Far too many Americans are hypocrites, demanding rights while denying those same rights to others.
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf wants to build a community center (that will include a space in which Muslims can pray) two blocks from Ground Zero--the site of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.
From the reaction of our fine, "patriotic" fellow countrymen, you would think Imam Feisal had declared a holy war on America. Christians and atheists alike have been wailing about the evils of Islam--it's a violent religion; Muslims are conspiring to enact Sharia Law in America.
The fact that Imam Feisal and his fellow Muslims have been denouncing Islamic terrorism for years doesn't matter. The fact that members of Feisal's mosque near Ground Zero died in the terrorist attack means nothing. That Feisal is a well-spoken, non-violent man is irrelevant. And the truth that he is not an advocate of Sharia law, and strives to "interweave America's Muslim population into the mainstream society" is ignored.
Fearful, bigoted Americans are gobbling up rumors of his ties to terrorists and using this proposed cultural center as a soapbox to vilify all things Muslim. They point to the Sharia Index Project, part of the Cordoba Initiative, as proof that Feisal intends to impose Sharia Law on America, when the web page in question says nothing of the kind. It has been claimed that the Cordoba Initiative is so named because Cordoba, Spain was the site of great Islamic conquest. All one needs to do is read about the initiative to know the truth:
"For nearly 800 years, the city of Cordoba in Spain endured as a shining example of tolerance among the three monotheistic religions. Muslim, Christian and Jew cohabited in prosperity during a period known for its outstanding literary and scientific productivity."
The fear-mongers scream, "Lies!" Inventing links where there are none, imagining devious intent, painting the world in extremely broad strokes of black and white, and claiming anyone who does not agree with you is blind or lying are the hallmarks of the irrational.
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, in his tirade, Stop the Imam Now!, works himself into a rabid froth and then says, "Religious freedom is central to America as a nation - and that is why the location of this project is so misguided. Ground Zero is purely about being American. And, there is no room for anyone to let this sentiment be anyway ignored by anyone."
In what possible way could it not be "American" to allow an American citizen, who happens to be a Muslim, to build a community center? If Imam Feisal was, indeed, an under-cover, radical Islamist intent on turning the United States into a Muslim nation under Sharia Law, what difference would it make where he builds his cultural center?
The hypocrisy evident in Christians and atheists is astounding.
Both moderate, peaceful Christians and moderate, peaceful Muslims take from their holy books good, strong, moral values and willfully ignore the violence and bigotry contained therein. True, some pick out certain hateful passages, such as those against homosexuality in the Christian Bible, and use them to prop up the vile in their own personalities. But most Christians and Muslims are good people, struggling to hold onto faiths with good and bad elements in their histories. They cling to the good and try to forget the bad.
For Christians to cast the entire religion of Islam and all Muslims into the same pit with fanatical, insane, Islamic terrorists is no different from atheists putting all Christians into the same boat with Westboro Baptist Church or even the murderers of the Spanish Inquisition.
Christians will fight for their right to freely worship. Yet, too many are shrilly unwilling to allow the same freedom of religion they enjoy be granted to religions they detest. There is no freedom of religion unless it is granted to all religions.
Atheists who denounce the rights of Muslims to build a mosque (though the proposed building is clearly not a mosque) where they are legally allowed to build, apparently do not believe in freedom of religion. They do not want people to be free to believe in and worship ideas or things they find silly. They are under the delusion that if they criminalize the parental right to raise children within a dogmatic faith, they will somehow eradicate belief, instead of driving it into terrorism, which is more likely. And they hold sacred and holy a piece of ground that reminds them only of an evil religion, instead of evil people using religion for their own gain.
Atheists, of all people, ought to be the first to stand for freedom of conscience. How can atheists expect to be free to think what they will and denounce nonsense if they are unwilling to allow their fellow countrymen the same (though they clearly differ on their definitions of nonsense).
Freedom of religion is freedom of conscience: freedom to think and believe what you will without interference from government (and the majority). The freedom to build churches, or mosques, and gather with like-minded others is a necessity.
The Rationalist perspective is clear: You can not end religion by taking away the rights and freedoms of its adherents in their practice of it. Fight against the imposition of bad laws. But leave our First Amendment rights alone. Once you begin to dismantle those rights out of fear, you will find yourselves unable to defend what you claim to cherish.
To deny Imam Feisal his community center is unconstitutional; it is un-American; and it offends reason.
Further reading:
Build the mosque near Ground Zero; it's the American way
Balancing rights and prudence
The truth about the 'mosque': The leader of proposed Muslim center near Ground Zero defends his plan
In some ways, ‘Feisal Abdul Rauf' is Arabic for ‘Shirley Sherrod'
Comments
Dianna,
Thank you for being the voice of reason in an irrational world. Your articles are a well written and informative.
