Ground Zero: Exaggerating the Jihadist Threat
It does seem as if this is a story that won't quit. It doesn't matter that much of the rhetoric is either misplaced or politically expedient. As Romesh Ratnesar writes in a Time Magazine online piece entitled Ground Zero: Exaggerating the Jihadist Threat, the "jihadist threat" that everyone is so worried about is actually fading away. Yes, the militants are still doing their thing -- largely in Muslim countries and rarely in the West --but their support in Muslim countries is dissipating fast.
What I find unfathomable is the idea that a mosque sponsored by a moderate group of Sufi Muslims would constitute a victory for radical Islam. I simply don't get it. What would constitute a victory in my mind would be the ongoing fear mongering that grips our nation. The goal of terrorism is to terrorize people -- make them afraid. I think, from all the rhetoric, that these militants have done just that. The American people have been cowed, which makes the susceptible to demagogues such as Newt Gingrich. As New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg suggests:
"We would betray our values and play into our enemies' hands if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else," Bloomberg said on Governors Island, the Statue of Liberty behind him in the distance.
In the long run this is an "debate" that will go nowhere. The group seeking to build the center have the right, according to the Constitution, to build at the site. No court in the land would disallow this and its not the government's business to decide between religions. The Constitution's guarantees don't simply apply to Congregationalists in New England and Anglicans in Virginia, or Presbyterians in the middle states. We've outgrown the question of which Protestant church will dominate.
But perhaps even more importantly this "debate" maybe focusing on an threat that no longer really exists. Remember it's 9 years since 9-11. We've been in Afghanistan for much of this period, with no end in sight, largely because we put Afghanistan on the back burner to engage another phantom threat in Iraq (where we've been at war now for seven years).
But, whether the threat is receding or not, I can't stop reiterating the fact that principles of American identity are at stake in this debate -- the principles of religious freedom. And if Muslims and other minority religions are denied their Constitutional rights, then our nation will have betrayed its founding principles. I know the President has taken a lot of heat for his position -- David Gergen, whom I normally regard highly, made a statement last night that stunned me -- that in this President Obama demonstrated a lack of understanding of the feelings on the part of the American people. I'm sorry, but standing up for what is right when religious freedom is under threat for political reasons (even among Democrats) is astounding.
Comments
What are we going to teach our children if we do not stand up for religious liberty in this case.
In my opinion, the "debate" is mostly political posturing. I'm biased (liberal), but I see it from Newt and others of his ilk. The sad thing to me is that Newt is very intelligent. He knows better. This tells me he is doing nothing more than playing the game of politics in the most dishonorable way.
Also, I think the city of New York, perhaps with assistance from the state of New York, should offer to build the mosque with tax money.
What better way to show the peaceful, loving Muslims that we Americans are peaceful and loving too? Another gesture of good will to show the peaceful, loving Muslims all over the world that we are really nice people, and that the peaceful, loving Muslims really have no reason to want to kill us. oooooxxxx :)
I like the word facetious. It has all the vowels in order.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZpT2Muxoo0
An incredibly intelligent, righteous, and truly patriotic comment against hate and irrationality.
Oh, and he is an opponent of Prop 8.
I wish GWB would speak up...I can't believe I ever would have said that!
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/
No dice.
“President Bush has no comment.”