One thing that has become clear since the tragic events of 9/11 and is particularly evident today in the discussion around the building of the Islamic cultural center in New York is the lingering confusion over what constitutes a "moderate Muslim". Or to use an always flourishing Hollywoodian formula: who are the good guys in Islam? If Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf is touted in many circles as a radical walking in sheep's clothing despite his clear and loud denunciation of terrorism, his incessant efforts in interfaith dialogue, and his State Department-sponsored trips to the Muslim world, I have to admit I am at a loss. Who exactly are we looking for to fight religious radicalism and is there an American standard for moderation when it comes to Islam?

In an interview with a Bahraini newspaper today, Abdul Rauf not only praised the religious liberties guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, but he also pressed for an urgent need to modernize Islamic thought and do away with dogmatic interpretations of religious texts. The critics of the Islamic center have no idea how delicate Abdul Rauf's mission is as he navigates some tough grounds talking to Muslim audiences in places like Egypt, Morocco, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Pakistan while on a trip funded by the U.S. State Department. Have some of these critics paused to ask why would this Imam undertake such a risky and daunting task both at home (US) and in Muslim countries? Much of the so-called scrutiny of his past statements has been based on falsehoods and deliberate distortions in order to paint him and all Muslims like him like a mole forever menacing and dishonest about his ulterior motives. This is the most absurd example of othering via lies and paranoia. When we heard Abdul Rauf tell Ed Bradley of 60 minutes that American foreign policy was an accessory to the 9/11 attacks, we were barely in for a surprise. This was the sobering but unsurprising conclusion of the 9/11 Commission as well. Of course, such a realization does not justify the attacks, but it helps open up the discussion beyond simplistic questions as the callow why do they hate us. If we believed the media today, we may think that the 60-Minutes interview was the only time Abdul Rauf talked publicly. Here is a good representative video of who this imam is and why he's hailed by many as a good moderate Muslim.

Maybe the moderate Muslims media like Fox News and AM radio want are people like Ayan Hirsi Ali, a former Muslim who bashes Islam and Muslims from within, giving her and those who support her ultimate legitimacy. I'm not saying Ali should be silenced, but her viewpoints and the respect she's shown on television sets and in newspapers columns should be balanced by seeking out more representative moderates whose work builds bridges instead of throwing divisive epithets that please a majority. Instead of using this sad episode as a cheap opportunity to score some political points, let's at least have a more constructive discussion about whom we consider to be moderate Muslims. One thing for sure is that many true moderates feel demoralized by those who caricature their efforts at building important and lasting bridges. They have been talking all along and yes they've denounced violence, but they've remained woefully invisible because talking about peace is boring news in the eyes of the media.