About a Synagogue in Mecca & Mosque in New York
“You can build a Mosque at ground zero when we can build a Synagogue in Mecca” read the sign carried by one of the protesters. They protesters were trying to pressurize the city of New York and prevent the city from granting permission to build a 13 story Islamic community center a few blocks from the World Trade Center (WTC) (the city council voted unanimously and gave permission to the owners to demolish the existing 19th century building and build a Mosque in its place).
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (who has Jewish heritage) supported the decision of the city council. He said “Muslims are as much a part of our city and country as any faith, and as welcome to worship in Lower Manhattan as any other group. We would betray our values — and play into our enemies’ hands — if we were to treat Muslims different than anyone else”. The decision by the city and comments like these from the Mayor are not sitting well with conservative Christian and Jewish groups.
The United States for the past few years has tried very hard to win the hearts and minds of the Muslim community. But this effort has largely failed. America feels that the reason why the Muslim community does not have warm feelings towards it is largely because the Muslims do not understand what America stands for. So the focus has been on improving public relations.
But we live in a world where information travels fast and is easily accessible. Even those who live in repressive regimes know what America stands for. But the problem is what they see looks ugly. The disenchantment with American policies (domestic and foreign) is spreading even to countries like India where most people have a positive opinion of the country. Most Indians for example cannot understand why the United States is very tough on Iran but very supportive of Pakistan in spite of mounting evidence that Pakistan is acting against American interests in the region.
The United States also has to come to grips with the fact that there is a section of the American public that is made up of conservative Christians and Jews that likes the nation to be in a perpetual state of war with its “enemies”. They have formed certain views on how America should act that are mostly based on their narrow religious views. According to them it is America’s duty to protect the Christian faith and defend Israel from its enemies.
The slogan that “You can build a Mosque at ground zero when we can build a Synagogue in Mecca” shows some of the issues that America has to address right away. Phrases like these give the impression that the Muslims are somehow outsiders (them) and those who support building a Synagogue in Mecca are the real Americans (us). But Muslims have been part of the American fabric for as long as the Jewish people have. They just happen to be slightly poorer and less influential than some of the other minorities.
In addition why should the United States follow what Saudi Arabia does? In Saudi Arabia a person could be executed for cheating. Should that policy be implemented in America as well? But this sort of empty rhetoric is very common these days. A pastor from Florida (Pastor Terry Jones of the World Outreach Center) has said that the upcoming ninth anniversary of 09/11 will be “Burn a Quran Day” for his community. He told CNN that “We believe that Islam is of the devil, that it’s causing billions of people to go to hell, it is a deceptive religion, it is a violent religion and that is proven many, many times“. I understand the concept of freedom of speech. But can you think of any other country where this kind of rhetoric will be allowed on national television. CNN allows it because there is an audience for it. Of course CNN would not allow for a similar examination or commentary on Christianity or Judaism.
An average American does not understand the damage done to American prestige and image by conservative religious groups. These groups are small in number but they seem to control the agenda of the Republican Party. So the conservative groups are seen as a political problem by mainstream liberal and secular citizens. But the real damage to America comes from the radio and television networks owned by these fundamentalists that operates from American soil but has worldwide reach. They spew venom and hatred on a daily basis. Would the United States allow an Islamic channel that broadcasts hatred towards other religious groups to operate from its own soil?
The change that America seeks in places like Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan should come from within first. The United States should able to show that it is as serious about tackling fundamentalism and extremism in its own soil as it does in remote villages in the deserts of Afghanistan. American policy is viewed by many people even among allies as hypocritical. You cannot change this opinion by spending millions in public relations or by appointing a special representative at the State Department for Muslims. It is time for the United States to start cracking down on religious extremism that is alive and well in its own soil. Meanwhile please do not use freedom to speech or religion as an excuse for not doing anything.
“Many of us believe that wrongs aren’t wrong if it’s done by nice people like ourselves” – Author Unknown
Related posts:
- Hindu Fundamentalists: Ayodhya Similar to Mecca
- UN Headquarters Should Be Relocated From New York
- United States Issues Biased Report on Religious Freedom
- Is India or America Better At Tackling Terrorism?
- American Official: Muslims in India are Not Terrorists
Category: Culture & Religion