If you believe the headlines in the right-wing blogosphere, the so-called "mosque at Ground Zero" is not only a threat to western civilization but a grave insult to the victims of September 11, 2001. But just in case you weren't convinced, the opponents of the project--a Muslim cultural center that community groups plan to build near the World Trade Center site --wants to drive the point home with a new bus ad campaign. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority just gave its blessing to a disturbing effort to tar the center by association with the 9/11 attacks, brought to you by the American Freedom Defense Initiative.
According to the released graphic, the ad features an image of a plane heading for the Twin Towers, juxtaposed against a Photoshop-challenged rendering of the proposed facility, known as Park 51 or Cordoba House, plastered with a giant crescent logo.
It's a strange way to honor the legacy of 9/11 victims. The ad meticulously exploits the image of a global tragedy in order to frighten and retraumatize New Yorkers, and then channel their grief into hatred for a community of people who 1) bear no greater responsibility for the attack than the victims and 2) in many cases are victims or survivors themselves.
(The planned ad campaign is sure to make an impression on the imam behind the project, Feisal Abdul Rauf of the Cordoba Initiative, who plans to undertake a campaign of his own with a diplomatic tour of the Middle East--to spread the message of religious tolerance, of all things.)
Meanwhile, the multi-facility, interfaith community center--frequently mischaracterized as a mosque alone--has become a popular campaign stop for many of 2012 hopefuls, according to Politico. Recently, Minnesota Governor and possible presidential contender Tim Pawlenty stumped on the anti-Mosque meme. Standing some 1,000 miles from Ground Zero, he declared:
"I'm strongly opposed to the idea of putting a mosque anywhere near Ground Zero-I think it's inappropriate," he said. "I believe that 3,000 of our fellow innocent citizens were killed in that area, and some ways from a patriotic standpoint, it's hallowed ground, it's sacred ground, and we should respect that. We shouldn't have images or activities that degrade or disrespect that in any way."
Or refer to Sarah Palin's Twitter plea to all of her Muslim devotees:
Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in interest of healing.
Though, no one takes sacred ground more seriously than Rabbi Meyer May of the Simon Wisenthal Center, who bristled at the "insensitive" location of the proposed center in a Crain's article. The Los Angeles Times reports that he has since backpedaled by distancing his statements from his organization--which, incidentally, plans to build its aptly named Museum of Tolerance on some of the holiest real estate in Jerusalem, over the protests of Palestinians who say their relatives' remains will be shamelessly unearthed from a Muslim cemetery underneath the site.
Sacred ground. As a native New Yorker who grew up a few blocks from Ground Zero, I wonder how fellow residents will feel when they step onto a city bus and find themselves assaulted by pictures of that horrible day once again, in living color. Maybe they'll ride past St. Paul's Chapel by Wall Street, through an urban enclave that has hosted people of every nation and faith throughout the country's history, including earlier generations of Muslim Americans in Little Syria. And as they wend toward the site of the emerging Islamic center, they'll glance back at the words on the poster, exclaiming "WHY THERE?"
Any true New Yorker would know the answer.
Cross-posted from ColorLines.
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Joseph Ward III: Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf Speaks Out (AUDIO, TRANSCRIPT)
http://www.park51.org/vision.htm
Sounds like positive place to me. And an American place.
Ramazan Mubarak, Peace/Salaams/Shalom
In what moral universe are believers in a set of ideas not responsible for the effect of those ideas?
I know it is fashionable to say that only the Muslims who plan and carry out terrorist attacks are responsible for those attacks, but that is simply not true.
When bin Laden says:
"Yes. There are only three choices in Islam: either willing submission [i.e., conversion]; or payment of the jizya [poll-tax paid by non-Muslims], thereby bodily, though not spiritual, submission to the authority of Islam; or the sword—for it is not right to let him [an infidel] live.
The matter is summed up for every person alive: either submit, or live under the suzerainty of Islam, or die…. Such, then, is the basis of the relationship between the infidel and the Muslim. Battle, animosity, and hatred—directed from the Muslim to the infidel—is the foundation of our religion.”
he is accurately quoting current Islamic law. All Muslims, and especially American Muslims, should feel some responsibility for the fact that such provocative statements are still part of mainstream Islam.
To Americans who think the only issue is America's ability to be tolerant of Islam, I ask you--do Muslims have no responsibility in this?
Check here for a description of the Park 51 Center:
http://www.park51.org/vision.htm
It means you're responsible for the Spanish Inquisition, the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the Ku Klux Klan and so many other horrific things done "in the name of Christ" throughout world history.
It is hypocritical to say all Muslims are responsible for terrorism when extremists are the ones who perpetuated the crime. If that's the case, why don't you just go seek out all Muslim infants and stab them in their little hearts. Since they are born in the Muslim faith, by what you're saying, you'd be completely justified, right?
Didn't think about that, did you genius?
Really, people.
Or are you of the belief that a) the Constitution should be ignored and b) lets also tar all with the same brush?! Oh and c) Muslim Americans are second class citizens!
Well done. The fear you live in just completed the job Bin Laden sought to do - create chaos, f3ar and division. And you brought it.
BTW this is more than this Center - there have been many anti Muslim and Anti Mosque protests this summer across the US - so please don;t tell me this is about a location. Because if that's so, what about the Masjid Mosque two blocks from Ground Zero
http://reason.com/archives/2010/08/17/two-cheers-for-american-tolera