Stabs in the Heart and Muslim-Free Zones
According to Sarah Palin, a large publicly visible sign and structure of Islam close to Ground Zero “feels like a stab in the heart to, collectively, Americans who still have that lingering pain from 9/11.” Stated explicitly, Park 51 feels like a knife separating the skin, rupturing the flesh, and piercing the very source of life. It is no coincidence that Palin illustrates the building project of Iman Rauf as a weapon and fatal act of violence. Indeed, she has gone so far as to call it the “9/11 Mosque,” using the name of an event of fanatical mass murder as an adjective to delineate a house of religious assembly. She’s not the least bit shy about manipulating language to play on people’s fears, but then, her use of language reveals a likely perspective: Palin literally sees Park 51 as an act of violence. It’s not merely insensitive in her book; it’s like the threat of a knife-wielding enemy. At least, it feels that way.
To protect the U.S. against this alleged enemy violence, Palin wants the area around Ground Zero free of impressive signs and structures of Islam. She desires, to use Glenn Greenwald’s expression, a Muslim-free zone, and she’s not alone. I don’t mean that Palin doesn’t want Muslims at all present in the area at and around Ground Zero. She clearly desires, though, that Muslims assemble and worship elsewhere, at a location where she and others won’t feel stabbed in the heart and the lurking presence of Muslims.
Palin’s appeal to emotion plays on the fears Americans have about a religious people we don’t understand. Most Americans, for example, couldn’t explain the difference between Shia and Sunni, note the reasons why Iman Rauf’s Sufism matters, describe the ways the different cultures in Iran and Somalia shape religious interpretation and practice, or locate Mecca on a map. Islam is a subject with which we’re mostly ignorant. We’re largely Christian and we have trouble understanding relatively similar Christian denominations! How many Protestants could accurately explain the Catholic appreciation of the Virgin Mary? Heck, how many Catholics could accurately explain why they pray the Hail Mary and where the prayer comes from? If we’re in the dark about the diversity in Christianity, how much more are we in the dark about Islam? Most of us are not even in a position to assess whether some Muslim (or former Muslim) expert on Islam really knows what he or she is talking about. We may think we’re listening to an trustworthy authority on Islamic orthodoxy when we’re really taking lessons on True Islam from a Muslim version of Garry Wills.
The last thing Osama bin Laden wants is a friendship between Muslims and non-Muslims. He wants us all afraid, ignorant, and at war. The way to fight against bin Laden (aside from bringing him and his accomplices to justice) is to work against the grand narrative of civilizational warfare he promotes through propaganda and terrorism. We do that by welcoming Muslims into our homes and hallowed ground, teaching about ourselves and learning from one another, and encouraging each other in our respective faith practices. Would Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia also benefit from such a hospitality? I have no doubt, but we don’t really have the power to promote religious hospitality there. We do have the power here. And the obligation to do so. Plus, doing so would really piss off the brute Osama bin Laden.
So, seriously, let’s cut the fear-mongering. Be not afraid and all that.
A friend of mine said to me the other day that if Muslims can’t have a mosque near ground zero, then Catholics can’t have church’s near schools where there are school children.
Hey. . . I like Garry Wills.
Kyle – great post. I’ve spent the last 9 years dismayed at the way the American political class seems bound and determined to conform itself to the story Bin Laden wants to tell.
He was hoping for a bellicose and arrogant response from Americans. I’m sure he’s gratified at the response to his criminal barbarism.
“A friend of mine said to me the other day that if Muslims can’t have a mosque near ground zero, then Catholics can’t have church’s near schools where there are school children.”
That’s just hilarious – better tell your friend that it may be better to keep schools away from children as well since there is 100% more sexual abuse of children in the public schools than in the Catholic Church – but the religious are held to higher standard and rightly so..just sayin:)
Melinda,
Yes, but of course bigotry is not based on facts and statistics. Be it the bigotry of those opposing the Mosque or anti-Catholic bigotry, it all come from sin and not reason.
Exactly Kurt. I didnt post that because I believe that is what should happen. I posted that, because if we don’t speak out when something is wrong, then what will happen when they come for you?
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.
Do we even believe in that these days?
Thank God that the developer is willing to fight for his own and his community’s rights:
http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/top_stories/123896/ny1-exclusive–developer-won-t-budge-on-mosque-location
I am sorry to say that a lot of Americans do not know what is in the constitution. They listen to too much talk radio and TV. They should instead get a good history book and read. Then maby we could learn to live together.
Excellent post, Kyle.
Whatever reasons there may be for building the mosque, defiance of radical Islam isn’t one of them. There isn’t a Muslim in the world who’s going to look at that facility and think that it proves something good about America. They’ll see it as successful intimidation.
Pinky,
I don’t know if there is a need to speculate about such things. The congregation ownes the property, it is within zoning and we have freedom of religion here.
But as far as the views Muslims have towards America, the Iman was commissioned by the Bush Administration to do just that — promote a positive view of the United States.
