TheGallup organization has released polling data on how the members of various faith communities would resolve tensions around the construction of an Islamic center planned for a site three blocks from the site of the 9/11 attacks in New York City. Among the most interesting things about these statistics is that there is no majority of opinion in any group about what constitutes the best possible response.
Among Muslims respondents, 14 percent favor relocating the project to an alternate site, 43 percent favor construction in the currently proposed location and 30 percent favor building an interfaith institution in the current location. Among Jews, the numbers are 43 percent, 25 percent and 28 percent, respectively. Among Catholics, the group most opposed to construction on the currently proposed site (followed closely by Mormons), its 63 perecent, 15 percent and 15 percent. Protestant respondents broke down 49 percent, 18 percent and 23 percent. For atheists, it was 32 percent, 42 percent and 17 percent. In other words, as communities, there remain real questions about how best to proceed.
The lack of agreement in no way suggests that the center should not be built by those who support it. If it meets the measure of the law, it should be built. This is America, right? But, in light of the wide range of opinion surrounding this project, the way in which it should be built, the conversations which need to be part of that process, the questions which ought to be raised and the sensitivities which deserve to be addressed, are more important than ever.
The Gallup numbers suggest that there is greater diversity of opinion than is often presumed and clearly demonstrate that no one view, even with any given faith community, holds sway. Tempting as it may be to suggest otherwise, these numbers tell us that simply dividing people along the lines of Islamophobes who are opposed to the project and lovers of religious freedom who support it, is not right. Nor should be insisting, as both sides in this debate often do, that to be a good Christian, Muslim, Jew, atheist, etc. dictates what one believes is the appropriate decision in this case. These numbers suggest that something far more interesting is going on.
Gallup's data suggests that instead of the center's supporters and detractors simply wrapping themselves in competing claims about what their community wants, or what their tradition teaches is "the" right response to this controversy and making sanctimonious claims about what is right and good, each side needs to address the fact that lots of people have lots of questions and uncertainties about how to proceed.
Accomplishing this is not simply a matter of information -- we have plenty, if not too much of that, already. In fact, the poll also indicated that, with exception of Mormons, between 55 and 70 percent of the members of different faith groups have read or heard "a great deal" about this issue already. The issue is not more facts and data, the issue is having enough wisdom to process it in ways that help us resolve the conflict.
While it may be hard for pollsters, we can accomplish this by asking one question of all people, a question which takes us beyond what they believe about the proposed center and asks them why they believe what they believe. Why do respondents say that they are opposed? Why are they in favor? Do they understand that people who share their faith commitments have reached very different conclusions? Why do they think that is? These are the questions which will bring this ongoing controversy to healthier and more productive conclusion.
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Actually the numbers don't tell us anything of the sort. Presumably the 14% of muslims who favor moving the community center are not Islamophobes, and are more likely people afraid of where public opinion is going with regard to Islam. But that's a fairly small number.
None of the other groups actually represent "communities". Not all Jews represent a single community. And Jews are the smallest group on the list, and so the one that most could most be understood in this context. (Actually atheists might be the smallest, but atheists are clearly not cohesive enough to be a community).
A more plausible community is that religion does not determine whether one is an Islamophobe or in favor of freedom of religion. It's good that most atheists, despite rejecting the tenets of Islam, do not favor discrimination against it. But it does not seem surprising given the debates around that 23 percent of atheists could be classified as Islamophobes who don't favor freedom of religion.
The same is true for the other groups. It isn't shocking that many protestants, particularly of conservative denominations don't favor freedom of religion as long as their religion seems safe.
But there's just no reason to think this data undercuts the traditional take on the subject.
Second, constitutional freedom of religion under state and federal constitutions further protects the right even of disfavored faiths to build a house of worship in the same location where a majority faith could build such a house.
I appreciate the light of truth I have found in all religions and hope to share with others whatever illumination I can.
Sad it's taken so long to realize this. But it could have taken longer, and we could be ripping each other to shreds in our usual polarizing way. Thanks for the data.
http://thenews.com.pk/latest-news/4908.htm
The mostr bigoted and racist in the world? I'll stick to countries in which one ethnicity or religion - and there are MANY - are given de juro favoritism to find that answer
I disagree with the premise that we have enough or "too much," information (how is it possible to have too much information? I suppose if there is too much to understand it, but that isn't really the supposition here). The difficulty is how to make people understand it who have in interest in refusing to understand it. It's a difficult problem, but this article doesn't provide any answers.
Actually, among the most interesting thing was the majority opionion of the majority of the groups favor relocating.
The article above indicates only a majority of Catholics favor relocation. All other groups favor either building the Islamic center or an interfaith center (what it will be) on the site.
With the three choices proposed, four of the six groups polled are clearly for relocating. Jews 43% is majority of opinion to relocate vs. those who wish to build on site or to those who propose an interfaith institution. Catholics 63%. Mormon, close to 63%. Protestant 49% is clear majority over the 18% and the 23%.
Using these poll numbers and including the athiest and the Muslim vote, you still have a majority of 44% in favor of relocating, 26% wishing to build, and 21% wanting a interfaith institution.
The majority opinion is clearly to relocate, Bloomberg and Obama take note.
Furthermore, an interfaith center is not even a viable choice, it would take government funding for such a thing. Take this, (independent vote), choice away and more would be for relocating.
Four of the six groups favor relocating the Islamic center. Include the Islamic and athiest polled and the vote comes to; 44% in favor of relocating, with only 26% wanting to use current site and 21% in favor of an interfaith institution.
Bloomberg and Obama take note.
Furthermore, an interfaith institution would take government funding, this option is null and void. Remove this option and the percentage of relocating vs. not would increase.
And just as clearly, the various trade unions that have been among the most vocal of the protesters have a constitutional right not to be involved in the building of it.
Anyone who lives in NYC knows just how powerful those unions actually are. I'm not sure what the situation is today, but historically there was a lot of Soprano-type control by the mob, which in effect creating a building "tax" estimated at 10% of the project cost.
So it looks to me like we're going to have one of those irresistible force meets immovable object sorts of encounters, with both sides hyper-energized by their principles and constituencies.
Good luck with the sensitivity training. I'll make some popcorn.
New York City Union workers will be glad to get the work, and they aren't nearly as bigoted as some would like
---
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."
Do you want your popcorn buttered, or plain?
Today they were all talking about how the 2012 cycle is already underway, and it gonna be a doozy.
And the Obama haters are smelling blood in the water, too - so I'm expecting the rabble rousing to come back stronger than ever very shortly. Those folks are just taking a half-time breather.
That said, this image is quite interesting:
http://www.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/tdomf/160024/Rhetoric%20versus%20Reality.jpg