The horrific news out of the deadly shooting at a San Diego mosque is painful but not necessarily surprising. Spikes in violent hate crimes tend to accompany hateful political rhetoric, and what we have been experiencing as of late is a massive surge in anti-Muslim rhetoric from prominent politicians, as seen in the recent anti-sharia hearings in the House.

Here’s the thing: The best of American pluralism is when we celebrate not just our own faith but also our neighbor’s faith, and we defend not just our community but also our neighbors’ communities.  America’s 250th invites all of us to reflect on the question — who is our neighbor? — at a time when these ideas about the value of diversity are highly contested. 

In this landmark moment for America, let’s restore our nation’s commitment to pluralism and to a public discourse that signals that Muslims and people of all religious traditions are not a problem to be solved but an essential ingredient in America’s full flourishing.

Mary Ellen Giess is Managing Director at Interfaith America, overseeing strategy, alignment, and integration across IA’s programming. Todd Green, Senior Director of Campus Partnerships, oversees Interfaith America’s efforts to promote religious and civic pluralism across all aspects of university life.