto Online, it was covered on September 8th in this article:

Web Link

There was also a listing in the Community Calendar:

Web Link

and the event itself has its own website:

Web Link

My assumption is that it was promoted as well via the regular social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, etc.

There was ample notice.

To "can't, won't, don't" -

that is about the finest post I've ever read, any time, any place, any media....

Thank you!

I stand with my Muslim friends and neighbors.

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Slapped-- what about all the American born, Christian terrorists-- OKC, Sandy Hook, aurora theatre shooting, abortion providers killed or attacked and this is just a small sampling.

The OKC Bomber never professed to be a Christian. He was one sick individual, though-- and when captured was shown no mercy: he was executed.

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The Sandy Hook killer was autistic and possibly mentally ill. I worked with autistic kids for two years, and can tell you that there can be a tendency to sudden violence with autistic makes in their adolescent years ( this does not appear to be true of autistic females, of which there are far fewer). I quit working with these kids because it was indeed dangerous, and I had children of my own at home.

The Aurora killer was very obviously our-of-his-mind and not in touch with reality. These examples you give do not compare with the religious fanaticism of Islam.

That said, if a Christian fanatic were to attack his own people, then peaceful Christians have an obligation to denounce any violent act committed by that Christian, especially if he committed it in the name of Christianity.

I am not a Christian, but if an atheist committed a terrorist act against anyone in this country, be assured I would condemn and renounce that atheist and violent act, particularly if that violent act were committed in the name of atheism!

Please don't compare apples to oranges!

Slap- yes condemn all acts of terrorism. However in your deleted post you condemned all Muslims. Now you ate making excuses for Christian terrorists.