Where's the Balance?

It's a week after the fact now, and if you've been awake at all you will have heard about the guy who tried to set off the car bomb in Times Square. You've surely heard over and over that he is a naturalized citizen, here from Pakistan, who returned for a vacation over there and learned to make bombs. You've heard how he was caught, sitting in the plane, expecting them to come for him. You've heard how stupid he was in so many ways. He used the wrong kind of fertilizer. He used tiny legal fireworks - like if you plan to set off a bomb, the legality of the fireworks is an issue. He bought the car off Craig's List, leaving an email trail. He left the keys to the getaway car and his apartment in the bomb car.

Above everything else, and over and over, you've heard he is a Muslim.

You will have heard also about the street vendor who spotted the car smoking and called it in. You'll have heard his name, whether or not you can remember it. It is foreign, after all. You've heard how brave he was, going closer to the car to check it out while it was smoking. You've heard that President Obama called him to thank him for his actions. You may have seen or heard him being interviewed, listened to his accent, and been informed that he is an immigrant.

But have you also heard that he too is a Muslim?