If you have somehow managed to avoid the controversy, allow the Boston Globe to bring you up-to-date:
Is ground zero the right place for a major new mosque and Islamic cultural center? Cordoba House is a 15-story, $100 million development to be built just 600 feet from where the World Trade Center stood; the plans include the mosque, a 500-seat auditorium, swimming pool, restaurant, and bookstore.
The prospect of an Islamic center so close to ground zero is, not surprisingly, controversial. Many relatives of Sept. 11 victims are strongly opposed. One group, 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America, calls Cordoba House “a gross insult to the memory of those who were killed on that terrible day.’’ But the project also has strong political support. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer are among its backers, and Cordoba House was endorsed by lower Manhattan’s Community Board No. 1 in a near-unanimous vote [29 to 1] last month.
And just yesterday, several thousands of people attended a rally to protest the proposed Islamic center. Among the most upset are some of our fellow atheists. Pat Condell went off in one of his trademark screeds about the mosque:
I sometimes enjoy Condell’s videos. There is a place for his indignant, in-your-face approach to atheism. But here, I think he just comes off as a bigoted crank. I love the Western institution of secular democracy and would hate to see it subverted by Sharia law (as it has in parts of the UK), but a single mosque—even one near Ground Zero—does not a “stealth Jihad” make.
There is no reason to believe that this mosque will be a breeding ground for terrorists (and were there, you can bet that the mosque would be under heavy surveillance). The Muslim leaders behind this project have condemned the the 9/11 attacks and say the Islamic center will “celebrate the pluralism in the United States” and also serve to “[amplify] the silent voice of the majority of Muslims who have nothing to do with extremist ideologies.”
Critics contend, however, that the construction of a mosque so close to Ground Zero will be hailed as a victory by militant jihadists. This is undoubtedly true. But the jihadists will declare victory regardless! If the project is halted, that will just play into their rhetoric that America is engaged in a religious war—a crusade—against Islam.
Another complaint is that this project dishonors the memory of those killed in 9/11. But what of the dozens of Muslims who lost their lives in the attacks as well? I understand why some families of 9/11 victims are angry. Their anger is misdirected, though. We shouldn’t collectively punish all Muslims for the actions of a few. I think what is needed now is a time for healing and reconciliation.
Even if it was a mistake to initially propose a mosque at Ground Zero (and it may well have been), I think the greater mistake would be to prevent the project. The property has already been bought, and it would be profoundly unAmerican to deny these Muslims their property rights, the free exercise of their religion, and the right to assemble. That America respects these freedoms is what distinguishes us from violent, Muslim extremists. To oppose this mosque, then, is to blur that distinction.
Many of you probably disagree with me, and I trust you’ll explain why in the comments. But lest anyone accuse me of being overly careful not to offend Muslims’ hair-trigger sensibilities, note that I did support (albeit tepidly) Everybody Draw Muhammad Day.
Note: My support for this mosque hinges on the assumption that those Muslims behind it are moderates. If the directors’ reputations as moderate Muslims are undeserved (as some argue), I’ll withdraw my support.
Update: Awesomely, some prominent atheists have come to the defense of the so-called Ground Zero mosque. Hemant “The Friendly Atheist” Mehta has a great post on the issue, and TheAmazingAtheist (the most subscribed-to YouTube atheist) uploaded this epic response to Pat Condell:
Well said, Jon. I completely agree.
I’m terrible at visualizing distance, so I’m trying to recall what was around the WTC site when I was there in 2007, mainly because the feet measurement would be a huge factor. If its pretty close by I would say don’t build it for this reason, its a memorial site now. Nothing, no church, no offices, no stores, mosques or SHAFT trinket tables will be there, its historic property now. I realize the problem that brings due to the function the towers served but I think its the proper thing to do. There’s good reason no one should ever build a shopping mall on Arlington Cemetary and I think Ground Zero holds the same value.
