Sporting events can always be counted on to bring feuding nations together – think, US ping pong players visiting in China in the 1970’s.

In a show of unity Friday, India and Pakistan found themselves sitting on the same side while two tennis stars from the traditionally warring nations joined together on the court in the US Open Men’s Doubles final.

“Stop War, Win Tennis” was the mantra as the 16th-seeded pair rolled over opponents in the tournament winning every set until the duo, called the “Indo-Pak Express”, ran out of steam in the final, losing to top-seeded Americans, Bob and Mike Byron, in straight sets via tie breaks, 6-7, 6-7.

But the score didn’t mattered to the crowd which turned out in full force to see Indian Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi join forces.

From traditional instruments to rock guitars – the Afghan National Institute of Music gives disadvantaged children the chance to play a part in the resurgence of music in Afghanistan, which was widely banned under the Taliban regime as un-Islamic.

“You see Kabul was a very thriving, Afghanistan had a very thriving music community thirty years back and, as you know, the history, when the Talibans came they destroyed all the music instruments and now we are trying to revive it. And it should be revived. Kabul, Afghanistan has a very rich musical background.”

The American Library Association and librarians across the country have moved the Qur’an to the top of their list for titles celebrated during their upcoming Banned Books Week, September 25 – October 2, 2010, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.

Leading the way will be librarians assembled on September 11 on the steps of the American Library Association headquarters in Chicago at 1 p.m. for a public reading from the Qur’an.

The Heartsong Church in Cordoba, Tennessee, has opened its doors to its new neighbors from the Memphis Islamic center while they are still building their own place of worship next door.

It is the sense of community that Pastor Steve Stone and Dr. Bashar Shala, chairman of the Islamic center, have built among the faithful that serves to remind us of our American ideals, in stark contrast to the ignorance of a Florida preacher who has threatened to burn the Qur’an tomorrow, on the anniversary of 9/11.

To begin their friendship, Pastor Steve erected a 6-foot red sign outdoors reading, “Welcome to the Neighborhood.”