"And the truth that he is not an advocate of Sharia law, and strives to "interweave America's Muslim population into the mainstream society" is ignored."
I think you're confusing Sharia Law with the savage punishments that are inflicted, in some regions, for breaches of Sharia law. The Imam is not an advocate of chopping people's hands off and flogging women in the streets for not wearing burqas. He is, however, most certainly an advocate of Sharia Law, and has made no secret of the fact. He has written articles about what is required to bring Westen legal systems into full compliance with Sharia Law.
Perhaps a little more research and a little less politically correct grandstanding would lend some credibility to your commentary on this.
Thank you for a well-written, insightful article.
Aisha
"But most Christians and Muslims are good people, struggling to hold onto faiths with good and bad elements in their histories."
The problem is exactly that. Most religious people ARE good people, yet their religion demands of them, to at least some extent, a level of disdain, distrust, bigotry, and flat our scorn against some manner of idea or people not their own. And what's worse is the moderates of religion do little, if anything, to denounce, condemn, let alone disassociate themselves with their more extreme brethren. The silence is absolutely deafening.
If this is to be a "community center" and not just a mosque, I don't care either way, but that it's being headlined by Muslims and at such a proximity to where all of Western culture and virtue was violently and hatefully attacked, even as a politically moderate independent, I don't like it. We were attacked BY Islam, because its very belief system is against everything the West values at its core.
"But most Christians and Muslims are good people, struggling to hold onto faiths with good and bad elements in their histories."
The problem is exactly that. Most religious people ARE good people, yet their religion demands of them, to at least some extent, a level of disdain, distrust, bigotry, and flat our scorn against some manner of idea or people not their own. And what's worse is the moderates of religion do little, if anything, to denounce, condemn, let alone disassociate themselves with their more extreme brethren. The silence is absolutely deafening.
If this is to be a "community center" and not just a mosque, I don't care either way, but that it's being headlined by Muslims and at such a proximity to where all of Western culture and virtue was violently and hatefully attacked, even as a politically moderate independent, I don't like it. We were attacked BY Islam, because its very belief system is against everything the West values at its core.
... why did I double post when I refreshed the page? Any moderators around to clean up? o_O;
As an atheist who actually supports the construction of this community center, I find it very hard to identify with what would have otherwise been a good article.
It is interesting that the author takes great pains to highlight the difference between moderate Christians and Westboro Baptists, or between moderate Muslims and Islamic terrorists... but she seems to have no problem with lumping all atheists together as if we were somehow all in agreement.
Although she begins by addressing "Atheists who denounce the rights of Muslims to build a mosque... where they are legally allowed to build" (which is fair enough), it soon becomes:
"Atheists, of all people, ought to be the first to stand for freedom of conscience. How can atheists expect to be free to think what they will and denounce nonsense if they are unwilling to allow their fellow countrymen the same".
In answer, some of us ARE among the first to stand for freedom of conscience, and DO allow our fellow countrymen th
Oops! got cut off by the word limit. My previous comment should end thus:
In answer, some of us ARE among the first to stand for freedom of conscience, and DO allow our fellow countrymen the same. You wouldn't know this by reading the article, though...
Oops! got cut off by the word limit. My previous comment should end thus:
In answer, some of us ARE among the first to stand for freedom of conscience, and DO allow our fellow countrymen the same. You wouldn't know this by reading the article, though...
The key word is here "moderate" Islam. There is nothing moderate about a muslim who wants to name this structure "Cordoba House". I suggest that the author open her brain up to something more than one concrete thought. This building is meant to be a symbol of conquest, just like the mosque standing over the Temple Wall in Jerusalem. The same one that says, "First Saturday, Then Sunday." For the knowledge of the author, this means, first we kill the Jews and then we kill the Christians. Now why would you want to support this? It has nothing to do with religion. Peaceful islam has been hijacked by the jihadists. Take the time and trouble, the equal time and trouble it took to write this article and do a little research to learn about the meaning of "Cordoba House". They built one in Spain. Islam in this form in no longer a religion, but a totalitarian ideology, and that, Madam, is the problem. What don't you get about their wanting to rule the world?
as a former muslim that escaped the intense religious childhood indoctrination, i totally conquer with your article. Although i am an athiest and despise anything with islam and any other religions for that matter, people of this great nation should be free to worship who they want to worship and build places of worships where they need to as long as it doesnt go against the local laws. The reaction is purly bigoted.
You are right about everything except for your atheist generalizations.
"They do not want people to be free to believe in and worship ideas or things they find silly."
What nonsense. I know of no non-believer who thinks that religion should be banned. I am certainly in favour of reasoning religious people out of their "silly" beliefs.
Hey Kitty from Canada-
Why don't you worry about your freedom of speech in Cananda that is being undermined by so-called Moderate Muslims?
Lol
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!