The Mosque on Ground Zero-- Muslim Symbol of Their Victory, a Reminder of Our Grief
The suicide attacks upon the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001 were a complete success. The Towers, standing at 110 stories high; tall, affluent, free, and beautiful, towering over every other structure in all their haughty glory, represented everything that al-Qaeda loathes about the United States and the West. Though Islam, like most major religions, is a religion of love and peace, the deaths that were the result of the suicide attacks bring al-Qaeda no remorse because it is all religiously justified in jihad. It was a means to an end, and the hijackers' lives were not given up in vain. Not only did they succeed in punishing us infidels by bringing America down to its knees on that tragic day, they also died with the satisfaction of the deluded belief that they obtained a place in their idea of posthumous heaven... with twelve luscious virgins for each of Allah's heroes included. Now their deeds reap another more earthly reward: a mosque will replace the building they destroyed as a terrestrial reminder of their victory through forceful means. A Muslim community center and place of worship will be erected where the World Trade Center once stood, and where it is now the graveyard of the thousands of innocent lives that were lost in the name of Allah. If the mujahids had known that this project was to take place not even a decade after their sacrifice to Allah in jihad, they would have died a much happier death, and they would have hijacked those planes with much less fear than it can be assumed they did on that gloomy morning.
No Mosque On Ground Zero
Though I am atheist, I am a keen student of human nature and its predispositions to supernatural beliefs. I find enjoyment in studying dreams, in researching the deities and belief systems that have existed since the dawn of human civilization, and in admiring the wonderful works of art that different religions have inspired. I am one of the strongest proponents of separation of church and state, and a fervent supporter of religious freedom. However, my opinion about the Park51 Project is that the mosque should not be built so close to Ground Zero. Building a mosque within the perimeter of a few blocks is a cruel mockery, and the fact that so many Americans support it is even more disheartening. It is true, "a house divided against itself cannot stand," and sensing this weakness in us, the enemy has proceeded. Even giving us the strongest reassurances that it is "only a community center" does not change the fact that it is insensitive and that it sends us a loud, belligerent reminder that they brought us down, and that they will continue to rub the tragedy on our faces as their influence takes over.
Imam Rauf
Though Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is known for trying to bridge relations between America and the Muslim world, some of the comments he has made fill me with suspicion about his true motives behind the building of this mosque. He has no problem blaming the United States for what happened on September 11th, claiming that "the U.S. was an accessory" to the attacks; yet, he is hesitant to consider the attacks an act of terrorism. A man who thinks in this kind of logic should not be a reliable bridge between the United States and the Muslim world. What is he trying to accomplish by building a mosque on Ground Zero? He is already an imam of a mosque in New York City, and I find it difficult to understand why a person who claims to want to establish peace would want to build another mosque in the area, and precisely so close to Ground Zero.
American Tolerance Taken Too Far
Everyone has the right to practice their religion, but there is a difference between having a right, and the responsibility to exercise that right wisely. The real issue behind this community center is that it is insensitive to the grief that was inflicted only ten years ago. Obviously, not all followers of Islam are radicals, but those that are caused a tremendous amount of pain that still lingers because the wounds are still fresh.
In his latest video, Pat Condell raises a good question. Though nothing can be done legally to stop the building of the mosque, why can't Imam Rauf have the good grace to move the project elsewhere? (See "Bad Faith At Ground Zero" by Pat Condell. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJQ4bwGPRuk). Indeed. If the people behind this project are sincere in their claims of peacemaking, they would want to build the mosque several miles away so as to not cause a stir, especially knowing that the tragedy that took place a few years ago was in the name of their deity. The "tolerance" card is a detriment to the final analysis of this case, and one of America's greatest weaknesses.
We are a country that takes pride in political correctness, sometimes to our demise. Yet Americans who support the Park51 project in the name of religious tolerance and freedom of speech seem to lack the common sense to distinguish how much correctness is too much, and when a bit of sensitivity can go a long way. The terrorist attacks did not happen centuries ago, or even decades ago. The tragedy only happened nine years ago, which is very recent in relation to the scope of history. Most young adults can remember it as if it had happened yesterday. Close relatives of the deceased are still alive today, and so it is disrespectful and insensitive to our people and loved ones. I would applaud the building of a million mosques or a million churches anywhere else on American soil, but I will not support a mosque Ground Zero.
Published by Jane Calderon
I obtained a BA in English because writing is my passion, and reading is my escape. I am of the opinion that life is meaningless without books and the finer things in life. One of my goals in life is to read... View profile
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16 Comments
Post a CommentThis entire situation completely baffles me. Thanks for sharing.