Something which most people do not know is that at St Catherine’s (Sinai) there is a mosque within the monastery itself. This was approved by the monks of the monastery. It was not seen as any “victory” over Christians, but rather, as mutual respect for the fact Christians and Muslims both consider Sinai to be holy. It is not used often, but it still is used.
Kurt, Kyle was the one speculating on it in the last sentence of his fourth paragraph. He presented the idea that one benefit of the mosque would be to disappoint radical Muslims, presumably disarming them with our tolerance. Apparently, when the Grinch hears our singing, his heart will grow three sizes. But that’s just wrong. That’s a projection of Western, Englightenment thinking onto another culture.
Can anyone doubt that Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin et. al. would have wanted to get those California Japs into camps as quickly as possible after Pearl Harbor? The case is exactly parallel with regard to rights and denying them to some in a given large group because others in that group are miscreants. Have they no shame? And no understanding that America is not a tribe but a nation of laws?
There isn’t a Muslim in the world who’s going to look at that facility and think that it proves something good about America.
Pinky,
Not one??? Not even Barack Obama himself? You do believe he’s a Muslim, don’t you?
Pinky: The best friend Al-Quaeda ever had.
Pinky, dear THIS is for you. Enjoy!
Again, guys, I’m not saying the mosque shouldn’t be built. I’m saying that building it is going to inspire more radical Islamic cockiness than not building it would inspire radical Islamic rage.
Digby, I watched the Daily Show clip. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the family and friends of the straw men who lost their lives.
I think we should replace the Dome of Rock with a Roman Catholic Church and a Greek Orthodox church as well. Perhaps the Jews would like to rebuild the Jewish temple on the Dome of Rock site too? What none of you are mentioning and should be screaming about is St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which was destroyed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, stands near the base of the World Trade Center towers. Supporters of the church say city and state officials willing to speak out about a planned community center and mosque near ground zero have been silent on efforts to get the church rebuilt.
Greg
No one is stopping the orthodod church from being rebuilt. They have been given the go ahead to remain where they are and to build.
The Congregation of St. Nicholas says that they are in the process of rebuilding and are raising funds for that(farther ahead than the Islamic Center). I think it is vile to suggest they are raising funds under false pretenses.
And guys, I’m not saying the parable of the Good Samaritian should not be told. I’m saying that telling it is going to inspire more radical Samaritian cockiness than not telling it would inspire radical Samaritian rage.
I do not understand why anyone cares where they build this Cordova House. They should invite them to build it in the middle of the Ground Zero Graveyard. What better way to prove how tolerant we are?
The director of the Cordova House project, Imam Rauf, has refused to sign the Former Muslims United pledge repudiating the practice of issuing fatwa death sentences against converts. Who would sign such an insulting thing? Former Muslims have nothing to worry about. The idea that former Muslims have been put to death for leaving Islam is a myth.
Rockliff
I would have to ask why people are refusing to signer “Former Muslims United” pledges. Perhaps it is because Muslims feel many who claim to be a former Muslims, and get support from Evangelical Christians, were not really Muslims (there have been exposes of fake ones) and so do not trust such organizations. I expect many Catholics would not sign or respond to “Former Catholics For Christ” expecting that a response to them would give them not only visibility, but also justification.
Now, I think it would be good for Muslim leaders to sign statements in favor of religious liberty. I would, however, think it best to do so through some neutral source, not someone who would probably take such statements themselves as indication of how correct they are for everyone else. I could be wrong, but I suspect this is why most Muslim leaders have not responded.
Here are some Muslims pushing for peace and and end to terrorism; some do think other Muslim leaders are not doing enough:
http://www.islamfortoday.com/fundamnetalism.htm
http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/01042002/0104200205.htm is about a book which thinks the death penalty for apostasy is in error
Yes, this is only a little, but more could be found (and many texts I do read speak out against intimidation in religion).
Wow, Kurt, really? Disagreeing with Kyle’s article is equivalent to disagreeing with Christ?
I’m not saying not to let them build it. I’m not saying we should deny others’ rights. I’m saying that we should not lie to ourselves that this is going to open the floodgates of Muslim admiration.
Oh Kurt, you gave me a good laugh. Thank you for that, since laughter feels so good. I mean I got a big belly laugh out of that one.
i think you are missing the point of the protest of the ground zero mosque. we should be protesting it simply because it is insensitive. of course they have the “right” to build there, or anywhere else they can afford to do it at. but the group behind the move is doing everything they can to tie this building to 9/11 with the date of the commencement of work and the statements they have made and of course the location. if you feel outraged by this, why in a nation where free speech is held with high regard should you be silent? be outraged, let others know it. what profit is there for us or them in silence? we get an insult at a place of injury, and to the moderate muslims you cherish so much are harmed because so many more of us will not want to learn more about them because of this. this move is not a unifying one by them, and it should be protested on those grounds at least.