Sarah Palin may be an unemployed, Facebook abusing, gaffe-prone idiot, but it seems as if she has, by accident and without knowing, stumbled across something she has a valid position on: the mosque proposal in New York City, close to Ground Zero .
Essentially, there’s been a proposal for the equivalent of a Muslim activity center – a mosque with restaurant, entertainment facilities, and more – to be built mere blocks from the site of the World Trade Center destruction, which has, as could be expected, received immediate, kneejerk reactions from both sides of the argument. Those of a conservative, oft-racist, persuasion have jumped on the fact that this is a Muslim center and not one of their own Christian brand, as if simply being of the Islamic faith was an affront to Americanism and disrespecting the lives of the dead from 9/11. Similarly, those of the liberal, oft-too-open, political flavor have done quite the opposite and used the proposal as a weapon of peaceful propaganda, claiming that it would cater to moderate Muslims, despite a valid argument that there is no such middleground option in Islam, and it would show that America holds nothing against those that did not declare war upon the nation.
The problem is that neither side is correct – both have legitimate and defensible positions, which is especially odd in the modern polar political climate.
In terms of arguing against the mosque’s existence so close to Ground Zero, there are mountains of evidence that Islamic centers of prayer, and those that run them, played large roles in the attacks of September 11th, 2001 and continue to do so, even within America’s borders. The 9/11 hijackers sought solace, solidarity, and support in various mosques, on both coasts, and the more recent terrorist attempts, such as the failed Times Square Bomber, have had similar aid – a careful reading of Steve Coll’s “Ghost Wars”, James Bamford’s “The Shadow Factory”, and a number of other investigative journalism efforts on the topic make this quite clear. Even now, a decade later, those that support the subjugation, injury, or death of non-Muslims, due to either American citizenship or Jewish heritage/faith, can find sympathetic persons for their cause across the country. Since the Islamic faith, if interpreted in a semi-strict fashion, allows for no religion other than its own and calls for the death of all Jews, this is a serious issue, especially as fundamentalism sweeps the ranks of Muslims worldwide.
That being said, not all Muslims are terrorists or wish harm upon the Western World – this is a fact that should be inherently understood by rational individuals worldwide. The terrorist attacks of September 11th were carried out by fundamentalist Muslims with disgruntled attitudes and a brainwashed perspective, and did not, nor do they currently, represent the opinions of all Muslims, just as the Catholic Pope does not speak for all Catholics. In a fit of panic, there were some unintelligent, embarrassingly stereotyping decisions made in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, but it can be argued that America has, on the whole, returned to its more rational state. Mosques are not the places of evil and fundamentalism that they are so often made out to be, most especially within the borders of the United States – they should not be pigeonholed as centers of evil to be banned, harassed, or discriminated against.
Thus arrives the crux of the problem: both sides of this argument have a point. A mosque so close to the ashes of the World Trade Center would undoubtedly send a message of tolerance and forgiveness to Muslims, but it could just as easily serve as an inspiration-by-proximity center fostering anti-American sentiment, so there is no easy answer to this permit request. None of this, however, was intended by the loudmouth embarrassment that is Sarah Palin – her words were simply meant in the racist, derogatory, and unacceptably judgmental manner in which she presented them. That she touched upon so salient a point by accident is a fantastic coincidence, but it does nothing to make the issue any less politically or socially relevant.
From Kyle Brady…
Kyle can be found on his blog, via email, or on Twitter.
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American Christian symbols are all over Nagasaki and Hiroshima. There is no controversy there and there should be none in NYC. It would be religious persecution which America in fact stands against. It is a sticky situation, but you cannot stop someone, who rightfully and legally owns the land from building what he wants. In many ways it would be a symbol of American tolerance and multiplicity upon its completion.
The United States is the last country that should cry about what’s appropriate. There are countries round the world that deal with bombings and terrorists attacks everyday. When Americans suffer they cry so loudly as if only the white middle class knows about suffering. Stop whining.
People who want to ban a mosque from being built are naive. The Muslim religion did not fly planes into the twin towers, it ws Al Queda extremists. Blaming Muslims is just our right wrong, just as blaming Christians when come nutcase born again shoots up a school or a mall.
Palin’s words are a part of the reductionist narrative that has defined both her as a public figure and those who think like her. This woman says things that reduce everything down to black and white, right and wrong, in a country that best represents the infinite shades of gray that make our world. The least educated, mots naive, and plain old idiotic individual ever to play the national field of American Politics.
Palin is an Islamophobic bigot. Muslims in New York have every right to build a community center with a Mosque as any other American community. We have to stop and dismantle the ignorant religious nuts that Palin and her followers represent. If we want to save this counrty
While there is no doubt Palin is an moron, I actually agree with her here. Islam has a lack of tolerance in terms of others viewpoints. It does not deserve tolerance in of all places NYC. It is like rubbing salt in an open wound. Do we really need a Mosque there of all places?
Are there any churches next to Mecca? Are there any synagogues in Tehran? How about Muslim countries show the acceptance they want to enjoy in the West. Perhaps then we can talk about building another mosque.
@Goldfinger – America and NYC for that matter is not Mecca. It is not Saudi Arabia and Iran. It IS the United States of America. Thank God for that. We do not model ourselves after the close minded political use of religion in countries sch as these. We have and must continue to claze the trail of freedom ad tolerance. What you speak of is going backwards and not forward. We ARE not them. We are America and that is why Muslims have the right to build a mosque anywhere they want to. That is what makes my country great.
Jasmine – you said it all before I had a chance to. You are 100% correct. This is America and I am proud to say come one and come all.
I am not sure how this would help people to heal who have lost loved ones. New York has not yet gotten over the aftershocks of the act of war it witnessed on 9/11. And with NYC often being cited as the greatest city in America if not the world, she still needs some time. Tolerance is not a strong suit of anyone when one is on pain.
Via Facebook:
“Jesus wrote the Constitution not the Koran so they should build their Mosque over in Iran”. I overheard this at a coffee house this morning, coffee started pouring out every orifice in my head as I tried not to laugh. If it does or does n…ot get built near ground zero I feel will be left to the Supreme Court, years from now. And the “funny” thing is that there are hate speeches in Christian churches as well as in Mosques and Temples. I pray alone and outdoors, it’s safer and for me, a more Spiritual experience.
Via Facebook:
Jesus wrote the Constitution? That’s a bit of a stretch to say the least!
I am really bothered by the idea that the mosque is being built for the “others”, be it Saudis or extremists. The mosque is for our citizens. Americans just happen to be Muslim. To deny them a place to worship is to promote religious discrimination, even if it is in the name of “sensitivity.”