Tuesday, August 17, 2010

American Tolerance v Republican Suspicions

It is painfully obvious that opposition to the Cordoba House, as this structure would be called, is motivated less by a desire to protect the memory of 9/11 victims and more by a knee-jerk suspicion of Muslims. If it were not, mosque-bashers wouldn’t have so much difficulty processing some basic but crucial facts about the structure. The “mosque,” for instance, is not really a mosque but an Islamic community center—complete with a swimming pool, auditorium, bookstores and restaurants—along the lines of the many YMCAs or Jewish community centers around the country.

It will house a place of worship, but it won’t blare muezzin calls summoning Muslims to pray five times a day, suggesting that it has a fairly relaxed attitude toward Quranic strictures. Nor will it be a Muslim-only place where members of other faiths are unwelcome; rather it will be open to anyone willing to pay its dues. Best (or worst) of all, it won’t be “on” Ground Zero, but two blocks and a bend away at a spot not visible to World Trade Center visitors.

Once this community center opens you won't hear another word about it. It's all election hype to foment the racists out there. This is a NYC issue. We can handle our own business.

Posted via email from liberalsarecool.com

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