As a New Yorker living in L.A, and one who has stood at the WTC site and stared at the names of friends on a plaque, I've followed the recent controversy over the so-called Ground Zero Mosque with some interest. And, as with most public debates, it's been quickly reduced to its simplest pro and con arguments. On the pro side, it's a matter of religious freedom, a way of showing that we, as Americans are above the base, gut-level thinking that demonizes Islam based on 9/11 and world-wide extremism. Let's show the world what it means to be American by celebrating religious freedom. This is New York. We celebrate diversity. We are diversity. The con arguments are less theoretical and more emotional. It's a slap in the face to all New Yorkers, all Americans, all people - particularly those who suffered personally on 9/11.
But the more I listen to the arguments, there's another one I don't hear. It's not about permission. It's about intent. It's not about whether or not an organization should be allowed to build an Islamic cultural center/mosque so close to Ground Zero. It's a matter of why they would want to.
Even if you ascribed the worst possible motives to those behind the project - adding insult to injury -- what harm could the insult do that could even come close to the pain of the injury? The injury was so devastating that the insult would pale in comparison. It would be a long way to go for a relatively meaningless symbolic gesture.
But, for argument's sake, let's ascribe the best possible intentions to those behind the project. A chance to show the true face of Islam and wipe away the stain of those black-hearted fools who were dumb and angry enough to be convinced that they were enacting the will of some higher power by committing mass murder. If the intention is to ask us not to judge Islam by the actions of terrorists, to show that we share a common religious tradition and to reach across cultural barriers, then why do the one thing that would embitter American hearts even more? To think that there wouldn't be a strong, visceral reaction to the project is disingenuous. By announcing plans to build a mosque just blocks away from the site you not only add to the pain of those who suffered on that day and continue to suffer, but you enable every politician, not to mention every Idiot American with a Twitter account, to set out on a campaign to demonize Islam and score political points in an election year. You fail at the very thing you set out to accomplish. And, to be a bit more cynical, if the goal is mere public relations, then this is just very bad PR.
If one accepts the idea that compassion is at the root of all religious traditions, and if even the partial intent of this project is to reach out and show compassion for the victims, this simply isn't a very compassionate thing to do. If the people behind the project really wanted to show the true heart of Islam, why do it through a building? Even though I left NY over 20 years ago and only get back about once a year, if memory serves, I'm pretty sure that the one thing NY doesn't absolutely need is another building. The city is lousy with buildings. Instead off adding to the architectural landscape, if the goal is to heal wounds, why not take that $100 million and actually heal? Start a fund for victims' families. Cops. Firemen. EMTs. Rescue workers. (Especially those whose continuing medical coverage didn't seem necessary, at least as far as Republicans in the House are concerned.) Use the money to treat wounds that may never heal. Ease suffering. Help rebuild the lives of the people whose lives stopped like a watch that got stepped on almost 9 years ago. Give money to schools. Help the sick. Give relief to families who are struggling. Momentarily put aside the symbolic gesture in favor of actual help.
At some point, it's less a matter of religious freedom than of common sense. You won't teach Americans about Islam by building a community center/mosque. Particularly on that spot in lower Manhattan. You could teach Americans about Islam through actions that demonstrate love, compassion, and a desire to heal. By doing that, you may one day discover American partners who would help you build an Islamic cultural center and mosque in the city - and that building would stand as a true monument to our mutual understanding, and mutual healing.
Stuart Whatley: Democratic Values, Islam and the Judeo-Christian Tradition Fallacy
Models for pluralistic societies based on liberal democratic values exist throughout the historical landscape, independent of the Judeo-Christian tradition. It bodes well that they may be freely adopted by all cultures.
Dr. David P. Gushee: The Shameful Mosque Controversy
A longstanding effort to build a Muslim center that ended up being near what became "ground zero" has become Exhibit A in the contest between popular passion and constitutional principle.
Joshua Stanton: Top American Rabbis Rally Behind the 'Ground Zero Mosque'
Even as newspapers continue to flurry with the headline that the Anti-Defamation League has opposed Park 51, the leaders of American Jewry have come out disproportionately in support of the community center.
