I'm so worn out and I know I'm not alone. It's everywhere, this raging debate about the Mosque at Ground Zero. And when I say "raging," I mean enraged. Doesn't anyone get tired of the hate, the fighting, the venom? Isn't there anyone out there astute and sensitive enough to change the course of things? God, I hope so, because this is beyond exhausting.
First we had the utter evil that fueled the September 11th attacks. And now instead of practicing what we preach and looking for an opportunity to create peace and inclusion on our own soil, we continue to divide, foster more hate and create hostility towards others unlike ourselves. Why is it that we are so limited as human beings that we only seem able to make space for our own kind? In case no one noticed, that's what the terrorists do. Don't we want to be better than that? We certainly say we do, but where's the evidence?
The combat, the hypocrisy, the grandstanding, the bravado, it's killing us. We are fighting over a piece of land and religion is once again at the heart of it. Sound familiar? What is wrong with us? Have we not had enough war? Do we really need to start another one in our own backyard?
Apparently so, because that's what's happening. We have a lot of smart people doing dumb things. I know, nothing like stating the blindingly obvious. But, here's what I really don't understand. Why has a plan not emerged to build places for Christians, Jews and Muslims to worship? There. Done. Debate over. Fighting over. Venom neutralized. But no, there's not even been a whiff of suggestion. Rather, for some reason we need to fight and hate and keep the jihad going here as well as in the Middle East. We talk about tolerance, we talk about acceptance, yet, we do no such thing. All it would take is a teensy bit of openness, willingness and flexibility to create something extraordinary, something that so far, no war has been able to accomplish. So why not try?
Make a place where all kinds of people are respected, valued and welcomed regardless of their beliefs. Instead of one big mosque, why not have something less big to make room for a church that could sit next to a synagogue? How gross is it that we cannot come up with a solution where one interest group agrees to take a little less in order to give a little more to another so that collectively, we could start the process of actually paving a road to peace. All the talk, talk, talk is useless. We need doers who know what to do. Even for someone who is as enlightened as President Obama claims to be, this should have been a no-brainer. So, I ask, why not take this opportunity to create something good rather than adding more land to the overcrowded map of perpetual battlegrounds. The symbolism and everything else about it is all wrong.
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in my blogpost, "the satanic verses, replay," i wrote about how shockingly similar the whole debate has become. no one really understands each other and they are all fighting about a symbol, rather than understanding the other's position.
i'd love to share an park51 congregant's perspective: http://ameenameer.blogspot.com/2010/08/satanic-verses-replay.html
thanks again - i am always relieved by the support of our neighbors!
peace,
ameena
The fundamentalists of each faith would have a hard time accepting this solution, but it's a worthy idea nonetheless.
One bright thing I've heard are the veterans who've spoken out in support of the Park51 builders. http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/9564/
The Daily Show's take on the Murfreesboro mosque introduced Congressional candidate, U.S. Marine, and Iraq War combat veteran Ben Leming:
“During my deployments around the world, I have worked, trained, and broken bread with Muslims. I have known their families and communities. I have fought with them and for them, as I have for this country and my fellow citizens, many of whom are also Muslims. The people that want to build a house of worship in Murfreesboro are not the enemy. Osama Bin Laden and his band of thugs and criminals are the enemy. During my fifteen years of service, I’ve studied and fought our enemies. I’m not about to stop now.”
“I see a lot of people quoting our Constitution these days, but only when it suits their agenda. You can’t have it both ways. I believe in the United States Constitution. I have fought and will continue to fight to uphold every single right guaranteed by it. This includes the right to worship freely. Just because we may not agree with someone’s religious views does not mean we get to decide whether they can have a place of worship in the community. This is simply un-American.”
They understand the freedoms they served to protect.