A Conservative in Support of the 9/11 Mosque
The true conservative will happily admit to the wisdom and eternal relevancy of the Constitution and the individual rights protected within it. While there is no doubt that too many of our founding fathers were a little too comfortable with maintaining the status quo in terms of slavery, the document itself and the Bill of Rights offer incredible insight as to how a nation should be governed.
However, the 9/11 Mosque incident reminds us that there are some among us who would pick and choose when to uphold the Constitution. The 9/11 mosque, if you take Imam Rauf, the man heading the project, at his word, is nothing more than a mosque, a place of worship, not unlike the thousands of churches and cathedrals around our great nation. Furthermore, Imam Rauf says that the mosque, or community center as he calls it, will serve both muslims and non-muslims alike. Yet, many so-called conservatives have taken issue with the mosque, believing it to be a slap in the face to those who died on 9/11 and Americans in general. Others believe that Rauf is anti-American and holds ties with terrorist organizations. Valid concerns, if true. And these folks are asking that the imam go through steps that no other commercial investor would have to go through.
I have yet to find proof that Imam Rauf, who has lived in America for more than 20 years, has intentions beyond those of any religious leader who desires to spread his religion by constructing a place of worship. I've heard some allegations, but in my experience, the comments made by the imam haven't proven devious intent. Instead, I think that the imam has offered up some valuable points that all Americans should consider as we continue to spend billions on the war in Afghanistan.
The vehement opposition to 9/11 by conservatives who wish to distinguish this commercial venture from the dozens of other non-disputed ventures conducted each day seems to me to be irrational. If the imam had ties to terrorism, I would think someone would have some proof. So far, we have only heard accusations.
Of course, I could be wrong. But my gut tells me that the fear of the 9/11 mosque is unfounded. I think some people truly do believe this guy has links to terrorism, but I think many others are simply following suit, because folks like Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin told them to.
This isn't political correctness. I write this piece not to piss off those conservatives who do protest the mosque, but to urge people to sit down and really think about what the facts show. If this were a cathedral, we would likely take the guy at his word. Why won't we do that with Imam Rauf?
Published by Nik Minor
Nik is a freelance writer, editor, law student, and small business owner. View profile
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51 Comments
Post a CommentNik, I can see why this is a very controversial issue and am taking your side. I don't think the intentions are to build an Arab outpost to spread hatred and mayhem throughout NYC. They won't be stockpiling guns and ammunition and it will definitely not be a target for another terrorist attack. If the intentions are more idealist, wanting to hurt Americans by thumbing their nose at us they are doing to themselves since the ones involved are Americans themselves. Obama doesn't have a problem with it and he is not a Muslim as many have complained, he is the President of our Country. We have to trust his instincts on some points even though, like you, I tend to have Libertarian philosophy as my guide. Let them build it, the city is better off when any kind of newly constructed building is built. Better yet, let Donald Trump head up the project and put some Americans workers back to work in the process.
I hope the contractor uses substandard building materials! Think of the profit from rebuilding the mosque a few hundred times!
A little sharia is like a a little pregnant..why give this guys such a pass? Do we honestly believe that a person w/anti-American sentiments and nefarious designs will reveal ALL his intentions? We are lucky enough that Rauf has revealed so much..ignoring his words and actions is tantamount to ignoring the Klansman marching toward an African American establishment with a cross over his shoulder and claiming he found the Lord..and the gas can is for those in the community that may be w/o fuel.
regarding, the commercial backer..yes, they are checked especially if they may be from Hamas and other terror outfits. But no one is even asking the NY AG to even go that far..just do his routine accounting of the charity with suspicious sources and a clear discrepancy of debits vs credits.
Again, I am not implying anything here about your character our interaction over the years have revealed how reasonable & patriotic you are..I cannot discount those facts. It has also been my experience debating not only this issue but the broader issue of 9/11 itself and the threat from Islamic extremists that many anti-Zionists/Israelis have taken a stance that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" and embrace the minority of Mulsims that desire to kill all Jews & destroy America the "great satan" Again, it has been my experience that a majority of those opposing this mosque near GZ are freedom loving folks,some of which are indeed peaceful Muslims, absent bigotry.
Nik, if my question about you being a truther somehow implied you were I apoloigize, that wasn't my intention it was a sincere question and as you know I will always be gratful for your service. I am trying to understand the HUGE benefit of doubt you are giving this imam in light of the reams of evidence indicating how radical he is..it has been my experience extensively debating this issue that truthers are accepting the imam's accusations that the US was an ACCOMPLICE to the murders of her own citizens on 9/11 that is clearly an anti-American position and goes much further than questioning our failed policies..but I will stack up our foreign policy to the mideast any day of the week. we are not perfect but that doesn't translate to Bush murdering fellow Americans...talk like that only serves to benefit the active enemy.
Well, Nik, we don't disagree on very much, but I must respectfully disagree here. This doesn't have so much to do with the Constitution as common decency and respect for the 3,000 fallen and their families. I know several Muslims, and have read pieces by Muslims, who also do NOT support the Mosque on this spot because they feel it's helping to re-arouse, not dissipate, the bitter feelings about 9/11, and is showing a great deal of disrespect. Why this spot? If the guy really wants better relationships between all, why a mosque and not a generic chapel for all faiths? And why are we now sending him to the middle east with U.S. taxpayer funds to raise more support? We should've rebuilt the Twin Towers and everything else that was destroyed within a year or two of the incident. Talk about political correctness. I believe this does a disservice to harmony.
His father's connection to the Muslim Brotherhood are jarring, there are other comments made that have the potential to be as well. I'm not ignoring the "facts," I've just interpreted many of them differently. I hope I'm not wrong, but I accept that I may be.
Even Rauf's statements on sharia law from his 2004 book, What is Right with Islam, as well as comments made in recent years, appear to denounce the "traditional" sharia law which places women at the bottom of the barrel. I mean, his wife is the exec director of the Cordoba Initiative - that runs contrary to the idea of women being second class citizens.
If the AG typically requires the financial history from commercial investors, then yes, it might be odd that he has exempted the Cordoba group. But I just don't know that the govt typically looks into commercial backers.