Mosque Near Ground Zero? Hmmm…
Posted by Mitch Mitchell on Jun 5, 2010
This past week I heard that there were plans for allowing a mosque to be built near the place where the Twin Towers came down. I immediately didn't like it one bit.
I don't know that there's many people who believe in diversity more than I do. I've written about it often here and in my newsletters. I've obviously lived the life of a very diverse person, while keeping my eyes open for those times when racism and bigotry rear their ugly heads, and then I condemn it when it's needed.
Still, there are times when even I initially find something abhorrent that I know is based either on race or religion that makes me react negatively. One of those truths in life is that we act on the input we've received throughout our lives, and it's not always the best reaction, even if it feels like the right one at the time.
In my initial reaction, I wasn't alone; it wasn't even a close call. I think one poll I saw came out with a figure near 85%; that's a lot of folks unhappy with the decision. And it's understandable; after all, it was a bunch of Muslim fanatics who decided to board planes on that fateful day and were ready to give up their lives for a cause that they themselves probably couldn't define, as long as they could take a lot of people with them. It was those men who have lead the world to be what it is today as it concerns terrorism and the world's reaction to it. There's a lot of bad things that have been set into place because of that act, not the least of which concern Afghanistan and Iraq.
So, my initial reaction was the same as many other people. It seems like a slap in the face to all those people who were killed on that day by these fanatics. I initially felt justified.
However, being me, my other mind started working on the issue as well. Truth be told, there were Muslims killed on that day who didn't believe in terrorism, who don't support this ridiculous concept of "jihad", whose only "crime" of the day was wanting to go to work, or wanting to fly somewhere for whatever reason. They weren't fanatics; they were American citizens, for the most part, like most of the rest of us, thinking they were going to go about their day, then go home that evening to meet with their families and friends. Everyone suffered a little bit on that day, and Muslims were no different.
As I wrote on my post last year titled What, a Muslim Can't Be President, this concept of people, most specifically these days the tea partiers (never thought I'd be mentioning them anywhere) bringing up their belief in President Obama being Muslim as if it would be the worst thing in the world smacks of racism and bigotry. Should anyone really care what a person's religion is, or whether that person has one or not, if their qualifications for the job are enough? As I wrote on a much older piece on perpetuating stereotypes, isn't it about time this country worked on getting away from these negative stereotypes, especially when compared to the greater numbers that prove those stereotypes aren't true?
I've reversed my original belief and say I have no problem with a mosque being built near Ground Zero. The people who voted to allow it carried the belief 29 in favor and 1 against. That's a brave bunch of people, understanding how emotions flow in New York City. If we're going to talk about first amendment rights and equality for all in this country, we have to start living it as well.
Hey, Mitch,
I agree with you. This is, after all, America. Remember the Bill of Rights and The Constitution? The Founding Fathers’ fully intended for equal freedom for ALL religions and people. I do, however, have a problem with people stereotyping “tea partiers”. Most tea partiers are average people with concern for the direction in which our country is headed. I am not an economist, but I do listen to economists often and have read quite a bit on the subject of the US economical situation lately, and believe me, we are in big trouble. If we don’t change the current situation ASAP, you can kiss our way of life goodbye. The current lack of direction can be seen in action right now in Albany. Washington, DC is headed down the same path. I’m glad there are groups like the tea partiers, because they are concerned enough to become involved. Isn’t that a basic premise of a republic….to have the people actively involved? There are many people in the US that have lost touch with The Consitution. Ever heard of Alexander Tytler and The Tytler Cycle? Well, it’s happening in the US just as it’s happened all throughout history. But then, as a student of history, I expected it to happen. I just hoped it wouldn’t happen so soon. I don’t want my kids and grandkids to have to live through the worst part of it, but what can I, just one person, do to stop it? All I can do is become involved and try to educate people about The COnstitution and hope for the best. I hope more people become involved, instead of being apathetic, which is, of course, part of the Tytler Cycle. Actually, if you were to apply the Tytler Cycle to the US today, you would find that we are in between apathy and dependence, a very poor position to be in if you want to avoid the next level. Oh, well, enough of that…but if you want to know more, look up the Tytler Cycle, or reread The Constitution. 🙂
Kathy, glad we agree on the mosque thing.
As for the tea partiers, my major gripe is the racial component of the entire thing, which I would be sensitive to and you wouldn’t be. I’ve yet to hear a single tea party person condemn the base parts of those who support them, instead saying there’s no proof of it. Sorry, but that’s not good enough for me. President Bush gets us into a financial mess, President Obama has problems fixing his mess, and suddenly there’s tea partiers; I don’t believe in coincidence.
Nice post Mitch. I’m less concerned about the “mosque” (which is actually a Muslim community center run by Sufi’s–the mystic and non-violent sect most unlike the ones that preach jihad) than by politicians using this issue as a convenient way to distract people from the serious issues we face in this state (I’m looking at you Lazio and Paladino!)
Tolerance is one of our country’s greatest virtues–and also the most difficult one to pull off. It is just too easy to demonize The Other, rather than understanding an issue and not allowing ourselves to be swayed by our own passions.
Phil, that’s part of my gripe. The issue was already dying down and suddenly Sarah Palin got wind of it and other people got wind of it and it all smacks of intolerance. None of it has anything to do with them, so they should stay out of it.
Isn’t it a shame though that others aren’t as tolerant, if anything they see it as a form of weakness.
I know that it’s not Muslims that are at fault, rather it’s the fanatics that are causing all the problems, but I wonder why more Muslims don’t stand up condemning their actions?
Some do, Sire, and I’m not going to say that I don’t get upset with a lot of stuff that happens. However, in the United States we’re supposed to be about equality and fairness, and that doesn’t mean we get to pick and choose when we’re going to be equal and fair.
Unfortunately that isn’t enough, more need to do it so that those fanatics can see they are a minority and not a majority.
The question is how much is enough? See it from where I sit. Something bad happens, my first thought is always “I hope it’s not a black person.” Reason being, when it is, then the majority says “see, I told you they were like that.” There’s literally not enough good deeds black people can do that one person can ruin. In other words, there isn’t close to enough that could say something that the rest of the world would say “okay, they mean it now.”
OK, let’s put it this way. I assume that Muslims in America have clerics that they listen to? Well if that’s the case then why don’t these clerics openly condemn their actions?
As I said, some do and some don’t. Kind of like Christian clerics here whenever something happens. Some condemn acts and some don’t, especially where it concerns things like abortion. Some feel that killing doctors who are constitutionally protected to do something is justified and thus won’t condemn those acts. To someone like me, it’s no different.
Not good enough in my opinion. Just as a matter of interest, how many stood up and condemned what happened on that day? Then there is that awful act where those innocent civilians were killed in Afghanistan, did they denounce that?
Well, I’m trying to be fair, Sire, but on that day and days afterward, I wanted to just see a lot of people hurt and killed as well. That’s why it’s not always good to go off emotion like that.