Mosque and Sept. 11: Wrong Time, Inadequate Space

September 16, 2010

Published in Listin Diario
(Dominican Republic) on 4 September 2010
by Ricardo Trotti (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Annerys Diaz. Edited by Hoishan Chan.

A few days before the ninth anniversary of Sept. 11, plans to build a mosque and an Islamic cultural center a few yards from ground zero in New York reopened wounds and set off resentment against a religion many perceive as a refuge to extremists and fundamentalists.

Never before has an event related to terrorism and the attack in 2001 on the Twin Towers aroused so much controversy.

Emotions and passions are divided, which makes sense considering that the discussion focuses on the collision of constitutional rights of equal value: the freedom of religion and the right to honor.

The controversy may exasperate American politics all the way to the November elections, as parties and political forces take strong stands to position themselves to their respective electorates, which can be seen as diametrically opposed.

For many, the focus of President Barack Obama on the Constitution, which defends religious freedoms and the right of everyone to build a temple to practice their religious faith if not violating any laws, is nothing more than a slap to American patriotism. Surveys have found that an increased number of people think Obama is Muslim, although he has proclaimed himself to be Christian.

In contrast, the preaching of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to the feelings of the victims and the honor and dignity the victims’ families ask for, argues that the construction of the mosque at ground zero is an unnecessary provocation. However, this can be seen as evidence of religious intolerance and could encourage further terrorist attacks motivated by religion on the country.

The polls reflect those paradoxical views. The majority considers the freedom of religion essential, but there are also opponents who argue that the 15 floors and $100 million promoted with passion by the Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf does not come at the right time and is not given proper space.

The issue of time is valid, because sometimes the span of a few generations is needed to forgive or forget, as happened to the Americans with Pearl Harbor, or the Japanese with Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As for space it should be pointed out that the very controversy occurring in New York is taking place in the state of Tennessee right now, where a community is furiously trying to avoid the building of another mosque.

Such a position is justified at ground zero because the mosque can be seen as a serious offense to the families of the victims, and so further irritation, division and hatred should be avoided, as former Mayor Rudolf Giuliani believes. But in Tennessee or elsewhere, this does nothing but demonstrate discrimination against a particular belief and a violation of religious freedom.

This unwittingly helps raise anti-Western feelings and has already encouraged American Muslim clergyman Anwar al-Awlaki, who is conscripting fanatics for his crusade on the Internet, against the U.S. and also possibly against France, which in July sanctioned a law that prohibits Muslim women from wearing the burqa or full veil in public places. This is a debate between those who promote religious freedom and those who advocate civil rights and women’s duties to the state.

What emerges from these debates is that in an increasingly globalized world, there is a need for governments — both Western and Eastern — to encourage education about religions and cultures to promote more understanding and less friction.

Imam Abdul Rauf should be more sensitive. Erecting a mosque at the wrong time and the wrong place not only affects the memories of the victims, but also attracts anti-religious sentiments, divisions and resentments, the very issues to which his work is opposed.

If the objective is to have a space for reunions and prayers, a few miles should not affect their Muslim beliefs. Nevertheless, that display of charity in regard to other peoples' pain, and demonstrating that freedom of religion and worship comes with responsibilities, could earn more supporters and comprehension for the Islamic faith.

