Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

ISLAM IS NOT THE ENEMY OF AMERICA

Aug 23, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

In this week’s column we examine the controversy that has erupted over the construction of a mosque near to Ground Zero and its implications for the traditional respect for democratic governance in that country.
A poll done about two weeks ago showed that close to 70% of Americans were opposed to the building of the mosque. Yes, nearly 70% of the citizens of the country that holds itself out as representing the free world are seeking to deny a moderate group from building a place of worship near to Ground Zero.
Yet, America constantly holds itself out as the symbol of the free world and the center of democracy in the free world. Yet close to 70% of the population is opposed to the building of the mosque four blocks away, a considerable distance from the site of the 9/11 disaster.
If democracy is about the will of the people and if the political leaders are supposed to respect majority rule and by extension majority choices, then there is clear disconnect between how the American people feel and where their government stands.
The American President, for example stands on the side of the American constitution which respects religious pluralism. For those opposed to the project, it is not an issue about religious freedom but rather about the inappropriateness of the location of the mosque.
But why should it be inappropriate to build a mosque four blocks away from Ground Zero? The main reason mustered by those who are opposed to this project is that it is disrespectful to those who died. But is the construction of a mosque disrespectful to the dead, unless those who are making this point are not condemning Islam? However they twist it, the basis of the opposition to the construction of the mosque has to do with feelings about Islam, and given the large numbers of Americans who are opposed to this project, it is now clear why in modern democracies, there are dangers in direct democracy. For if the American people had a vote to decide on the project then the very ideals on which that great nation was built, the high ideals that are at the heart of that country’s constitution, would be turned upside down.
There will be protests over the construction of the mosque. Passions are going to run high, but in the end, those opposed to the mosque will have to give way to the pillars on which American democracy rests: representative government and respect for the Constitution.
President Obama made a fateful mistake when, in explaining his position on the project, he sought to make a distinction on the wisdom of the project and the principle of equal treatment of all Americans, regardless of religion. By attempting to make this distinction, President Obama has let himself become defensive over his principled stand on the issue.
There is no issue about the wisdom of the project. This is only a smokescreen that is being used by those who are opposed to the project. They are concealing their intolerance by claiming that the project is unwise because it is insensitive to those who died.
There is no way also that the building of this mosque, or for that matter any other mosque in the vicinity will represent a victory for the architects of the 9/11 attacks. If as is being claimed, Ground Zero is hallowed ground, then why should it be inappropriate to build a place of religious worship nearby?
The American people need to be reminded that it was not Islam that attacked America. They must be reminded that the wars in which their sons and daughters are engaged are not wars against an entire religion but against the extremist movement that attacked America.
If Americans want greater sensitivity, they should also respect the sensitivities of others. To deny the construction of this mosque, would be to suggest that Islam is the enemy, and this we know is not the case. To make it such would be to endanger the lives of millions of Muslims who live in the United States, for it would be to pander sentiments rather than principles, to allow public opinion to override the very foundations on which the American nation rests.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | September. 30th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

October 1st turn off your lights to bring about a change!

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Uncertainty clouds Golden Jaguars’ Head Coach position as Barbados showdown approaches

Uncertainty clouds Golden Jaguars’ Head Coach position as...

Nov 05, 2024

  By Rawle Toney Kaieteur  Sports- With less than two weeks before the Golden Jaguars meet Barbados in back-to-back encounters that could shape their Gold Cup destiny, the Guyana Football...
Read More
Greaves makes history with magnificent 151* to lead Hurricanes to seven-wicket win over Red Force

Greaves makes history with magnificent 151* to...

Nov 05, 2024

Dominica’s Olympic champion Thea LaFond-Gadson awarded nation’s highest honour

Dominica’s Olympic champion Thea LaFond-Gadson...

Nov 05, 2024

Julien Alfred named finalist for World Track Athlete of the Year among elite group of Olympic champions

Julien Alfred named finalist for World Track...

Nov 05, 2024

Junior Sinclair replaces Kevin Sinclair in the CG United Super 50 Cup 2024

Junior Sinclair replaces Kevin Sinclair in the CG...

Nov 05, 2024

Hamilton Green KO Football Championship starts Friday

Hamilton Green KO Football Championship starts...

Nov 05, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]