I don’t know if you’d classify it as Islamophobia, because it appears that from previous acts of vandalism it’s an act on religious faith in general, but even if it’s not that, it is the epitome of the hatred-spewing culture that’s been on display this year on many national media outlets.

I’m talking about the most recent vandalism of the Islamic Center of Prince Edward County on Oct. 18, which was the second time within 30 days vandalism has been reported at the site.

This time all that was written was “NO!” exactly like that, and even if my distaste for exclamation marks wasn’t enough, I’d still have the same question: exactly what are these vandals trying to prove?

The first instance of vandalism at the site on Sept. 27 featured graffiti in black letters on an exterior wall of the mosque, including a four-letter expletive starting with the letter “F,” followed by “Allah & God.” This first instance of graffiti also included the letters “IC” with a circle around the letters and two shapes drawn on opposite sides of the circle.

Similarly containing the symbol and letters “IC” was vandalism discovered Sept. 28 on the back wall of Farmville Wholesale Electric Supply Co. on 301 W. Third St. — in view of pedestrians along the High Bridge Trail State Park that passes the back of the building — and an alleyway between a Walk2Campus property and The Farmville Herald office on North Street.

To those who have carried out these acts of vandalism, I would offer one point: everything that rises must converge. This is not only the title of a short story by Flannery O’Connor — a story which shows a recent college graduate’s distaste for his mother’s racism on public transportation — but is also from a piece titled “Omega Point” by French philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

In it, Chardin writes, “remain true to yourself, but move ever upward toward greater consciousness and greater love. At the summit you will find yourselves united with all those who, from every direction, have made the same ascent. For everything that rises must converge.”

Basically, Chardin’s belief is that the universe’s fate is headed toward divine unification. It’s my belief that the Interfaith Collective — which was featured on the front page of the Herald the week of the first vandalism and showcased those of different faiths dining together — is working toward this divine unification.

As for the vandals, proper measures are needed to bring those who spew hate to justice so that, at the end, peace can win. If that’s a federal investigation into a hate crime, so be it. These vandalists need a reformation of their heart, a repentance in their future and need to know that even they who spew hate are not out of reach of love.

As for the Interfaith Collective, progression always sees opposition, which is in many cases violent. In a community that saw the closing of schools from 1959-64 to avoid mandated segregation, I see this progression of love as a huge milestone. To warrant acceptance instead of avoidance is astronomical. Opposition may come, but in the end, progression always wins out.

MORGAN WHITE is a staff reporter for The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia. His email address is Morgan.White@FarmvilleHerald.com.