This is a cross-post by Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens
For the past week I have been in New York, and on Tuesday took the afternoon to visit Ground Zero and Park51, the site of the Cordoba Initiative’s proposed Islamic centre.
Front of the Park51 Site
As I pressed the timer on my watch so as to check how long it took to walk from the former World Trade Centre to the Cordoba site, it dawned on me how absurd this whole issue really is; what distance would be appropriate? Should there be some sort of strictly enforced ‘don’t offend me’ radius around Ground Zero? The next day, the New York Times reported that Mayor Bloomberg made exactly this point:
Mr. Bloomberg…said he understood the impulse to find a different location, in the hope of ending the controversy.
“But it won’t,” the mayor said, “The question will then become, ‘how big should the ‘no-mosque zone’ around the World Trade Center be?’”
Arriving at the site (it’s about a three minute walk in case you were wondering), I saw three young New Yorkers holding up signs in support of the mosque. Wishing to get at least some idea of the nature of pro-Mosque New Yorkers, I discussed the issue with all of them and was pleasantly surprised: they were normal, young liberals like me, able to balance an appreciation of the threat of Islamic jihad with an understanding that not all Muslims want to take over the world. It was difficult, however, to keep up a long discussion, as we were regularly interrupted by passers-by, many of them clearly against the plans. Two things struck me about these people: first, the main crux of their argument was that it is offensive to have a mosque built so close to Ground Zero; and second, although they were clearly against the centre, they were unwilling to support any sort of ban on its construction.
Pro-Mosque New Yorkers
Things get heated
On the first point, this is simply not a valid argument, and one that was made recently by a Democrat, Sheldon Silver, who is also the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. In City Hall this week, he said that Cordoba “should take into very serious consideration the kind of turmoil that’s been created and look to compromise.” Instead, he hoped that they could find “a suitable place that doesn’t create the kind of controversy” brought about by the Park51 plan.
In any discussion about the construction of the Islamic centre, the least relevant point is that it is in some way an offensive act. Comparisons with the Mohammed cartoons episode have already been made in this debate, but it is worth repeating that, in order for the ‘right to offend’ argument to hold any sway, it must be allowed to go both ways.
There are, however, a number of concerns that if they had any foundation, would be relevant. Some of these include:
- Islamic supremacism/support for al-Qaeda – beginning with the most absurd accusations that have been leveled at the Cordoba Initiative, it is quite clear that they have no intention to use the site as some sort of celebratory shrine to bin Laden and the 9/11 hijackers;
- Saudi money – considering the deep connection between Saudi Wahhabism and terrorism, this is a valid concern, but thus far there is no evidence to suggest any Saudi involvement. Indeed, even if money for the project does come from Saudi, although it would be worth protesting, there would still be no legal way to prevent it;
- Iranian money – although it has been pointed out that the head of the organisation, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, has voiced support for the extremist Shiite Khomeinist concept of Vilayet-i-faquih, there is no suggestion that he or Cordoba have any official connection with Iran. If they did, there are laws in the United States which could be used to stop the project;
- Islamist connections – Islamist ideology is a key inspiration for global jihadism, but again there is not enough evidence to level any such accusation at Imam Rauf or the Cordoba Initiative. They are not supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, or any other global Islamist organisation.
There is no question that the centre must be allowed to go ahead, and unless they are receiving Iranian government money, or plan to use the site to promote jihadist preachers, there is absolutely no legislation which could be used to stop it. However, for those of you hoping that the inevitable construction of the mosque will prove once and for all that America is not at war with Islam and Muslims, I fear you will all be sorely disappointed. People who continue to peddle this idea, particularly Islamists, have no interest in conceding that they are wrong – in fact, they need it to be true. Take, for example, the reaction of some of the senior members of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University, who are convinced that far from being a symbol of Islamic supremacy, the project is an attempt to link 9/11 with Islam, thus assisting in the ancient and ongoing Zionist-Western plot to destroy Islam.
The majority of people who claim that there exists such a conspiracy do so on the basis of irrational ideas (see above), and using logical arguments will simply never convince them, and no one should waste their time trying to do so.
A friend of mine, accepting my argument that this will not shake people out of their absolute conviction that America wants to eradicate them, told me that instead he holds out the hope that allowing the mosque will convince potential future recruits to Islamism that America does not hate them. This may be true, but it is also almost impossible to measure. Also, considering the myriad of anti-American conspiracy theories that (thanks to Islamists, and many others) are now accepted as gospel-like truths among many within the pool of potential Islamists, we will need far more than the building of another mosque in Manhattan to effect any real change in attitudes.
Park51 is not a conspiracy to promote extremist Islam, and nor is it an effort to destroy the entire religion, rather it is a (poorly judged) attempt to heal some very raw wounds in New York, and one that probably will not succeed in its mission. There are far more important debates to be had about extremism, Islam and terrorism, and about a year from now the most striking thing about this entire episode will be just how little difference it made to anything.