HOW TO STOP THE MOSQUE: PIGS BLOOD ON THE GROUND AND DOOR STEPS.
the Islamic terrorist are using street level Muslims to unwittingly act as Innocent cover for the real purpose of the Islamic mosque.
they are infiltrating u.s. soil to commit terrorist activity from the inside.
border security is making it extremely difficult for terrorist to carry out their attacks from abroad so what better way to do it than from inside our own country.
this tactic is just like the tactics used in war
establish ground forces inside the boarder so their attack plans can be carried out un noticed.
wake up America and look threw the smoke screen.
look were its starting at. ground zero.
if you allow them to build it,dont cry when they attack again.
its not a matter of if,its a matter of when.
Since Jeanne, Charles and other people have brought up the "Sept. 11 2011" building date; I should point out that, like everything else I've read from this article and the comments below, is false. Here's an interview with Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf at NewsDay where he says "the mosque will not open on the anniversary of 9/11, and that it will take between 18 months and three years before the money is raised to open the centerâ€
http://mobile.newsday.com/infomo?site=newsday&view=page8&feed:a=newsday_1min&feed:c=topstories&feed:i=1.1950157&nopaging=1
But let’s just say that it was going to be built or dedicated on 9/11/11, why would that, as Jeanne says “speak volumes about their intentâ€. Please explain. There is so much fear and hatred and bigotry surrounding the Islamic Community Center (no thanks to the mainstream media outlets for their daily misleading garbage that passes as news) that a non-issue like this ends up showing how ugly this country is.
The plan to dedicate the mosque on Sept 11, 2011 speaks volumes about their intent.
Martha: How can one agree with this kind of statement, “The Mosque on Ground Zero-- Muslim Symbol of Their Victoryâ€, especially when it’s followed with “Now their [Al-Qaeda] deeds reap another more earthly reward: a mosque will replace the building they destroyed as a terrestrial reminder of their victory through forceful meansâ€. Jane is equating the Islamic Community Center, including mosques and Muslims, with the terrorist attacks on 9/11, like it was some master “Al-Qaeda Terrorist Projectâ€. There are hardly any facts within this article: “A Muslim community center and place of worship will be erected where the World Trade Center once stood†is completely false. Its two blocks away. “So many Americans support it†is also false. Sadly 75% don’t support it, but those who live in Manhattan (where Park51 is being built) do support it.
Jane - excellent article and a gutsy move to cover such a sensitive topic. At some point Mr. Perillo is going to have to "agree to disagree" with others on the subject. There is no possible way everyone is ever going to look at this issue from the same viewpoint.
Also, it’s not simply a mosque. There is a Muslim mosque and a multi-religion chapel within the Islamic Community Center, but it will also have a swimming pool, lecture hall and many other non-mosque things.
“We are the ones who will have to suffer by seeing that mosque there every day to remind of us of what used to be, and what was lost in the name of the deity that will be worshipped thereâ€. Saying that their religion has made you suffer for the killings on 9/11 is simply insane. The hijackers did not speak for all Muslims (majority of Muslims are not terrorists). Christianity has been used to kill many (the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan has been supported by Christians), but that doesn’t mean that all Christians are extreme fundamentalists who misuse the religion and take it out of context to kill others. Muslims do not bear any responsibility for what happened on 9/11 and neither does the Islamic Community Center (Park51).
In 2003, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf also helped in counterterrorism efforts when he spoke to FBI agents “as part of an FBI effort to present agents who are the ground troops in the war against terrorism with a view of Islam that avoids stereotypes.†The list goes on and on about his activities trying to help Americans and Muslims engage in peaceful dialog to better understand each other. But all you can do is shutdown and yell when he’s trying to further a positive integration of Muslims into American society.
"Even giving us the strongest reassurances that it is 'only a community center' does not change the fact that it is insensitive and that it sends us a loud, belligerent reminder that THEY brought us down, and that THEY will CONTINUE to rub the tragedy on our faces as THEIR INFLUENCE takes over." Who is "they" and what do you mean by “their influence" taking over? Are you saying that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and Muslims are the ones rubbing it in our faces and will takeover? Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is actually trying to rebuild a much damaged connection between Muslims (American or non-citizen) and Americans. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the guy that you and Charles have suspicions of, has a long history of interfaith cooperation, condemning terrorism and promoting moderate Islam, even during the Bush administration he was sent abroad to do "religious tolerance" speeches.