Manhattan Mosque A Matter of Principle
Does it seem insensitive for a mosque to be built near Ground Zero? Sure it does. I imagine for those who lost loved ones that September 11th, it must certainly seem callous, and defiant in the face of the resulting outcry. On the other hand, should we respect the right of a New York Muslim congregation to build a place of worship in Lower Manhattan? Of course, we should. This is America. And the principle of religious freedom and tolerance is at the core of our founding vision.
So why the big hoopla?
Is this another example of how America is simply so polarized that we’re primed for a fight?
Conflict drives theater. It fuels drama. It excites. It draws ratings and eyeballs. It gets attention for vocal politicians at a moment when they might not otherwise be in the limelight. It rallies political bases during a pivotal campaign fundraising season as the mid-term elections approach.
Why is this such a big controversy? Maybe because the healthcare fight is over and the Left and the Right still have a raging cauldron of angst boiling inside of them, always eager for a chance to spill over. Or maybe it’s because the pain of 9/11 cuts so deep and we’re still at war in the Middle East, the explanation which would be most justifiable.
But if you really think it through, this should not be that big a debate. As Americans we should encourage freedom even when it makes us uncomfortable, especially when it makes us uncomfortable. Otherwise, we will find ourselves calling for self-censorship and self-constraint by all Muslims, the vast majority of whom have nothing to do with the terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center and took so many lives indiscriminately. How can it be in the American spirit to ask an entire religion, with an estimated 7 million believers on our soil to forever be apologists and live in shame, when they themselves have committed no crime?
There are two main reasons why we should stand back and let the group planning the mosque – as well as the local zoning commission – make their own decision. The first is that our Constitution clearly states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Freedom of religion and the way and place where people practice it is right up there with freedoms of speech and assembly in the American pantheon of principles. How can we not recall that the very quest for such liberties impelled the early Pilgrims to leave England for what was then a harsh and rugged land? It’s the same reason so many people of so many creeds have flocked here over the centuries. And it is at the bedrock of our nation’s diversity. Nowhere is this more evident than in the very community in question: New York City, the original melting pot and today the most colorful and dazzling tapestry of diverse cultures, languages, religions, races and ethnicities in the world.
For people such as the former Governor of Alaska to decry the building of a place of worship that would embody the very spirit of multiculturalism and tolerance that characterizes New York City is downright bizarre and pure political theater. Imagine how riled up her base is getting? The Right is vocally incensed about the concept of a mosque so near to what has gone from being a sacred commercial and financial site to hallowed American ground. Regardless of the level of sincerity versus the level of politically motivated agitation, the debate is sure to spark increased fundraising to fuel a Republican rebound in the upcoming elections.
But that leads me to the second reason we should stand back and observe as this minority religious group exercises its freedoms and responsibilities in peace: one of the most basic tenets of Christianity itself, which is important since Christianity is an essential philosophical contingent of the Right Wing and more broadly the predominant spiritual fabric of our nation. This is not the moment to attack the Muslim group planning its mosque. This is not the moment – as a nation – to dwell on our pain and loss. For any sincere Christian this is the moment to turn the other cheek. I am not about to quote scripture or cite verses, but we all know what I’m talking about. To reference popular Conservative bumper sticker vernacular: What Would Jesus Do?
So whether we view the issue as Americans or as Christians, or as both, we should stop yelling and yammering about the horror of this action. We should respect all people’s rights, including Muslims. We should acknowledge and internalize that the folks hoping to build this mosque are not the same people who hurt us on 9/11. And, most importantly, we should stand up for American principles of freedom. Because doing so when it’s easy is merely convenience. Doing so when it’s tough requires courage and faith in their underlying wisdom. And it’s also what makes them principles.
