In the previous article “It’s About Respect”, written by my friend and partner Frank DeMartini, Frank discusses the numerous moral reasons why a proposed “Mosque” should not be built in the area presently located several blocks from the old World Trade Center site. This mosque/community center has ignited a firestorm of debate not only across the United States but across the world as well.
Gamal Abd Al-Gawad, director of Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo told Arab News…
“Many Muslims fear that the mosque will become a shrine for Islamists, which would remind Americans of what Muslims did on 9/11.”
He went on to say…
“Some people express concern that if the mosque will be built, it will harm Muslims and Islam in America. It’s not good for Muslims and Islam to be in the heart of such a controversy.”
Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed is the General Manager of Al-Arabiya Television. In his column titled “A House of Worship or a Symbol of Destruction?” he also criticized the placement of the Mosque.
“Muslims do not aspire for a mosque next to the September 11 cemetery. The mosque is not an issue for Muslims, and they have not heard of it until the shouting became loud between the supporters and the objectors, which is mostly an argument between non-Muslim US citizens!”
So let’s look at some of the facts.
1) The Mosque/Community Center is not technically at “Ground Zero” but two blocks north of the World Trade Center site.
2) The 1st Amendment gives them the right to build it there.
3) There is another mosque in the immediate area. It was built in 1970.
4) Yes there is also a strip club a block north of the mosque.
5) Yes there are several good bars a few blocks east of the mosque.
6) No the developers of the mosque have NOT agreed to move the site as of yet.
As if we didn’t have enough voices fanning the flames our President weighed in on the debate proclaiming that the builders of the mosque have every legal right to put it there, which they do. There was an immediate tidal wave of criticism. Since then he has “clarified” what he meant in his original statement.
The President said in Florida, “I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right that people have that dates back to our founding fathers. My intention was simply to let people know what I thought. Which was that in this country we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion.”
Well that clears things up. Sort of. Maybe.
Now Nancy Pelosi has jumped into the fray with both feet saying…
“There is no question that there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some. And I join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque being funded? How is this being ginned up?”
She too has had to “clarify” her original statement adding that both parties, those for and against, need to have their funding sources investigated. If you’d care to hear her complete statement a link to the video is provided at the end of this article.
But this article is not about the abundant inadequacies of Nancy Pelosi or the President constantly forgetting the old adage “Look before you leap”. It is about the building of a mosque/community center two blocks from the site of the old World Trade Center.
Is it legal for the developers to build a mosque there? Of course it is. They are protected by the same 1st Amendment rights as the rest of us. Is it morally right to put it there? That depends on who you ask. Even several of the families of the victims of the World Trade Center are split on this.
Colleen Kelly of The Bronx lost her brother Bill Kelly Jr. in the attack.
“The mosque is in many ways … a fitting tribute. This is the voice of Islam that I believe needs a wider audience. This is what moderate Islam is all about.”
However Sally Regenhard, whose son, a New York Firefighter killed at the World Trade Center, doesn’t quite see it that way. She feels the President’s comments show “a gross lack of sensitivity to the 9/11 families and to the people who were lost.”
The developers of this center need to understand if they want to build a bridge between Muslims and the rest of America pissing us off is not the way to do it. Frank was right when he said “the question here is not whether building the mosque is legal; it is one of respect.”
Muslims say Americans don’t respect their religion. Maybe that’s true but respect is a two way street and we haven’t seen a heck of a lot of respect for us either. You want us to think better of you then show some respect for those that were killed at the Twin Towers; show respect for the families of the dead and show respect for the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers who don’t want that “Community Center” built there. That’s all it will take to get the ball rolling. Maybe then we can really begin construction of that “Bridge” between Muslims and Americans that Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf constantly speaks about. Maybe then our two cultures can really begin to understand one another and understanding usually leads to respect. And respect and understanding, after all, is what it’s all about.
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/politics/2010/08/18/sot.pelosi.ny.mosque.kgo.html
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Well, I said from the very beginning that the developers have every right to do it. But having the right to do it does not mean it is right to do.
I find it very interesting that the imam keeps saying, “What better place to show that we, as Muslims, condemn the acts of 9/11 than making this stand and making this statement here. When we say it here, we will be heard.” (direct quote from BBC article dated 2010/08/03 found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10846716). Makes me wonder how he thinks making this stand in this place is going to accomplish what he claims he wants to accomplish. Maybe it is a cultural misunderstanding; I don’t know. But I found it equally interesting that the ADL, which is usually eagerly rubbing their collective palms together with glee in situations like this, said (again from the BBC article): “The controversy which has emerged regarding the building of an Islamic Center at this location is counterproductive to the healing process. Therefore, under these unique circumstances, we believe the City of New York would be better served if an alternative location could be found.”
I hope that some solution is reached that will satisfy all parties. But somehow I doubt that is how it will play out.
Heard an interesting commentary from Howard Dean the other evening which made a lot of sense to me. He believes that since this has become such a polarizing situation that respective parties from both sides, minus the demagogues or race-baiters, should sit down and work out a solution amenable to all parties considered. If that means finding a new location, then so be it. If the intent here is to sincerely build bridges then let’s go about it the right way in a manner which illustrates respect and dignity to all parties considered. His voice appears to contain the most logical message I’ve heard so far.
I agree. Hope it works.
Well I, for one, am celebrating the statist’s new found respect for private property rights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-dPSh–CHU&feature=player_embedded
This is a new country song about the proposed Mosque. This situation is about to explode and for one I’m not too happy where it is going. It is obviously becoming more about Islamaphobia than Freedom of Religion v. Right or Wrong.
The very week of the 9/11 events while discussing it with friends, family and co-works I warned everyone I spoke with that we would all live to see the day that Muslims would try to build a victory Mosque at the site and eventually claim the site as holy. Most scoffed then, none are laughing today.
If you don’t understand why the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome are built where they are, if you don’t know and understand why wounded terrorist in the middle east often try to enter churches to die and why priests and bishops will do almost anything to stop them and if you didn’t know on September 12 2001 this plan for a mosque was already being cooked up then you don’t understand Islam, it’s history and what western civilization is up against.
Mark my words, if this mosque gets built you will all see the day that it is used as the headquarters of an effort to disrupt future activity at the site where the towers stood by those claiming it as a Muslim holy site due to the blood shed by martyrs. Mark my words.
If that mosque is built there do you really think the FBI will not have a room across the street from it. That will be the most watched mosque in intelligence history. If I’m wrong, and I’m pretty sure I won’t be, you can be the first to tell me “I told you so”.