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Less than a year ago, it was the Tsunami. Last month it was Katrina & Rits. And now we have this earthquake in Kashmir. More than forty thousand people have perished and at least three million are homeless.

Tears, phone calls, e-mail messages, smiles, cards and flowers are how many non-Muslims across the country have expressed their regret for harassment and threats against Muslims as well as sympathy for the community since September 11.

People remember where they were when man first stepped on the moon, they remember where they were when they heard JFK was assassinated, and people will undoubtedly remember where they were when they heard about the terrorism that occurred on September 11, 2001.

We, the Muslims of America, must, pardon the cliché, put ourselves and our loved ones in the victims' shoes. We must remember that our father, mother, daughter, son or sibling could have been in the twin towers on September 11, 2001. They could have been there for work, an appointment or just sightseeing.

Today more than at any other point in our history, each and every Muslim will be viewed by people as a representative of Islam. How we conduct ourselves will have a direct impact on how people think about our beliefs and values. 

Understanding, learning and patience are just some of the things that are necessary at this critical time for all of us trying to heal from the wounds of the September 11 tragedy and deal with the war.

While we may disagree with the Taliban and their policies, we must remember that Afghans have been subjected to different armies and civil wars in the last two decades. There are a number of ways you can help the Afghans. Here are some ideas.