The United States right now is struggling with how to respond to the scourge of terrorism -- and how to relate to Muslim Americans here at home.

It's something my family has a unique bit of experience with. And this being the days after the Thanksgiving holiday, and after a presidential election, it's a good time to reflect on family. And the country.

The voice you heard at the beginning of this episode was my cousin on my dad's side. Omar.

I'm a Christian. My faith is an important part of my life. I try to study my Bible regularly, I attend church weekly. My father is a retired pastor and chaplain. My grandfather was a pastor, too.

Omar and his siblings are Muslim. His parents converted before he was born.

It's fair to say religion has always been a source of tension in our family, but especially over the last 20 years. Through it all, we've tried -- with mixed results -- to keep the family together.

So I asked Omar if he would sit down and talk to me for Fortt Knox about something we can all relate to at a time like this: The struggle to find common ground in the face of fundamental differences.