The Controversy that Isn’t
As of late, pundits on both sides of the aisle have been having a fit over this apparently earth-shatteringly controversial mosque to be built two blocks from ground zero. I have a two word response to all those (now including myself, I suppose) who have bothered to prop up this issue by writing or speaking about it at length: who cares?
There are two basic sides to this argument: the first, generally from the right, suggests that this mosque is insensitive and anti-American. Some have even claimed that it could serve as a hub for terrorist activity. The other, generally from the left, would argue that this is an important test of America’s meddle and credibility in defending its citizens’ freedom of speech.
And then there’s the third side of the issue — my own personal side, which hasn’t quite caught on much yet. The side that would argue something to this extent: our country is $13 trillion dollars in debt, unemployment is nearing 11%, Social Security is on the brink of an unstoppable downward spiral and Iran is developing nuclear capability. And we’re spending our time talking about the construction of a mosque? What?
Here’s my response to both sides of the issue.
To the right: first of all, it’s not a mosque — or at least not in the way you might think of what a church is to Christians. It’s an Islamic community center with a prayer room in it which, apparently, classifies it as a mosque. Secondly, labeling it “the ground zero mosque” adds an unfair layer of drama to the situation, given that it’s going to be built two blocks away. Third, anyone who actually believes that a mosque is immediately at risk for generating terrorist activity is an Islamophobe who has no credibility anyway. And finally, why do you really care? What kind of personal effect could this possibly have on you? I understand if you don’t like the idea of building a mosque two blocks from ground zero but unfortunately, that defense doesn’t hold much ground in a serious political debate.
To the left: let’s be honest. The people who are proposing this construction knew the kind of resentment it would generate. Knowing that this kind of controversy would be stirred up HAD to be part of the decision to pick that particular construction site — you don’t just “accidentally” overlook that. And is this insensitive for that very reason? Yes, it is. Wrong? Maybe, maybe not. But insensitive? I think so. And please stop with the whole “freedom of speech” crusade that you’re leading in defense of this project. In the United States, people have the right to built WHAT they want but not necessarily WHERE they want to build it. That’s what zoning laws are for. It wouldn’t necessarily be right, but it certainly wouldn’t be outside the government’s authority to disallow the construction. The point is, this is not a freedom of speech issue. And the more you try to make it one, the more you turn this into a laughable political soap opera.
If you want to know what I think should happen, I think they ought to go ahead and build the thing. I don’t much care for the idea of it, but that’s not really the point; it’s not illegal and the property is privately owned. So they should build it and move on to bigger issues — important issues. An Islamic community center near ground zero isn’t going to keep me up at night. But the prospect of paying over 40% of my income in taxes one day just might.