26 Comments
In the larger scope of things there is winning a battle and losing a war. Look for Congress to eliminate or regulate money from abroad for religious institutions. The Muslim community has shown disrespect for the American people.
As for claims that this is a Muslim free district, a Mosque has existed two blocks North.
Of course that mosque was built in 1970 by the local community for the local community.
“The Muslim community has shown disrespect for the American people.”
The Anti-Park51 Offence-Taking community has shown disrespect to the American Constitution, rather.
Faisal
The argument has not been on whether the project is legal. The argument centers on dreadful taste and funny money for tax exempt structures. It is one thing for foreigners to buy property and pay taxes. This is an area of the law that needs to be shut down.
There is nothing dreadful taste about a Cultural Center, it only adds broad-mindedness to a community. Every single mosque in USA is directly or indirectly funded by foreign funds, if those are allowed why not this one? The tangent of “foreign funding” is only a red-herring to create religious Apartheid.
No other religious denominations require foreign funds to build their projects. This foreign funding loophole should be immediately closed. Foreigners should not be permitted to construct tax exempt structures. Moreover, the source of the funds and the 9-11 war criminals is the same.
In essence you can win the battle and lose the war. Building this mosque has focused attention on shady foreign financing. Also as there are fewer no mosques there are fewer needs for foreign imams and teachers.
As a member of that community we do not need or want Saudi Jim Crow Apartheid
funded structures in the area. A mosque built by and for the local community has been two blocks away with zero fan fare.
The Saudi activists have gone too far this time and have decided to mess with the American people. We also need to end all funding from foreign sources in our Universities. No more foreign subsidized University professors schilling for the Gulf States.
All of the proposed legislation is legal. The construction of a foreign funded mosque next to the very spot of the greatest war crime committed against the American people in the name of Islam is legal, but in poor taste. Now the intransigence of the developers has awakened the American people to the funny money Saudi game. Look for legislation to end these games.
This will be a Pyrrhic victory at best. Rubbing the face of the American people in the dirt is not a prudent idea.
Gay bars and X rated CD stores are also legal. There is a need for a gay community center in the area to be placed right next door. Gays out number Muslims three to one in the community and need a community center. In fact Americans can raise
the money with ease.
Going round in circles the ban has lost its logic, exposing the anti-islamic bigotry of Americanism. The crime was not committed by Islam.
Kgazi
The war crime was indeed committed by those who acted in the name of Islam. You can say this war crime does not represent your view of the faith but it represents Osama’s view.
Muslims need to grasp the seriousness of these crimes and stop pretending their is a rationale for these crimes. The days of slaughtering innocents for publicity stunts needs to end. There is no rationale for these war crimes.
As the developers of the Mosque are intransigent and the Muslim community has shown zero respect for the American people you can expect a response. No doubt
laws will be changed and the days of foreign subsidized mosques are coming to a close.
Well it just goes to show that most Americans are just as ready to be have their sensibilities offended – in this case the “sacred” and hallowed nature of Ground Zero – as Muslims were with MoToons.
Faisal
Other than an attack by an unstable type nobody got harmed. Indeed when Muslims commit violent acts like shooting Jews on the Brooklyn Bridge or the EL AL counter the media goes out of its way to stress mental health issues.
There is no linkage.
If you have read the polls the Muslim community has made two grave errors.
1) Partnering with the anti American far left.
2) Sending America the wrong message by needlessly re-opening old wounds and saying all the wrong things.
Except that none of the issues you have mentioned have anything to do with Park51. Apart from guilt by association, of course.
Faisal
Except that the Muslim far left alliance is behind the defense of the Ground Zero Mosque and that this project damages relations with Americans you might be right.
No Muslim in his right mind would want to go near this subject.
It would be far wiser to move the project than to continue to needlessly irritate the American people. The project is just not worth it and will lead to serious legislation
that will prevent future projects.
Why would it wiser to move the project? unless Americans believe Islam is their enemy?
Perhaps the project SHOULD be removed, so that Arabs are confirmed of the true underlying anti-Islamic hatred of Americanism – so that muslims are not fooled in Middle-East foriegn policy. With this anti-islamic mindset, (whether or not acquired through 9/11) it is a conflict of interest for USA to be involved as a mediator in Middle East.
Keeping Ground-zero Islam-free will be the proof of such hypocrisy.
Kgazi
If you wish to discuss US foreign policy that is separate.
Local NYC types do not need lectures in tolerance from people whose history is often the apex of intolerance. Sorry, but the actual people who live in apartheid states, with Jim Crow, misogynistic and homophobic laws are well known in any rational analysis.
Placing a foreign subsidized Mosque anywhere near Ground Zero is a pointless incitement and reminder of the greatest war crime committed against the American people. There is zero excuse or rationalization of these war crimes . One can find plenty of other people with grievances that do not behave so uncivilized.
