A Modest Proposal

I have a simple solution for the controversy surrounding the proposed construction of a Muslim community center/mosque a mere 2 blocks from Ground Zero in NYC.

Let it be built 3 blocks away instead.
 
Still too close you say?  How about 3 miles away?  Across the river in New Jersey?  How about 200 miles south of NYC – oops, that’s too close to the Pentagon.  Maybe we shouldn’t build any more mosques in this country at all.  Many communities not only would support that idea, several are actively working to ban mosques in their communities right now.

Can we admit to ourselves that this planned mosque is controversial for one reason – it will be frequented by Muslims, and Muslims declared war by attacking us on September 11, 2001.  Of course, that is a false statement.  We were attacked by 19 well-trained, well-financed terrorists, all sworn to allegiance to Osama bid Laden and his twisted interpretation of Islam.  We were attacked by terrorists who not only hate America, they hate moderate Islam.  All who do not follow their extreme views are infidels, worthy of death.  That includes the moderate Muslims that Al Qaeda has attacked in places like Pakistan and India.

Gov. of New York, David Patterson, proposed an interesting end to the controversy by offering a ‘separate, but equal’ location in another area owned by the state.  This is a wonderful solution that avoids confronting the real issue for us Americans.  For too many of us, Muslim equals potential terrorist.  Good thing that’s not a true statement either, given that the planet has an estimated 1.3 billion followers of Islam, 23 million in the US alone.  If they were all terrorists, we’d be in a bit of trouble.  But they are not, and we need to understand that both intellectually and emotionally.

Nearly 70 percent of Americans oppose the plan to build, according to CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll released Wednesday.  I get that.  I am equally sure that at one time in our rich history, 70% of Americans opposed the construction of synagogues in their communities, and 70% of Americans supported separate schools for blacks and whites.   The one beauty of our Republic is that we are not ruled by mob mentality and the passions of a moment in time.  Let’s think this through.

My first instinct was “Build elsewhere”.  I did not want to face any deeply hidden resentment of Muslims or Islam that I may have in my post 9/11 reality.  That could mean that I am a r**ist.  My reason and common sense has ruled the day, however, and I now see the construction of Cordoba House as the perfect rebuke of Osama bin Laden and his murderous propaganda.  As the President said recently, one “reason that we will win this fight” against terrorism is “our capacity to show not merely tolerance, but respect to those who are different from us — a way of life that stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked us on that September morning, and who continue to plot against us today.”

Let’s fight the right enemy - intolerance and religious fanaticism, in all forms.

Two blocks, three blocks – how far away would be OK for you?  No matter how far away from the WTC site the center is built, the issue will remain inside of us.

Editor's Note: At publishing time, Newt Gingrich has invoked the Nazi comparison during a Fox News interview.   Isn't it time that everyone put that Nazi comparison away for awhile, and openly denounces its' use???