Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Build the Mosque
The
Park 51
“Ground Zero Mosque”
& the Bigger Picture
A new fear campaign has begun here in America. Although, perhaps it is not so very new. According to Rasmussen polls, 54% of Americans oppose the proposed so-called, “Ground Zero Mosque”, with only 20% in support. That is a bit upsetting, but perhaps not surprising--A recent poll found 1/5 Americans still think Obama is a Muslim.
First off, let me set the record straight: The term “Ground Zero Mosque” isn’t even applicable to the (now re-named) Park 51, as it isn’t even located at Ground Zero, but blocks away. Not to mention, it’s not even quite what it’s being made out to be--This supposed “mosque” is really rather a Community Center. Here’s what is planned for the facility: 500-seat auditorium, theater, performing arts center, fitness center, swimming pool, basketball court, childcare area, bookstore, culinary school,as well as....(pause for effect) an Islamic prayer space. Dun Dun Dun!
Have they overlooked the fact that a Muslim religious center already exists in even closer proximity to Ground Zero? Built pre-9/11, in the 70’s. Should they relocate too? Out of “respect”? How about the Pentagon, which hosts a prayer space for Muslims.. (They’re taking over!)
The biggest irony in this all, is the reasoning behind the “mosque”’s construction--to create an interfaith facility for people of all faith’s to come and worship openly with one another; hence it’s original name, the Cordoba House--a reference to the city of the same name, where Muslims, Christians, and Jews co-existed peacefully together. What better message to send to those that hate our way of life, then to see Muslims, Jews, and Christians living side by side in harmony. What better chance than this to promote America’s freedoms and acceptance of all faiths and beliefs. We should be encouraging this kind of thing, not attacking it. We need less talk of our “freedoms” and more action.
What the opposition is doing, is using an emotional response to make supporters out to be heartless towards the 9/11 victims; when really they are spreading mistruths by associating extremists with the Muslim faith as a whole. Many supporters of the mosque also lost loved one’s on 9/11. People of all races and religions died on 9/11, including Muslims!
When it comes down to it though, this whole debate isn’t really even about 9/11 like it’s being made out to be. This kind of opposition is going on all around America. Wherever mosques are proposed, they face great backlash from protesters who associate all Muslims with fundamentalists. This is a war between extremes--Mainly between the Islamic terrorists who carry out attacks, and Christians who feel threatened and fear a takeover from within their own country.
My question to them is this--If extremist Muslims, who have twisted and distorted the message of Islam, such as the ones who committed the acts on 9/11, don’t represent Muslims as a whole, than how is this proposed mosque disrespectful to the 9/11 victims? If they had happened to be extremist Christians, would we be threatened by all Christians wanting to erect a church, or Jews a Synagogue in the general vicinity?
Truth is, there are equally frightening passages contained in the Bible as there are in the Qur'an. Context of course comes into play. Much of it’s laws and ways of life apply to the time and place. Yet followers still cherry pick the passages they wish to follow, and create their own world-view based on it.
I could argue that religion does more harm than go. That humanity has found a way to justify their violent actions because they’ve gotten an “OK” from the man upstairs--for instance: This church that has planned the burning of the Qur'an, those that threaten to blow up mosques or attack Muslims personally in “retaliation”. Should we in turn believe that these people represent Christians or Americans as whole?
With that said, I believe that one should be able to worship freely and openly as they please. Just because I don’t agree with their point of view, doesn’t mean I think their religion should be silenced or forbidden. Why? Because I don’t equate all "believers" with extremists.
I also don’t believe that everyone opposed to the construction of the mosque is somehow hateful or ignorant, although I would say that there is enough of that to go around as well--Sarah Palin comes to mind, or Newt Gingrinch, who has been one of the worst offenders when it comes to fear-mongering. His statement: “We can't let the Nazis put up a building next to the Holocaust Museum.” says it all.
For those on the right, I’d like to refresh your memory: George Bush was a big advocate for promoting the religion of Islam as a peaceful and noble one, and he was the first President to see the Qur'an added to the White House library. (Perhaps he’s secretly Muslim too!)
I understand that there are many rational opposing viewpoints out there as well. Those that would rather see the mosque relocated, as to avoid escalating tensions between both sides, in turn, only creating further polarization.
At the same time, I think they are missing the point here: The Bigger Picture. I’m not just talking about the fact that they have every constitutional right to build the mosque--I believe this is the perfect opportunity to counteract the extremists that have perverted the message of Islam, and set an example for the rest of the world. This is not a fanciful vision. This is what is possible.
