Princeton , New Jersey ( CNN ) -- In the aftermath of 9/11 , Americans were angry , fearful and scrambling for answers . In the days that followed the terrorist attacks , President George W. Bush and Congress prepared their response , starting to work on stronger counterterrorism measures and preparing for a war in Afghanistan , where the Taliban had housed al Qaeda networks for many years . A few Americans turned their rage against Muslims who were living in the United States . Within a few days , Muslims , as well as individuals mistakenly perceived to be Muslims , were attacked . The Sikh owner of a gas station in Mesa , Arizona , was killed by a man who went on to shoot a Lebanese clerk at another gas station . Near Dallas , Texas , a man shot and killed a 46-year old Pakistani who owned a small grocery store . In Cleveland , Ohio , a man drove a Ford Mustang right through an Islamic center . Nine years after 9/11 , there is a lot for Americans to contemplate as they look back . Although people have focused a lot of attention on Bush 's appearance before a group of New York firefighters at ground zero , another highly significant moment took place on September 17 . That day , at the Islamic Center in Washington , the president delivered a powerful message about the need to keep America 's response to 9/11 from turning into a war against Muslims . This message was as important to his war on terrorism as the strategy of regime change , or pre-emptive war . Unfortunately , this is a principle that has been slowly and dangerously undermined in recent weeks as a result of the controversy over a proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque a few blocks from ground zero . Speaking at an emotionally charged moment , just six days after the attacks , Bush told the audience that it was vital for Americans to understand that the terrorists did not represent the Muslim tradition . `` Those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take out their anger do n't represent the best of America ; they represent the worst of humankind , and they should be ashamed of that kind of behavior , '' Bush said . The president reiterated his firm commitment to protecting the constitutional rights and honoring the important role of the Muslim community in the United States . In no uncertain terms , Bush said : `` The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam . That 's not what Islam is all about . Islam is peace . These terrorists do n't represent peace . They represent evil and war . '' America , he said , `` counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens , and Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country . Muslims are doctors , lawyers , law professors , members of the military , entrepreneurs , shopkeepers , moms and dads . '' Many Muslim leaders were impressed by the president 's speech as well as by how most Americans were responding to the trauma . `` Americans have shown great maturity , '' Sayyid Syeed , the secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America , told the media . He reported the calls he was receiving expressing support for his community greatly outweighed the hate crimes . Over the coming years , Bush stuck with the argument that he made on September 17 . While Bush would come under criticism for many aspects of his war on terrorism -- including policies such as the use of interrogation tactics that critics called torture -- he continued to be very clear in his defense of Muslims . The president returned to the Islamic Center on June 2007 , reminding his audience of his earlier speech : `` We gather , with friendship and respect , to reaffirm that pledge -- and to renew our determination to stand together in the pursuit of freedom and peace . We come to express our appreciation for a faith that has enriched civilization for centuries . '' Bush 's philosophy is now under fire . In response to the proposal to build an Islamic center near ground zero in New York City , a heated national debate has unfolded about Muslims in America . While some focused their criticism on whether this was a proper project so close to the site of the attacks , many others turned it into a different kind of discussion . Some national Republican leaders , including Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich , have made provocative comments , helping to make it a national issue . Gingrich warned of the `` radical Islamists '' he said were behind the project , comparing it to Nazis putting up a sign next to the Holocaust Museum in Washington . At the local level , the debate has taken an even more dangerous turn . A Florida pastor , Terry Jones , announced he would burn copies of the Quran . Even when he came under criticism from a broad spectrum of leaders , including Gen. David Petraeus , he did not at first desist . Rather than listening , he said , `` Maybe it 's time to send a message to radical Islam that we will not tolerate their behavior . '' Palin did condemn the pastor by tweeting that `` book burning is antithetical to American ideals , '' but then tied the two issues together when she went on to say that `` people have a constitutional right to burn a Koran if they want to , but doing so is insensitive and an unnecessary provocation -- much like building a mosque at ground zero . '' Although the pastor agreed to cancel the Quran burning after a call from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates warning it would put American lives at risk , the incident stoked the fires of hatred . If this kind of inflammatory rhetoric continues , it will erode a central and crucial principle in the war on terrorism . It also contradicts the nation 's constitutional and pluralistic traditions -- the very traditions we want to defend from terrorism -- while doing irreparable harm abroad . When Bush spoke at the Islamic Center , he took a pivotal step in defining how he wanted to defend the nation and go about punishing the aggressors who killed thousands of civilians . His message can not be forgotten . Should local and national debate move in a different direction , we will be paying the cost as a nation for decades to come by destroying our image in the Muslim world , thus playing into the hands of the terrorists . We 'd be abandoning the very best ideals that our country has to offer . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Julian E. Zelizer .
After two , a few Americans lashed out at innocent Muslims . George W. Bush : President George W. Bush rightly condemned such attacks at the time . He says that principle has been ignored by some U.S. Constitution politicians . George W. Bush : Attacking Islam is at odds with Islam and key values nation is seeking to defend .