I am a political science major and someone who tries to be reasonable about politics and our world. Which is why the recent backlash against a proposed mosque near the site of the September 11 attacks has been so frustrating. Here are my problems with those who are protesting:
1. The mosque is being tied to radical muslim figures. however, what people are failing to mention is that the figure that is consistently being mentioned, but not by name (Iman Rauf), is the second largest shareholder in NEWCORP (aka FOX). How radical and extremist can the man be when he is the second largest shareholder in FOX! Unless this is some kind of Russel Edgington (True Blood reference) type of psych out, this is an argument with no teeth.
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The second is that the tragedy of 9/11 is so very real and painful that building a mosque so close to the site of the attacks is rubbing salt in the wound. here is my problem with that. First, it associates Islam with what the attackers of 9/11 did. This of course continues an incredibly stupid and damaging cycle of "the terrorist were muslim, they did it because of Islam, Islam is bad, muslims are terrorist." I mean that whole it's too close to the site argument really boils down to "i have tied Islam to this negative experience. I blame is Islam and thus I don't want it around the site." The fact is that what these people did was because they were psychos and not because they were muslim.
Third argument. the LA Times quoted a protestor as saying:
"Everyone has closure when they lose someone," said O'Shea, a paralegal. "We'll never have closure."
That simply isn't true.
Not everyone has closure after a traumatic event. in fact most people don't. People are more likely to find peace after a traumatic event, not closure. Closure is about something you receive from others, which we can't count on happening. While, finding peace about giving something to yourself through meaningful, thoughtful reflection and resiliency. The problem is we have become "soft" (for lack of a better word) as a nation. We don't want to deal with negative things, or things that make us think and challenge us. so we do crap like this were we find the dumbest freaking argument in order to avoid thinking critically. Which brings me to my next point...YOU ARE NEW YORKERS! You people are supposed to be the "toughest, thickest skinned, bring em on, we don't care what you think or do" people in our country. And now you can't emotionally deal with a completely unrelated mosque being built two blocks from the site of WTC. C'mon. If you can deal with this, if you can't find peace and resolve to move forward without having this single event (continue) to change the geography of your city, what hope is there for the rest of us?
Fourth, another protester said:
"They want to build a memorial to the terrorists before a memorial to the victims."
This proves my first point. Also, this whole thing about a memorial victim has nothing to do with this issue. If anything this proves, again, our lack of resolve and ability to get things done.
Lastly, patriots don't pick and choose the principles that we choose to uphold. The reason they are so meaningful is because they are supposed to guide us in difficult moments. This nation was founded on the principles of religious tolerance and this is as good a test as any of that principle. It would be a shame if we failed it. Those towers may no longer stand but we must have the courage to stand. To stand for principles that have guided us. To show the resolve to live by those principles even when they are painful, because it's the right thing to do.
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