For most of the 35 years that I was in public education, I was a teacher of world cultures.

Whenever I introduced a new unit, I always taught about the religion(s) of the culture. Understanding a people's religious traditions is essential to understanding their way of life.

Since retiring, I have given presentations on Islam to community groups and to church adult education classes.

After reading the intolerant remarks of state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe and the unfortunate comments of Charles Calahan in his July 13 letter, "Beware of Islam's spread," I can think of no better argument for re-emphasizing the necessity for teaching students about Islam and other non-Western religions in our schools.

Metcalfe already has been dealt with effectively by other writers to the Butler Eagle. As for Calahan's letter, it is not possible to deal with all of his falsehoods and distortions in this format. But I will make the following comments:

The armies that came out of the "Middle East" in the mid-7th century A.D. were not motivated by religion. Their goal was expansion. That the armies were composed of Muslim warriors was not a factor. The Koran is very clear: "God hates the aggressor."

By and large, there were no attempts to convert anyone to Islam — by force or by persuasion. Generally, Christians and Jews were left alone to practice their religions and even to participate in the conqueror's government.

"Conversion by the sword" is a myth, even though that is what I was taught as a 7th grade student. It never was a part of Islamic teaching, although individuals might have practiced or encouraged it.

Again, the Koran is firm in its teaching that there shall be no compulsion in religion.

It's easy to take the actions of extremists in any religion and portray them as representing the whole religion. By definition, an extremist does not represent or reflect the values of a religion.

Even Metcalfe had the good sense to reject an award from an extreme "Christian" group.

Fear is based on ignorance. The task of dealing with ignorance in our society has been entrusted to parents, the churches and our schools. Our nation will be tolerant only as long as each prepares our children to be accepting and understanding of all their neighbors.

Finally, I hope Metcalfe and Calahan have the good fortune I have had to someday visit the Church of the Nativity — the traditional site of Jesus' birth — in Bethlehem. In the event that they do, they should know that, centuries ago, when the Christian groups that worshiped there fell into disagreement, they decided to turn the keys of the church over to a respected family in the city.

For all these hundreds of years since, each day, even today, the doors to this shrine of Christianity have been unlocked each morning and locked each evening by a member of a Muslim family.