Mezquita y septiembre 11: tiempo inoportuno, espacio inadecuado

Ricardo Trotti
Info@ricardotrotti.com

A pocos días de conmemorarse el noveno aniversario de Setiembre 11, los planes de construir una mezquita y un centro cultural islámico a pocos metros de la Zona Cero en Nueva York, reabrieron heridas y activaron resentimientos contra una religión a la que muchos perciben como refugio de extremistas y fundamentalistas.
Nunca antes otro hecho relacionado al terrorismo y al atentado en 2001 contra las Torres Gemelas, había despertado tanta polémica.
Las emociones y pasiones están divididas, algo lógico considerando que la discusión se centra en la colisión de derechos constitucionales de igual valor, pero que no son absolutos: la libertad de religión y el derecho al honor.
La controversia puede exasperarse camino a las elecciones legislativas de noviembre, ya que obliga a partidos y políticos a asumir posturas contundentes para posicionarse frente a su electorado, que pueden interpretarse en forma diametralmente opuestas.
Para muchos, el enfoque ajustado a la Constitución del presidente Barack Obama de defender la libertad religiosa y el derecho de toda persona a erigir un templo y practicar su fe religiosa, siempre y cuando no se viole ninguna ley, no es más que una simple bofetada al sentimiento patriótico estadounidense. Las encuestas descubrieron que cada vez más personas piensan que Obama es musulmán, a pesar de confesarse cristiano.
En cambio, la prédica de la ex candidata a vice presidenta Sarah Palin, ajustada a los sentimientos de las víctimas y al honor y dignidad que piden sus familiares, sobre que la construcción de la mezquita en la Zona Cero es una provocación innecesaria, es vista como un caso de intolerancia religiosa y un asunto que podría incentivar a los terroristas religiosos a seguir atentando contra el país.
Los sondeos reflejan esas opiniones paradójicas. La mayoría considera fundamental la libertad de culto, pero a su vez tiene peros, argumentando que la obra de 15 pisos y de 100 millones que promueve con toda pasión el imán Feisal Abdul Rauf no se da en el tiempo oportuno ni en el espacio adecuado.
La cuestión del tiempo es válida, porque a veces se necesitan generaciones para olvidar o perdonar, como sucedió a los estadounidenses por Pearl Harbor o a los japoneses por Hiroshima y Nagasaki. En cuanto al espacio conviene recordar que la misma polémica instalada en Nueva York, es la que hoy se da a cientos de kilómetros en una ciudad del estado de Tennessee, donde una comunidad furiosa trata de impedir que se construya otra mezquita.
La postura se justifica en la Zona Cero porque puede resultar una ofensa grave para los familiares de las víctimas, evitándose así más irritación, división y odio, como opina el ex alcalde Rudolph Giuliani. Pero en Tennessee o en cualquier otro lugar, no hace más que mostrar discriminación contra un credo y una violación a la libertad religiosa.
Esto, sin quererlo, contribuye a despertar sentimientos anti occidentales, como los que enarbola el clérigo musulmán de origen estadounidense, Anwar al-Awlaki, quien en internet recluta a fanáticos para su guerra santa, así sea contra EEUU o contra Francia, por el hecho de que en julio sancionara una ley que prohíbe a las mujeres musulmanas que usen el burka o velo integral en lugares públicos. Una polémica entre quienes promueven la libertad de culto y quienes defienden los derechos civiles de las mujeres y los deberes ante el Estado.
Lo que se desprende de estos enfrentamientos es que en un mundo cada vez más globalizado, hay necesidad de que los gobiernos, tanto de Occidente como de Oriente, incentiven la educación sobre religiones y culturas para promover más entendimiento y menos roces.
El imán Abdul Rauf debería tener más consideración. Erigir un templo en el momento inoportuno y en el sitio inadecuado no solo afecta la memoria de las víctimas, sino que atrae sentimientos antirreligiosos, divisiones y rencores, aspectos a los que su obra se opone.
Si el objetivo es tener un espacio de reunión y oración, unas cuadras de diferencia no deberían afectarles a los creyentes musulmanes. Sin embargo, esa muestra de caridad con el dolor ajeno, y de que la libertad de culto también impone responsabilidades, pudiera arrimar más simpatizantes y comprensión a la fe islámica.

Mosque and September 11: Wrong time, Inadequate Space

Ricardo Trotti

A few days before the commemoration of the ninth anniversary September 11, plans to build a mosque and an Islamic cultural center a few yards from Ground Zero in New York, reopened wounds and set off resentment against a religion to which many perceive as a refuge extremists and fundamentalists.
Never before has an event related to terrorism and the attack in 2001 against the Twin Towers, had aroused so much controversy.
The emotions and passions are divided, which makes sense considering that the discussion focuses on the collision of constitutional rights of equal value, but not absolute, freedom of religion and right to honor.
The controversy may exasperate way to the November elections, as parties and political forces to take strong positions to position themselves in front of their electorates, which can be interpreted in a diametrically opposed.
For many, the focus set to the Constitution of President Barack Obama to defend religious freedom and the right of everyone to build a temple and practice religious faith, if not violating any laws, is nothing more than a simple slap to American patriotism. Surveys found that more people think Obama is Muslim, although he has confessed himself Christian.
In contrast, the preaching of the former vice president candidate Sarah Palin, set to the feelings of the victims and to the honor and dignity that the families ask for, on the construction of the mosque at Ground Zero is an unnecessary provocation, seen as a case of religious intolerance and a case that could encourage further religious terrorists attacking the country.
The polls reflect those paradoxical views. The majority considers it essential freedom of religion, but in turn have buts, arguing that the work of 15 floors and 100 million that promote with every passion the Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is not given in a timely manner or proper space.

The issue of time is valid, because sometimes there is a need of generations to forgive or forget, as happened to the Americans on Pearl Harbor, or the Japanese for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As for the space it should be remembered that the same controversy installed in New York, is now the same as in the state of Tennessee, where a community is furiously trying to avoid the building of another mosque.
This position is justified at Ground Zero because it can be a serious offense to the families of the victims, thus avoiding further irritation, division and hatred, as former mayor Rudolf Giuliani believes. But in Tennessee or elsewhere, it does nothing but show discrimination against a belief and a violation of religious freedom.
This unwittingly helps raise anti-western feelings, like the ones that raises the Moslem clergyman of American origin, Anwar al-Awlaki, who on the internet conscript to fanatics for his crusade, thus be against US or against France, by the circumstance of that in July sanctioned a law that prohibit to the Moslem women that use the burka or I watch integral in public places. A debate between those who promote religious freedom and advocates that defend civil rights and women’s duties to the State.
What emerges from these debates is that in an increasingly globalized world, there is need for governments, both West and East, encourage education about religions and cultures to promote more understanding and less friction.
Imam Abdul Rauf should have more consideration. Erect a temple at the wrong time and wrong place not only affects the memories of the victims but also attracts anti-religious sentiments, divisions and resentments, issues to which his work is opposed to.
If the objective is to have a prayer meeting space, a few blocks of each other should not affect Muslim believers. However, this display of love with the pain of others and that the freedom of religion also imposes responsibilities, could bring closer more supporters and understanding to the Islamic faith.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .