Mosque at Ground Zero - Update

This is an ideas/opinion blog. So, for what its worth, here are my thoughts on the "Mosque at Ground Zero” controversy.

First, the controversy has been very effectively framed by the opponents of the project. From a propaganda perspective, "Mosque at Ground Zero" is about as bad a brand name as a project could possibly be assigned. Those four words conjure and conflate the explosive (“ground zero”) fear, emotional pain, and nativist inclinations of our nation, with the horrors we’ve seen and endured during the last 10 years, in a spectacularly effective way.

That’s the Lawyer in me talking.

Of course, "Mosque at Ground Zero" is an inaccurate and misleading description of the proposed project. A Muslim Cultural Center with a gym, restaurant, classrooms, and a prayer room, located two blocks away from the site of the fallen towers, in an abandoned clothing warehouse, is what we’re actually talking about.

That’s the Philosopher in me talking.

But this just shows how important it is to frame the debate first. Once we’re talking about a “Mosque at Ground Zero,” facts and rationality are not going to make much headway.

That’s the Lawyer in me talking – and he won’t shut up!

All that said, what do I think about the Project, and how we should handle the controversy? First, I am not unsympathetic to those opposing the project because they find the idea offensive. I can see how a building a Mosque near the sight of the largest mass murder in the history of the nation – a murder committed by extremist Muslims in the name of Allah - would anger many people.

But their anger is misplaced. Islam is not Al Qaeda – Al Qaeda murdered our fellow Americans, not Islam. For many people, “Mosque at Ground Zero” connotes “Islam murdered our citizens and now wants to erect a trophy at the site commemorating their victory.” That’s why it is such an effective frame. But it is a lie. Islam did not attack us – a few of its most radical practitioners did. Perpetuating the conflation of Islam and Al Qaeda for political gain is despicable. And even if it weren’t despicable, it is seriously contrary to our national interest to tell a billion Muslims that we see every last one of them as an enemy.

Second, allowing the Muslim Cultural Center to be built near the site of 9/11 is the best way of communicating to the Islamic world that we understand the distinction between Islam and Al Qaeda. Refusing to allow the Cultural Center sends the precise opposite message. And what we communicate in this instance is a zero sum game.

Third, allowing the Center to be built near Ground zero is perhaps the best way of reminding ourselves what it means to be Americans, and what America stands for. It is a way of saying, and demonstrating, that America truly is exceptional – that we refuse to let our anger and fear extinguish our commitment to liberty and justice and freedom for all. What amazes me is that much of the opposition to the Center comes from the Christian elements of the GOP. Don’t these people ever read their bibles? Don’t they recall Jesus’ teaching that if you want to represent God to the world, the best way to do it is to do more than you are required to do – to go further, and to be better, than others expect or have a right to expect?

It angers me to no end that politicians, instead of calling us to be noble and embody American ideals, stoke and inflame our worst instincts. But to see supposed Christians (aka Newt and Sarah, and the Church that is planning a "Burn the Koran bonfire") do this absolutely floors me.

So there’s my view, for what it is worth.

Joe H.

UPDATE: The more I hear about this controversy, the more I agree with the sentiments expressed by Dick Cavat - I'm ashamed of us.