Sunday, August 08, 2010
MUSLIM SHRINE A BAD IDEA
Pointing to the first amendment provision on prohibition of government interference with the free exercise of religion, most of those who consider themselves to be bona fide respecters of the Constitution are saying that it would be wrong to prohibit the building of a Muslim shrine near the site of the 9/11 tragedy. But even these will privately admit to having misgivings about being trapped within the purity of their commitment to strict constitutionality in government.
Despite the fact that he has always been a strong respecter of constitutional principles of law, this writer will admit to being one of those who is bothered by these plans to build a 10-story mosque, museum, and cultural center for Muslims at this particular place. He must be counted among the conservatives who think that this is a bad idea.
However, one would like to think that his motivation is different than most of those who are loudly protesting this shrine. Certainly this writer does not agree with the defamatory language of their protestations, nor with the hostile, bigoted slogans on their signs. In fact, one tends to feel very uncomfortable being on the same side with such zealots or with the usual members of a tea party type crowd. It is quite embarrassing to find oneself amidst a group of haters of any sort, whether it be Muslim-haters or Obama-haters.
But the premise taken here is quite different, even if it be just by nuance. We are saying that building such a Muslim shrine at that location is a bad idea – it is unwise. It is provocative of the very reactions which it is receiving. It is evocative of emotions and high negative tensions toward all Muslims. It has all the appearance of an “in your face” gesture on the part of its Muslim organizers, and that tends to be generalized by the public toward all Muslims. People have good reason to wonder from whence and why will come the millions to finance this construction
Indeed, it is a bad idea. However, it is legal. It could be argued that it would indeed NOT have been a constitutional error to have had restrictions on new buildings within a certain zone -- such as a five block circle of 9/11 ground zero. Building codes exist everywhere. But that particular board in New York City, being politically correct and overly sensitive to racial and religious issues, wrongly approved the structure. Again, that may prove to have been a very unwise action.
So, the Muslim shrine there is legal. But it is still a bad idea for Muslims to push. One would think that any Muslim leaders involved would be sensitive to the mood and feelings of the people of New York City, the relatives of the victims of 9/11, and the mood of the nation in general. One would think that if these leaders are insensitive to feelings, then other Muslim leaders should have counseled them.
This writer has had association and relationships with Muslims in various ways. He has found most of these contacts quite congenial, with a few exceptions as could be said for all groupings. Most Muslim students attending the college where he presided tended to be polite and cooperative. Their squabbles were mostly with one another, rather than with American students.
We had the honor of a campus visit at our small college, arranged through our State Department, from two of Egyptian cabinet secretaries. One spent time in this writer’s home visiting, even interacting with his Baptist adult class. A half-dozen educational dignitaries from Jordan spent three weeks each as campus guests learning our ways. When they brought the need to our attention, we arranged a private room at our gym so they could say their prayers as the proper hour came while attending a basketball game. We tried to be sensitive to their needs, and they were highly appreciative and very friendly.
For almost ten years we lived as neighbors with a Muslim family. Nowhere would one find nicer people. The children were mannerly, and the adults were always friendly. Interestingly enough, at Christmas time the lady of the house always brought her neighbors a lovely tray of traditional Egyptian goodies. These were among the most sensitive, polite, pleasant people on earth.
We just cannot see our friendly Muslim neighbors being party to any action or project as insensitive as putting that Muslim cultural center near the site of a tragedy killing thousands of people perpetrated by misguided criminal fanatics from the Muslim world. This would simply not be the nature of our former neighbors at all.
The conclusion of this writer is that no sensitive Muslim would be supportive of building the New York shrine. Therefore, those who are promoting this indecency are expressing an unwelcome callousness toward Americans’ feelings about the incident of a decade ago. At its best, this is an unfriendly, insensitive act of rudeness and irresponsibility.
This movement should be corrected from within the Muslim community itself.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
Despite the fact that he has always been a strong respecter of constitutional principles of law, this writer will admit to being one of those who is bothered by these plans to build a 10-story mosque, museum, and cultural center for Muslims at this particular place. He must be counted among the conservatives who think that this is a bad idea.
However, one would like to think that his motivation is different than most of those who are loudly protesting this shrine. Certainly this writer does not agree with the defamatory language of their protestations, nor with the hostile, bigoted slogans on their signs. In fact, one tends to feel very uncomfortable being on the same side with such zealots or with the usual members of a tea party type crowd. It is quite embarrassing to find oneself amidst a group of haters of any sort, whether it be Muslim-haters or Obama-haters.
But the premise taken here is quite different, even if it be just by nuance. We are saying that building such a Muslim shrine at that location is a bad idea – it is unwise. It is provocative of the very reactions which it is receiving. It is evocative of emotions and high negative tensions toward all Muslims. It has all the appearance of an “in your face” gesture on the part of its Muslim organizers, and that tends to be generalized by the public toward all Muslims. People have good reason to wonder from whence and why will come the millions to finance this construction
Indeed, it is a bad idea. However, it is legal. It could be argued that it would indeed NOT have been a constitutional error to have had restrictions on new buildings within a certain zone -- such as a five block circle of 9/11 ground zero. Building codes exist everywhere. But that particular board in New York City, being politically correct and overly sensitive to racial and religious issues, wrongly approved the structure. Again, that may prove to have been a very unwise action.
So, the Muslim shrine there is legal. But it is still a bad idea for Muslims to push. One would think that any Muslim leaders involved would be sensitive to the mood and feelings of the people of New York City, the relatives of the victims of 9/11, and the mood of the nation in general. One would think that if these leaders are insensitive to feelings, then other Muslim leaders should have counseled them.
This writer has had association and relationships with Muslims in various ways. He has found most of these contacts quite congenial, with a few exceptions as could be said for all groupings. Most Muslim students attending the college where he presided tended to be polite and cooperative. Their squabbles were mostly with one another, rather than with American students.
We had the honor of a campus visit at our small college, arranged through our State Department, from two of Egyptian cabinet secretaries. One spent time in this writer’s home visiting, even interacting with his Baptist adult class. A half-dozen educational dignitaries from Jordan spent three weeks each as campus guests learning our ways. When they brought the need to our attention, we arranged a private room at our gym so they could say their prayers as the proper hour came while attending a basketball game. We tried to be sensitive to their needs, and they were highly appreciative and very friendly.
For almost ten years we lived as neighbors with a Muslim family. Nowhere would one find nicer people. The children were mannerly, and the adults were always friendly. Interestingly enough, at Christmas time the lady of the house always brought her neighbors a lovely tray of traditional Egyptian goodies. These were among the most sensitive, polite, pleasant people on earth.
We just cannot see our friendly Muslim neighbors being party to any action or project as insensitive as putting that Muslim cultural center near the site of a tragedy killing thousands of people perpetrated by misguided criminal fanatics from the Muslim world. This would simply not be the nature of our former neighbors at all.
The conclusion of this writer is that no sensitive Muslim would be supportive of building the New York shrine. Therefore, those who are promoting this indecency are expressing an unwelcome callousness toward Americans’ feelings about the incident of a decade ago. At its best, this is an unfriendly, insensitive act of rudeness and irresponsibility.
This movement should be corrected from within the Muslim community itself.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
