Opinion: After 9/11 -- We Have Nothing to Hate But Hate Itself

(Sept. 10) -- Shortly before my book "The Jewel of Medina" was going to his store shelves, my U.S. publisher pulled the plug.

The book is about A'isha, the most powerful and influential woman in the history of Islam. It presents the religion and its founders in a clear, objective -- human -- fashion, wrapped in one of the most beautiful and poignant love stories ever told.

Nevertheless, three months before the August 2008 publication date, Denise Spellberg, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at the University of Texas, read an advance copy and warned the higher-ups at Random House that it was "more dangerous than 'The Satanic Verses' or the Danish cartoons."

In September, my British publisher's home office was set on fire by three Muslim men who hadn't read the unpublished book but who had certainly heard Spellberg's comments, which were published around the world. I received death threats. There were riots in Bangladesh and calls on the Internet for my beheading.

My books are published in 20 languages, beloved by hundreds of thousands of readers and inspiring strength and courage in women around the world. This is the result of living a loving and courageous life.

I've been thinking about all this as we approach the ninth anniversary of 9/11. There's a lesson here for those who would give in to the rising anti-Muslim tide in the country.

During my ordeal, reporters wanted to know: Wasn't I afraid?

Of course I was afraid. But I had seen what happens when emotion goes unchecked by reason, and so I refused to succumb. I decided to think about life rather than death, and to live with love, courage, strength and wisdom.

Succumbing to the fear of terrorism, not terrorism itself, is our biggest threat. We live in a culture of fear. Although we live in the world's richest nation, we fear economic collapse. Although America has long prided itself on being a "melting pot," we fear being overrun by immigrants. Although death is at hand at any moment for any of us, we fear being killed by Muslim terrorists.

This is nothing new. In my lifetime, Americans have been told to fear drugs, nukes, hippies and communism. There may be nothing to fear but fear itself, but we somehow manage to find all kinds of enemies to cringe from and, yes, loathe. Because fear begets hatred.

So despite the threats a few Muslims hurled my way, today, Sept. 10, will find me sharing the feast of Eid al-Fitr, celebrating the end of Ramadan, with the Muslim community in my town.

That's my vision for our nation and our world: disparate people of disparate views and backgrounds coming together in acknowledgment of our shared humanity.

And I wonder: Why not plan a joint observance for next year, on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, in which Muslim and non-Muslim people mourn together over a tragedy that touched us all?

What if communities throughout America did this? What a powerful statement for love and peace, for empathy and tolerance -- certain to drown out, if not silence, the voices of hate, and to show the rest of the world that, in America, the terrorists have not won, and they never will.

Author and journalist Sherry Jones is the author of "The Jewel of Medina" and "The Sword of Medina." She is at work on her third novel, tentatively titled "Four Sisters, All Queens." Find out more about Jones and her books on Red Room.