Human nature at its most vile

Today there was an letter to the editor in the Minneapolis Star Tribune that read as follows:

Enough whining

With growing frustration I read yet another article on the ridiculous claims that Muslims' religious rights are being trampled upon by claiming that their employer is not making adequate provisions for prayers (Star Tribune, July 7).

We have separation of church and state in this country. Why not separation of church and work? Why should employers be held ransom to ridiculous claims of religious persecution by a group of people whom we never asked to come to this country?

I have a simple solution: If you feel you are being persecuted, go back to where you came from and leave us alone! We have many larger problems to deal with than to cater to you.

Note: I censor the author's name because I care about his privacy. Ironically, however, I'm sure he's a proponent of the Patriot Act.

I wasted no time writing a response. Because it may or may not be published, I transcribe it to you as follows:

I am writing in response to the saddening bigotry displayed by a July 11th letter entitled "Enough Whining," where the author rails against Muslims desiring accommodation to pray during work hours. Furthermore, in a shocking digression, he further insinuates that followers of Islam are unwelcome outsiders in our country. Had the group in question been Christians demanding time off of work in order to celebrate Christmas, I doubt that they would have been treated to such castigation by the pen of Mr. Heinle. In fact, I'm sure that the mere suggestion of being without such an accommodation would cause the letter writer to abandon his argument for "separation of church and work" without delay.

As an Orthodox Christian, I can appreciate that Muslims regard both Christians and Jews as "Brothers of the Book." Perhaps it is this acceptance of others that is one of the true meanings of being an American--kinship, not xenophobia, regardless of religious affiliation or lack therof.

Erik Axdahl, Minneapolis

It originally has the post-script:

If I was a pirate, instead of a ninja, I'd sail my pirate ship right into your anus to show you just a little bit of the pain that American Muslims have to feel because of nut-cases like yourself. Feck you fecking fecker.

...However, I thought better of it.

But seriously, fecking nut-cases...