Park 51
“Ground Zero Mosque”
& the Bigger Picture
A new fear campaign has begun here in America. Although, perhaps it is not so very new. According to Rasmussen polls, 54% of Americans oppose the proposed so-called, “Ground Zero Mosque”, with only 20% in support. That is a bit upsetting, but perhaps not surprising--A recent poll found 1/5 Americans still think Obama is a Muslim.
First off, let me set the record straight: The term “Ground Zero Mosque” isn’t even applicable to the (now re-named) Park 51, as it isn’t even located at Ground Zero, but blocks away. Not to mention, it’s not even quite what it’s being made out to be--This supposed “mosque” is really rather a Community Center. Here’s what is planned for the facility: 500-seat auditorium, theater, performing arts center, fitness center, swimming pool, basketball court, childcare area, bookstore, culinary school,as well as....(pause for effect) an Islamic prayer space. Dun Dun Dun!
Have they overlooked the fact that a Muslim religious center already exists in even closer proximity to Ground Zero? Built pre-9/11, in the 70’s. Should they relocate too? Out of “respect”? How about the Pentagon, which hosts a prayer space for Muslims.. (They’re taking over!)
The biggest irony in this all, is the reasoning behind the “mosque”’s construction--to create an interfaith facility for people of all faith’s to come and worship openly with one another; hence it’s original name, the Cordoba House--a reference to the city of the same name, where Muslims, Christians, and Jews co-existed peacefully together. What better message to send to those that hate our way of life, then to see Muslims, Jews, and Christians living side by side in harmony. What better chance than this to promote America’s freedoms and acceptance of all faiths and beliefs. We should be encouraging this kind of thing, not attacking it. We need less talk of our “freedoms” and more action.
What the opposition is doing, is using an emotional response to make supporters out to be heartless towards the 9/11 victims; when really they are spreading mistruths by associating extremists with the Muslim faith as a whole. Many supporters of the mosque also lost loved one’s on 9/11. People of all races and religions died on 9/11, including Muslims!
When it comes down to it though, this whole debate isn’t really even about 9/11 like it’s being made out to be. This kind of opposition is going on all around America. Wherever mosques are proposed, they face great backlash from protesters who associate all Muslims with fundamentalists. This is a war between extremes--Mainly between the Islamic terrorists who carry out attacks, and Christians who feel threatened and fear a takeover from within their own country.
My question to them is this--If extremist Muslims, who have twisted and distorted the message of Islam, such as the ones who committed the acts on 9/11, don’t represent Muslims as a whole, than how is this proposed mosque disrespectful to the 9/11 victims? If they had happened to be extremist Christians, would we be threatened by all Christians wanting to erect a church, or Jews a Synagogue in the general vicinity?
Truth is, there are equally frightening passages contained in the Bible as there are in the Qur'an. Context of course comes into play. Much of it’s laws and ways of life apply to the time and place. Yet followers still cherry pick the passages they wish to follow, and create their own world-view based on it.
I could argue that religion does more harm than go. That humanity has found a way to justify their violent actions because they’ve gotten an “OK” from the man upstairs--for instance: This church that has planned the burning of the Qur'an, those that threaten to blow up mosques or attack Muslims personally in “retaliation”. Should we in turn believe that these people represent Christians or Americans as whole?
With that said, I believe that one should be able to worship freely and openly as they please. Just because I don’t agree with their point of view, doesn’t mean I think their religion should be silenced or forbidden. Why? Because I don’t equate all "believers" with extremists.
I also don’t believe that everyone opposed to the construction of the mosque is somehow hateful or ignorant, although I would say that there is enough of that to go around as well--Sarah Palin comes to mind, or Newt Gingrinch, who has been one of the worst offenders when it comes to fear-mongering. His statement: “We can't let the Nazis put up a building next to the Holocaust Museum.” says it all.
For those on the right, I’d like to refresh your memory: George Bush was a big advocate for promoting the religion of Islam as a peaceful and noble one, and he was the first President to see the Qur'an added to the White House library. (Perhaps he’s secretly Muslim too!)
I understand that there are many rational opposing viewpoints out there as well. Those that would rather see the mosque relocated, as to avoid escalating tensions between both sides, in turn, only creating further polarization.
At the same time, I think they are missing the point here: The Bigger Picture. I’m not just talking about the fact that they have every constitutional right to build the mosque--I believe this is the perfect opportunity to counteract the extremists that have perverted the message of Islam, and set an example for the rest of the world. This is not a fanciful vision. This is what is possible.
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