That's a fair question. I'll illustrate what I was looking for by addressing some of Rumitoid’s points.

1) Recognize that the nation of Islam has very real and legitimate grievances against our nation.

I think Rumitoid’s choice of “nation of Islam” is an unfortunate one. My guess is he is referring to the body of believers around the world, and maybe specifically in the Middle East. In general I think progress comes when one truly tries to see the issue from the other’s point of view (not required to agree with it, just try to understand it.) That having been said, it would be more productive to know the specific grievances to which Rumitoid refers.

3) Clearly and freely remember how many countless times in our history that we "righteously" violated the 1st Amendment for "safety" or other rationalized concerns.

Probably a good idea to review the basic tenants of the 1st Amendment:

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Because this discussion is centered on Islam I suspect the free exercise of religion is Rumitoid’s Amendment reference. I think (as it seems clear our Founding Fathers did) Muslims should be as free to practice their religion as Christians, Jews, Wiccans or whatever. But within the limits of a law-abiding society. All religions seem to be susceptible to fringe fanatic behavior that is somehow justified by religious texts (remember the Crusades and Inquisition). One of the teachings of Islam (currently being ignored by Muslim terrorist/extremists) is that differing religions should coexist peacefully – something that worked well in Spain among Christians, Muslims and Jews until the Catholic monarchs came to power.

6) Love not only thy neighbor but thy enemy as yourself.
7) Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile to resolve this growing conflict, taking no thought for yourself.

I’m surprised no one commented on these, which are near-direct quotes from Jesus himself. How do they apply in the context of terrorism? These are difficult directives that have no easy answer, on either side.

That's a fair question. I'll illustrate what I was looking for by addressing some of Rumitoid’s points.

1) Recognize that the nation of Islam has very real and legitimate grievances against our nation.

I think Rumitoid’s choice of “nation of Islam” is an unfortunate one. My guess is he is referring to the body of believers around the world, and maybe specifically in the Middle East. In general I think progress comes when one truly tries to see the issue from the other’s point of view (not required to agree with it, just try to understand it.) That having been said, it would be more productive to know the specific grievances to which Rumitoid refers.

3) Clearly and freely remember how many countless times in our history that we "righteously" violated the 1st Amendment for "safety" or other rationalized concerns.

Probably a good idea to review the basic tenants of the 1st Amendment:

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Because this discussion is centered on Islam I suspect the free exercise of religion is Rumitoid’s Amendment reference. I think (as it seems clear our Founding Fathers did) Muslims should be as free to practice their religion as Christians, Jews, Wiccans or whatever. But within the limits of a law-abiding society. All religions seem to be susceptible to fringe fanatic behavior that is somehow justified by religious texts (remember the Crusades and Inquisition). One of the teachings of Islam (currently being ignored by Muslim terrorist/extremists) is that differing religions should coexist peacefully – something that worked well in Spain among Christians, Muslims and Jews until the Catholic monarchs came to power.

6) Love not only thy neighbor but thy enemy as yourself.
7) Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile to resolve this growing conflict, taking no thought for yourself.

I’m surprised no one commented on these, which are near-direct quotes from Jesus himself. How do they apply in the context of terrorism? These are difficult directives that have no easy answer, on either side.

I mean the word "just" as a double entendre: "only and right (by our Bill of Rights)."

A little history: "On Oct. 27, 1838, Missouri Governor Lilburn W. Boggs issued an official order declaring, "The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for the public peace." On mayoral Election Day Aug. 6, 1855, the Know Nothing Party -- an anti-Catholic political organization -- sparked riots in Louisville, Kentucky against Catholic immigrants, leaving 22 dead. On Dec. 17, 1862, General Ulysses S. Grant issued Order 11, which read, "The Jews, as a class... are hereby expelled from Tennessee within twenty-four hours..." Expelled Jews, murdered Mormons and massacred Catholics -- and lest we think otherwise, the really gruesome stories involve African and Native Americans." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/qasim-rashid/americas-muslim-problem_b_1168709.html

"That is, unless the minority is American Muslims. In that case, the age-old rule applies. It is not bigotry nor discrimination that is being exercised, but American security that is being protected." As in the Patriot Act nearly every American has come to hate but felt necessary in their profound fear and need for safety.

The Declaration of Independence did not give liberty to slaves, native Americans, women, or non-property owning white folks. We steadily grew into a larger idea of equality, with much and costly resistance I might add. But we did--and to me that alone makes America great and unequaled in history. Liberty is a tough and expensive ideal to maintain, and very, very messy. But this was not fear-based when we became a nation but the thinking of the time about class. How we may come to treat the Muslims, in light of our disgrace as to how we treated Japanese Americans in WWII, Native Americans, and the oppression of the McCarthy era, will tell us if a republic such as ours deserves to survive.

Fear has a few disguises, one of those is "practical security." Another is patriotism. There are dozens more that, like the above, hide fear from ourselves and present it as something else more reasonable and respectable. Enough said and onto the solutions.

1) Recognize that the nation of Islam has very real and legitimate grievances against our nation.

2) Look to address those grievances as openly as possible, apologies, just recompense, and fair treaties included.

3) Clearly and freely remember how many countless times in our history that we "righteously" violated the 1st Amendment for "safety" or other rationalized concerns.

4) Become a dedicated peacemaker.

5) Put Constitutional and/or Religious principles before personal gain or desire, looking only for what is the best for the common good (true patriotism).

6) Love not only thy neighbor but thy enemy as yourself.

7) Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile to resolve this growing conflict, taking no thought for yourself.

8) Last but first, "Fear not!" Fear corrupts everything and looks suave doing it: the man to rely on and trust.