If its far enough away, or not facing (and again, this goes for anything) I think its okay. I agree with Jon about not fanning flames with reasonable muslim communities but at some point this nation has to stand on its feet and hold its ground. The extremes will always pick fights and invent enemies no matter what they do, like Chomskian conspiracy theorists and ethnic supremacists, the blame is always on someone else’s shoulders and it happens to be ours, but I think if the memorial point can be explained reasonably (despite what the silly Times is going to show regardless) it’ll work out.
Brett Stevens sorta makes this point here, though it takes a while through a different subject (and the Coulter reference is odd): http://www.amerika.org/2010/organization/helen-thomas-and-the-case-for-israel/
The point in end is that nations should be able to, and should, define themselves through shared culture and values, not try to flatten out to please everyone. Our holidays today mean more for their lowered store prices and days off work than their intent and place in the core of our culture, which to me is a degeneration. It might be unpleasant to say “no you can’t build that here, somewhere else maybe” but I’d rather see us hold our ground than just cave out of worry of offense, and in the end we’ll be more respected for that because people will know where and how we stand (and do so reasonably) rather than see us as wishy washy and untrustworthy. We became wishy washy during the Clinton years, our failure in Somalia reinforced that to the world.
Another idea though: If I remember correctly the area around Ground Zero had a ton of stores and fast food places full of crap. How about we tell them to take a hike (but somewhere else so they can still sell and help the economy
and let the learning center be put up, as well as other religious learning centers, and that SHAFT trinket table, and make it a memorial for Fide et ratio, for faith and reason and the interaction of ideas? Thoughts on that?
From what I remember from my last trip, they’re building even more enormous towers to replace the old ones in that area, so I think it’d be even better to let the mosque be there, and be absolutely dwarfed by America’s patron-god of commercialism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_World_Trade_Center
jon one question, if it’s not intended to be a big middle finger to america then why are they opening on September 11th
I think it’s 9/11/11 opening date may be a myth. Aside from some conservative blogs, the articles I’ve read suggest that the building won’t be ready for several years and a specific date for its opening has yet to be determined.
And if it is the case that it plans to open then, I don’t think it’s fair to assume they mean it as “a big middle finger.” That could be the intent, but it needn’t be the only one. The project directors say they see this as an opportunity to empower moderate Muslims and fight extremism (and what better day to do that than 9/11?). I wouldn’t open it on 9/11 myself, but I don’t think we have enough reason to assume malicious intent.
If its built, it will be burnt down…. Have no second thought.
I am very much opposed to the concept of an Islamic Center including both a mosque and praying ground not more than two blocks from the WTC memorial. I would love apply liberal-minded ideas to the people planning this and to the Muslim communities, but I doubt they would understand, as human rights is something many cultures under that banner frown upon.
Personally, this tragedy affected my family and still does to this day. I cannot imagine some of my friends and family members having to go to work every day, passing both that WTC AND a 15 story Islamic center overlooking it. Study Muslim history from a global perspective a bit, and the true intentions of Faisal Abdul Rauf become apparent. THAT is why this is offensive to so many. History repeats itself. Diversity, what a lovely concept, something that they just seem to crave in the Middle East. While we “open our minds and hearts”, we will be trampled by our own relative thinking. Moronic really.
Faisal Abdul Rauf being a “moderate” is subject to some serious debate. I consider him a real SOB actually, with his insensitive comments regarding 9/11 and his refusal to admit certain figures as terrorists. Well, what else is there to say about that? And How in the world does moving the mosque somewhere else PUNISH Muslims? Please, I’m crying for their noble cause. Put it somewhere else, and the problem is solved. It’s easy to talk about this when your family is alive and well, but have them destroyed in the name of Allah, I would love to see the welcome signs. but that is Manhattan for you, eh? It is beyond liberalism, it is insanity. Hold a gun to their head, and they will still accept ya. boom boom, universal acceptance only works if everyone can abide, and that is certainly not the case here.