Yes, there are peace-loving Muslims. I have a number of such friends in the Middle East. Sure, there are some peace-loving Muslims in America who are unfortunately stereotyped and subjected to mistreatment. Apologies.

However, there are Muslims who read the same Holy Book as they and reach a completely different conclusion. They are an embodiment of the "war verses" of the Koran. They have no hesitance to admit their agenda. Part of it is annihilation of Israel and world dominance by Islam. That dominance excludes any other religion in the world.

An example of this is Afghanistan. Like some other Islamic countries, the attempt to spread Christianity is a capital offense.

A classic example was the medical relief workers killed in Afghanistan recently. The very fact they were Christians put them in harm's way. The extent to which they were attempting to evangelize is unknown. The bottom line is they were martyred, killed because of their faith.

They were killed by members of the Taliban, a radical Muslim group, who believe all who do not share their faith are worthy of death. Even some who share their faith, but not to such an extreme extent, are worthy of death.

It was such radicals who joyfully sacrificed their own lives to kill nearly 3,000 Americans on 9/11.

Now an extremist Muslim wants to build a mosque near the site where that travesty was perpetuated by radical, American-hating Muslims. It seems reasonable that people who suffered such suffering would not want the indignity of a mosque being built near the sight of that immolation. Build it, but not there, in what would appear to be an in-your-face act.

Any peace-loving Muslim is entitled to grace and friendship by Christians and Jews alike.

Any jihadist Muslim gives reason for Christians and Jews to be defensive. Jihadists have said these groups are in their cross-hairs. Only the naive would knowingly make themselves vulnerable to such sworn adversaries.

There are two distinguishable groups: peace loving and war mongers. Unfortunately they don't wear easily identifiable uniforms. Any peace-loving Muslim who suffers an improper indignity or affront from a non-Muslim should blame the jihadists for putting people so on the defense.

Don't blame peaceful Americans, with the burning twin towers etched in their minds, for being leery.

There was a time when radical Muslims were spreading their faith by the sword. They appeared to be unstoppable.

A large body of Muslim business and professional men, realizing this was wrong, became active and persuaded leaders to turn from such radical slaughter across North Africa and Eastern Europe.

An appeal goes out to peace-loving Muslims to show such bravery and good sense as to help put an end to the present outbreak of radicalism.

The relief workers killed in Afghanistan typify the willingness of most Christians and Jews, known to jihadists as "infidels," to help the needy.

The Rev. Dr. Nelson Price is pastor emeritus of Roswell Street Baptist Church. Contact Price at nlprice@aol.com.