I read with an open mind yesterday’s N&R article on Saturday’s downtown Greensboro Peace Festival.

Mind you the print edition headline shouted from the rooftops that the festival was a response to an incident of hate:

FROM HATE TO PEACE

A hate letter galvanized Greensboro into hosting the first peace festival downtown

Ok, bad stuff I think to myself as I start reading:

The letter that sparked the responses arrived at the Islamic Center during Ramadan, a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer held in late June and early July.

The writer said he was a business owner and had worked hard to establish a successful business in Greensboro. But he had received many complaints from customers concerned about Muslims being close to the property. It asked that the Muslim community be “less visible.”

Qureshi did the unexpected. He went to the business owner to talk with him about the letter. It turned out that the owner had not sent it.

I can understand Mr. Qureshi taking offense to the letter —-whoever wrote it— but does it represent out and out hate? Maybe I’m naive, but I didn’t see it.

And the N&R Republicans are divisive.