Rob Asghar: America's Summer Of Islamophobia
Americans will need to be careful not to play the sucker for the power plays of would-be presidents such as Gingrich, who pick racism and bigotry up from the dustbin and place it in a showy new outfit.
I think we can answer that question and still grant Iman Rauf & Co. noble intentions. But we must, however, conclude that they are incapable of putting those intentions into practice. That is, of course, very often the case with good intentions.
Obviously the Cordoba Initiative has failed miserably in their efforts at "improving Muslim-West relations." Short of another terrorist attack, one would be hard-pressed to dream up a way of creating more polarization, more suspicion, and more animosity, than the firestorm that the Cordoba Initiative and their boosters have brought down on themselves.
If the Cordoba Initiative is indicative of the best and the brightest of "moderate" Islam, then we now know why the extremists are winning.
Think about that. What that implies is that we have "Americans" over here, and over there, we have these the "Muslims," who want to build a community center for themselves, without any regard for the feelings of the Americans. Right? But that's not what's actually going on, is it? The Muslims in question are also Americans. They live in New York, and have for generations. There are already something like 10 mosques in lower Manhattan serving their community, because that's where they live. So now these Americans, who happen to be Muslim, want to build a community center, and they're told no, you would "embitter the hearts" of the "Americans". So... apparently these Muslim-Americans are not REAL Americans. Apparently THEIR hearts were not embittered by 9/11, despite the fact that THEIR neighborhood was almost destroyed, and 28 Muslims also died on 9/11.
Does this strike anyone as patently unjust? It should. This is simply exclusionary ethnic and religious stereotyping, something our country has too long a history of already. This "issue" is being whipped up by self-serving politicians on the right, like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich. Don't fall for it. Since 9/11, we've asked moderate Muslims to stand up for what's right. Now that they are, they need the support of their fellow Americans -- not our cold right shoulder.
Once again the incompetent Paterson proves he can not govern. But, then again Paterson could never really govern. “The Democratic Conference: Organizational and Operational Structure Report” is an eyewitness account of Paterson’s DYSFUNCTIONAL governing nature while Senate Minority Leader.
http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_demreportfinal.html
Paterson’s office was criticized for PATRONAGE, LACK OF LEADERSHIP, INDECISIVENESS and INFIGHTING. Those interviewed in the report indicated that its chief of staff the disorganized Michael Jones-Bey had no management skills, would booze it up with staff, often coming in the office with a hangover, and should be fired.
Amazingly, for running such a DYSFUNCTIONAL CHAOTIC office, the disorganized Michael Jones-Bey was picked by Paterson to mismanage the Division of Minority & Women Owned Business Development (MWBE) at Empire State Development Corporation.
Now, that's the Paterson way, being rewarded for your incompetence.
I love concern trolling in the morning. Stay in LA.
I am also tired of writers calling it the "ground zero" Mosque. First off, it is 2 1/2 city block from Ground zero ( in NY that is pretty far away) and it is NOT a Mosque, but a Community Center. Do they have a prayer room ?? sure... I am sure every Christian center has a place for prayers. FEAR of the unknow or differnt MUST be stopped.
It's not a mosque and it's not at "ground zero"
So with those two basic misunderstandings, it's difficult to proceed from there.
The way to build a bridge comes not from the Muslims in this case, but rather from those who seem to think that extremists and terrorists represent a religion as a whole. When the protestors stop generalising, only then people can move forward and heal.
Actually the real victory for extremists would come by highlighting the opposition to the community centre, because it allows America's enemies to say "look...they think all Muslims are terrorists"
The way to beat the extremists is to let the centre be built and show America as an enlightened country that can rise above ignorance.
religion does not make man ... Religious suffering is, at one and the same
time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering.
Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless
world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.
The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the
demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions
about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that
requires illusions."
-- Karl Marx
Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right
February, 1844
First the the Presidency, then the Ground Zero Mosque, and soon the implemention of Sharia law, yes, we Muslims will soon take over America... (sarcasm)