At this time, when the forces of fear are calling for rallies against a religious minority, and xenophobia and bigotry are given more prominent voice in the public square, we feel it necessary to reaffirm the common values of openness, tolerance, understanding, and pluralism that unite us as Americans and as human beings. We stand against those who would fracture the unity of the human family along racial, ethnic, religious, or cultural lines; but even more we stand for the compassion and mutual respect that our world so badly needs.
A globalizing world needs globalized hearts, hearts that can both respect our differences and particularities and at the same time see beyond them to the fundamental humanity we all share, hearts that approach human diversity not with fear but with deep longing to know, understand, and learn from one another. And as Americans, we need to remind ourselves and the world that the First Amendment to our Constitution, and in particular its guarantee of religious liberty, entail not merely a legal but also an ethical and spiritual commitment to live out the principles of pluralism and mutual acceptance that are the only basis on which our diverse nation and world can live in harmony and peace.
In the face of voices of fear and division, we call on all our fellow Americans, and all our sisters and brothers across the globe, to affirm and to live by the values of our common humanity: mutual respect, understanding, and compassion.
ING and Affiliates
Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice
The Buddhist Churches of America (The second oldest Buddhist organization in the United States with approximately 16,000 members)
Hindu American Foundation
Michael Pappas, Executive Director, San Francisco Interfaith Council (SFIC)
Jewish Community Relations Council (Public affairs organization for Bay Area Jewish community)
Rabbi Melanie Aron, Congregation Shir Hadash (Los Gatos, CA)
Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County – Governing Board
Jewish Family & Children’s Services of the East Bay
Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco – Auxiliary Bishop William Justice
Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
JianYing Shifu, Abbot, Sunnyvale Zen Center (Sunnyvale, CA)
Silicon Valley Interreligious Council (SiVIC)
Rev. D. Andrew Kille, Ph.D., Chair, SiVIC
Sikh Coalition
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Irelan, Willow Glen United Methodist Church (San Jose, CA)
Center for New Community (Chicago, IL)
Congregation Netivot Shalom (Berkeley, CA)
Temple Sinai (Oakland, CA)
Rabbi Menachem Creditor, Congregation Netivot Shalom (Berkeley, CA)