Rather, than say this is inexcusable and does not represent our version of Islam the US people have been fed a bunch word games by CAIR.
There will be a counter reaction to this pointless attempt to rile the American people.
All mosques are foreign subsidized, Fox TV is funded by the same sources, and $400 billion of Saudi Money is invested in USA – funding is a red herring.
9/11 war-crime was done by Osama, not Islam. USA has already been riled by hypocrisy, no more lectures are needed there. Now a Statue of Hypocrisy will be built in Gzero, and I believe the project should be cancelled totally.
Kgazi
Fox News is a publicly traded for profit venture.
Laws will be passed to end foreign funds from entering tax exempt non profit entities.It is called winning a battle and losing the war.
Is this worth calling to attention and provoking the American people needlessly.
The placement of this Mosque and the intransigence of its leaders have ensured that there will be a legal response. No more funny money is round one.
This is a foolish move.
The mosque project should be totally cancelled, so that the true inner feeling of American anti-Islamism is retained in Gzero. Enough of this pointless magic roundabout. My final comment here.
It’s not a mosque and it’s not on Ground Zero.
But lets face it. It was never about Ground Zero or 9/11, it has been always about Islamisation of America movement and some populist politicians saw an opportunity to connect with their base, using the most deleterious language of anti-Muslim bigotry imaginable, and they took it, particularly because it is coming round to mid term elections season over there.
This is all about opportunist politicking and little else.
Faisal
This is about Ground Zero and it is right near Ground Zero. The anger that you hear is from the American people who are reacting to an affront. There are well over 100 Mosques mostly built with funny money and foreign Imams. Things were going nice and peaceably until the folks in Saudi tried to build a mosque too far.
Rather than grasp the error and move the project the founders decided to cry victim and were intransigent.
The next move is up to the American people. They are angry and these are entirely self inflicted wounds.
Rather than grasp the magnitude of the crime and say to the American people we understand this was inexcusable and does not speak for us the founders decided to revisit old wounds.
The rationale for ending funny money has been established.
Naah, I doubt even the anti-Mosque/anti-Muslim agitation that is sprouting all over the USA, though part of your flock, agree with you.
Faisal
Of course the issue of funny money was not highlighted so clearly. In November the winds will shift.
FYI Do not make the mistake that African Americans are more favorably disposed towards Islam. The percentage of hate crimes committed by them always exceeds the population. Unlike Sharpton and Pastor Wright the average Black cleric is far more apt to see Islam in a negative light.
Tennessee is too close to Ground Zero, only 1000 miles away.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100830/ap_on_re_us/us_tennessee_mosque
That is a seperate incedent.
Of course Muslims should be asking themselves how much does terrorism, word games about terrorism, alliances with anti American far leftists and reliance on foreign funny money hurt the cause of Islam.
If you look at the hate crime statistics Muslims are more apt to commit a hate crime than be victimized by one.
This proves “location” of Park 51 is not the issue, the real issue is that POLITICAL Islamophobia is being spread as a weapon in USA, to attack Obama & his party, for the next election. This will backfire in a massive way, USA has lost its economy doing the Bush war in Iraq. And now USA will lose its social integrity doing the Sarah Palin Islamophbic war against Obama.
Recent attacks on mosques across USA, a new phenomenon since recent increase of anti-islamism as an attack on Obama, (maligning the US President as an evil muslim, by Americans), to win the next November election – is a bad sign for home-grown US terrorism. In a nation touting the world for “freedom & liberty”, their people attack MOSQUES in their own country, while the “war against terrorism” is propagandized in invaded countries with Abu Ghraib campuses.
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[[Mosque attack in California refers to Ground ZeroLatest News in US
An Islamic center in Madera, CA, was vandalized Tuesday with a sign that read, "No temple for the god of terrorism at Ground Zero."
Demonstrators who support and oppose a proposed Muslim cultural center and mosque Park51 stand with signs in front of the site in New York August 25, 2010.
Demonstrators who support and oppose a proposed Muslim cultural center and mosque Park51 stand with signs in front of the site in New York August 25, 2010.
Another sign read, "Wake up America, the enemy is here."]]
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/46449/20100826/mosque-islam-hate.htm
Kgazi
This is nonsense and paranoia. Muslims are far more apt to commit hate crimes than be the victims of hate crimes.
As for the talk of being the “enemy”. This is the damage that terrorism causes to the Muslim community. Unfortunately this combined with the disasterous allliance with the hated far left has hurt the Muslim community immensly. The Muslim community leaders and CAIR clowns do more damage to the community than Islamophobes ever could.
That’s hate crime hallucination, with no supporting data.
The Iraqis trampled on Bush portraits and now Americans are themselves trampling on on their “evil muslim president”. Tennesse, Florida, California, Arizona is buzzing with mosque attacks.
http://www.newser.com/tag/27901/1/islamophobia.html