My Faith In Action
By: Khalid Husain

This 11-year-old Muslim-American wonders how I can give thanks in this holiday season. The world seems like a crazy place these days. People are blowing themselves up in places like Pakistan and someone recently even tried to shoot at the president from outside the White House.

Sadly, many of these fanatics are doing it in the name of God. Some even say they belong to my faith, Islam. As a kid, this makes me ask what Islam really teaches. I belong to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and grew up with the motto, "Love for All, Hatred for None." This summer, over a thousand of us Ahmadi youth met in Cheswick at the Pittsburgh International Sports Arena to learn that our faith tells us to be loyal citizens of our country.

Last September, along with my fellow youth, I distributed hundreds of fliers in Shadyside and elsewhere in Pittsburgh to invite people to my community's "Muslims for Life" blood drive. It was set up to honor the victims of 9/11, and we raised more than 11,000 bags of blood nationwide to save American lives, not harm them.

So I guess I can give thanks during the holidays by simply doing what my faith tells me: Help others, love your country and don't let fanatics take over your faith.