Political correctness has infected America. It's been this way for some time now, but every once in a while something happens that makes it obvious. A mosque and Islamic cultural center is planned to be built near Ground Zero, and in all our American political correctness, a New York City community board voted 29-1 in favor of allowing the construction. If the location is not insensitive enough, the scheduled start of construction is September 11th, 2011, the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. So it's politically correct to be insensitive now? The board does not want to upset the Muslim community, but is apparently just fine with upsetting the families who lost loved ones in the name of Islam. Yes, the terrorists may not necessarily represent the billions of people in the Muslim community, but you have to ask if the Muslims who are opening a mosque near Ground Zero on September 11th do? My guess would be that most Muslims would understand that opening a mosque there is insensitive. Opening a mosque near Ground Zero is not just practicing the right to religious freedom in this country, it is a political statement. And if it's not, what is the explanation? There just happens to be a need for a mosque and Islamic cultural center right where the terrorist attack occurred? Doubtful. Christians, Jews, and atheists realize how insensitive it is, so don't tell me the Muslims don't. It's not surprising a political statement would be made though, since Islam is intertwined with national political systems across the world.
So has our political correctness and desire to be tolerant muzzled us to the point where disagreeing with a mosque being built near a sacred ground is labeled bigotry? It appears so. Our country has taught us to assume that people have the best intentions, and when it happens that a group of people do bad things, they are nothing more than an anomaly. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. What is the motivation to build a hundred million dollar mosque so close to Ground Zero, knowing there would be such an uproar? I don't know, only the people planning it know. Though with all of this said, do the Muslims have the right to build a mosque there? Yes, of course they do. This is America after all. But in the age of political correctness, how is it more politically correct to build the mosque than not to build it?
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In this case, I actually don't think it is about political correctness. It's about equality, and religious freedom: two cornerstones of American society.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have some serious beef with pretty much all religion. But here's the rub. My opinion should not influence whether or not someone is able to build a place of worship.
It doesn't matter what other people have done under the same flag. If someone wants to build a community building they should submit their application along with everybody else.
The planners should look at how many people this project will serve, what the economic advantages are, and how it will impact the local community.
They should decide on that information alone. What religion is going to be worshipped there is almost irrelevant, they are all as ridiculous as each-other.
I am actually impressed that the government didn't bow to public pressure and prevent a mosque being built there.
I don't think planning permission should be granted on the basis of sending political messages, but doubtless it does occur. If there is a message here though, to me is is a positive one. One that says that Islam itself is not an enemy of the United States. And people shouldn't let themselves be fooled into thinking that it is (well, anymore than Christianity is, but that is a different argument).
Having trouble with comments section. Sorry for those who are having trouble posting.
ReplyDeleteShould be working fine now, I think.
ReplyDeleteI would be insulted if they decided to build a fucking christian church near ground zero.
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