So for probably two years or so I've had a blog with no posts on it. Some of my friends have been prodding me for a couple months to post something, but nothing has really piqued me enough to warrant online venting - until now.
Yes, that's right, Dan, Dan, and Jason. I am going to express my opinion on an issue. Online.
What's been bothering me recently is the issue of the proposed mosque close to Ground Zero in New York City. Of course, like everyone else, I've read about the angry and virulent protests being staged around the country. I've also come into contact with more than a few people here in Utah who have expressed to me their opposition to the mosque.
Now, on most political issues, even the more controversial ones, I feel that both sides make valid points that are based in certain underlying values, many of which we all share. Although I lean left, I can usually see where the opposition is coming from. The debate over the mosque, however, I find to be completely ridiculous. The fact that it has been successfully pitched as a national political issue is itself an absurdity.
Legally speaking, of course, the issue is moot. Any government opposition of the mosque would be an obvious infringement of first amendment rights, and would be roundly struck down by the Supreme Court - if it even made it that far.
What worries me more is the popular opposition. Of course many opposed to the mosque say that they have nothing against Muslims in general, and they recognize that not all Muslims are terrorists. If they truly believe this, however, it's hard to explain why they are so offended at the idea of a mosque close to Ground Zero. The opposition is obviously and shamelessly specific to the religion in question. A synagogue, for example, would barely have provoked a media yawn.
Those Americans who choose to oppose this place of worship, though they may not wish to recognize it, are essentially saying, "I equate the religion of Islam with Islamic fundamentalism."
If you don't believe this, there's no ground for opposition. If you do believe it, it's time you made some Muslim friends and started reading the world news.
My emotions on the subject came to a head when I heard today on the radio of a Florida pastor who plans to burn copies of the Qur'an unless the mosque is relocated. Here we have a group of religious people faced with the choice of forcibly relocating their house of worship or seeing copies of their holy scripture put publicly to the pyre. What country does this sound like to you? I hope it's not the America you know. It's definitely not the one I believe in.
To hear so-called Christians spouting this xenophobic stupidity is one thing. To hear it from Latter-day Saints, however, is quite another. We, of all people, should understand the plight of a religion whose fundamentalist offshoots have unfortunately defined its public image.
If, for example, the state of Texas were to outlaw the construction of an LDS temple on the grounds that it would promote polygamy, how would an Latter-day Saint react? With rightful outrage. We refuse to be defined by a few rogue individuals who abuse our doctrines. So does the vast majority of the American Muslim population.
As religious people, we all face tremendous opposition in modern America. It's no secret that many politicians and other influential people are aiming for the complete secularization of our country. In such an environment, I cannot understand how God-fearing people can spend their time and energy making sure that other God-fearing people can't build their house of prayer. We're all in this together, and unless we stop bickering and start recognizing our similarities, we'll fail together.
3 comments:
My first thought on this post, conveyed by a nerdy 8-second video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J6-3l3hCm0
*pause while you're watching video*
But seriously, our certainty that this sort of thing was going through your head all the time was why we pestered you so much.
My second thought, more on topic: Originally I held with the guy whose letter I read in the Daily Universe, which opinion could be summed up, "If you're not from NY, shut up. It's none of your business."
I changed my mind after a conversation with Hester, though. It has become a national issue, whether I like it or not, and I'm not exempt from the consequences of my influence. So assuming there was no foul play involved (special privileges to increase mosque count in the neighborhood or something), I hold entirely with Dave on this. My home temple got picketed during the post-Prop 8 fiasco, and I hated it (if from 800 miles away).
Welcome to the "blogosphere." Yes, I put that in quotes because I don't want to take credit for using such an unabashedly earnest-about-blogging-phrase. I'm shielding myself from the nerdy aura with those marks.
About the mosque, I agree totally. I can't say I knew this was happening, to be honest. It reminds me of the time Hess asked me a question about the Tsunami in Indonesia (weeks after, when EVERYBODY knew) and I said "Tsunami?"
I can, however, say that I understand the public reaction. To me, it seems to be because of "signaling," the idea in econ that when you have little information, you resort to generalizations. It is rational, in a technical sense, to do this. People resort to stereotypes in hiring decisions, and I daresay law enforcement. It would be ideal for us to learn more information, but that is costly, so I don't expect change.
Wiz, about the statement "I'm not exempt from the consequences of my influence." Respectfully, I submit that your influence on the issue is zero, as is any one of ours. So, yes, it is vacuously true that you are exempt, but only because the antecedent of "having consequences to be exempt from" is not satisfied. Yeah, there are consequences, but they are functionally negligible.
Leave it to Jason to relate the issue to Econ.
Dave, what a first post! You easily have the most potential in your rookie season as a blogger. I struggled as a rookie, only securing comments (akin to endorsements) here and there. But you already have 3. Wow.
I 100% agree with Dave on this issue. A couple weeks ago, I had a heated argument with my family over this topic. I was surprised to find some members of my own family express opposition to the mosque while dismissing me as a lover of anything that comes from the Middle East. While the latter statement carries some truth to it, I carefully selected my argument, but still found myself surprised I HAD to. Never mind the fact that, if standing on ground zero, you CAN'T see the mosque. Never mind the fact that this country preaches religious tolerance. Never mind that many Muslims were among those killed in the 9/11 attacks. The idea that conservative Christians, and especially those from our church, would oppose this, seems to be a hypocritical condemnation while turning our back on our own past, our own heritage.
I will defend my family a bit by saying that the problem with the mosque is not inherent in Islam itself, but the problem is the misunderstanding accompanied by Islam in this country and the danger a mosque poses in that location in their minds (as if Islam was conquering Manhattan somehow and defiling that sacred monument). I, however, find this a poor excuse for the American people - the people who are supposed to be foremost in the world in promoting peace, tolerance, and stability - to be ignorant to what Islam truly stands for and therefore fail to become brothers with the Muslims.
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