By Afsha Bawany

He claims to be a man of peace; a man of the cloth striving for solidarity and for a better world for everyone. Everyone but Muslims, feminists, homosexuals and any other “species” that doesn’t follow what he considers the “right way.” He is Reverend Jerry Falwell, a Christian Evangelical who says he speaks for 7 million Christian followers in the U.S.

Falwell says a lot of things that a lot of people don’t like. He is the same man that said the events of September 11 occurred partly because God decided to remove protection from America because The Almighty was annoyed with civil liberties, feminism, and gay rights. He later apologized for that statement; whether he meant it or not, God only knows.

He also says Israel is entitled to the land that the Palestinians occupy. As for the Palestinians, he says they are getting in the way – just pick them up and move them to some Arab country like a herd waiting for their shepherd.

When Falwell rants and raves about the world’s awful ways, he doesn’t pause to look at his own instigation of hatred and violence. However, those who care about civil liberties and human rights do take notice.

His recent comments are now aimed at millions of Muslims across the globe. The Prophet Mohammed, a man of peace who Muslims look to as Jewish people look to Moses or Christians look to Jesus, has been called a “terrorist” by none other than Falwell himself.

On Sunday night’s “60 Minutes,” Falwell claimed to have read many biographies on the Prophet Mohammed that have clearly pointed out that this man, who Muslim’s admire and look to for advice and guidance in life through his sayings, is a “terrorist.”

Prophet Mohammed a “terrorist?” Mohammed did indeed lead a war to defend his people, but he has been quoted as saying, “God did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy.”

The Washington Post’s editorial on Falwell and other right wing religious leaders such as Pat Robertson and Rev. Billy Graham’s son, Rev. Franklin Graham, defaming Islam, says it all. These religious leaders are political allies and constituents of President Bush. President Bush made it clear after September 11 that Islam is a religion of peace and that Muslims are not to blame for these tragedies. Islam like many other religions has its own version of extremists. Perhaps Falwell, Robertson and Graham are such extremists. If we call Prophet Mohammed a terrorist because he led Muslims in a war of defense, then is right to label Abraham Lincoln a terrorist because he led the North against the South, or call George Washington a terrorist in the revolution?

Should Bush fund these Christian groups with his faith-based initiative (Robertson is first in line for a $500,000 grant) when the groups aim to denounce Islam and other faiths? Wasn’t the whole point of a faith-based initiative to forge healthy relationships between religions? If Bush advocates giving this money to these groups, does that mean he is also willing to sit idly by while religious groups in the U.S bicker?

Falwell’s words have not only bothered Muslims, but the Arab-American League, the Council on Arab Islamic Relations and the Anti-Defamation League are all calling for Falwell’s apology.

Falwell and his friends may never see the harm they are causing and probably believe in placing Jews and Christians on one side, and Muslims on the other.

But, there is hope. Halfway around the world Muslims and Jews are fighting, but at MIT they’ve banded together – over food. After a three-year struggle by Muslim students, MIT began serving halal meat – meat slaughtered according to Islamic strictures – at its Baker Dining Hall this semester. Support from Hillel, a Jewish group that runs a kosher kitchen on campus, was helpful in convincing the administration to offer the service, which has allowed some devout Muslim students to eat meat regularly for the first time since entering school.

“There’s definitely strength in numbers,” said Ahmed El Mouelhi, the president of the campus Muslim Students Association and a second-year grad student in mechanical engineering. Falwell is a man whose job description says bringing together communities and promoting brotherhood and sisterhood with his power may be a good idea.

Of course, not everyone gets employee of the month.