Healing the wounds

Rocky Mountain News, September 22, 2001

Schoolchildren, people of faith takes steps to show support

By Lisa Levitt Ryckman and Robert Sanchez, News Staff Writers

It started with a T-shirt and ended with a group hug.

On Sept. 12, teacher Jodie Carrigan arrived at Godsman Elementary wearing the American flag T-shirt she had made for 4th of July. And then everybody wanted one.

"So I went to the principal, and I said, 'Can we declare Friday National Godsman Proud To Be American Day?' And she said, 'Go for it!' "

During the week, Carrigan's third-, fourth- and fifth-graders stamped stars and stripes on T-shirts and wove bracelets out of red, white and blue yarn. Friday afternoon, the whole school trooped out front and stood in respectful lines while Lee Greenwood's God Bless the U.S.A. blared from the tape player and six kids wrestled a giant flag onto a pole.

The children at Godsman needed this, Carrigan said.

Sarah Martinez, 9, watched television last week and saw the twin towers collapse, and it made her afraid. She still is, she said.

But the day's celebration at the school at 2120 W. Arkansas Ave. proved a powerful antidote.

"It makes me feel really happy," the fourth-grader said. "When we do this, it makes me think of all the people who lost one of their family members or a friend or brother or sister. I think they're really sad, and I hope they get through it."

Earlier in the day, Carrigan's kids stood before a school assembly and recited excerpts from Martin Luther King's 1957 "Loving Your Enemies" sermon.

"I think the first reason that we should love our enemies . . . is this: that hate for hate only intensifies the existence of hate and evil in the universe," King said. "Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And you do that by love."

At Godsman Elementary on Friday, Jodie Carrigan opened her arms and gathered her kids in.

Across town, 1,000 people opened their arms and embraced a mosque.

Emad Muhaisen was proud when the first circle wrapped it. He was shocked when the second circle appeared. When the third group encircled the Colorado Muslim Society Center, he was at a loss for words.

"I knew this was a unified community," the 34-year-old said. "Right now, I'm standing here smiling. You don't know what else to do."

Nearly 1,000 people from all faiths -- including Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Mormon -- came to the South Park Road mosque to show solidarity for their "Muslim brothers" in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Rabbis stood next to priests, and Muslims shook hands with Christians.

"We love you! We love you! We love you!" Mohamed Jodha shouted.

Jodha, a spokesman for the society, raised his arms above his head in triumph. Muslims who spoke at the event denounced the terrorist attacks saying they go against all Islamic beliefs.

The mosque has been a target for hate calls. On the day of the attacks, a bomb threat was reported, and on Sept. 14, a man at the front gate claimed to have an AK-47. Arapahoe County Sheriff's are providing 24-hour security.

"It's scary for a lot of people," said Emamudin Ghiasi, the society's chairman. "That's why this show of solidarity is so important. Maybe people will finally begin to understand Islam a little better."

Contact Lisa Levitt Ryckman at (303) 892-2736 or ryckmanl@RockyMountainNews.com.

September 22, 2001