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Respect area as a sacred space

Letter to the Editor

Published: Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Updated: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 17:10

As national radio, television and other facets of the media have recently been inundated with debate over the controversial "Ground Zero Mosque" in Manhattan, I argue that this debate has severe implications regarding the role of freedom in the lives of modern American citizens.

The official project, titled Park51, proposes a mosque to be constructed at 51 Park Place in lower Manhattan. The location is less than two blocks from ground zero of the World Trade Center site, so close that the original building at the address was severely damaged by airplane wreckage on Sept. 11, 2001. According to project leaders, the new mosque would help to accommodate the other mosques in Manhattan that hold multiple prayer services due to the large attendance numbers.

I argue that an Islamic place of worship so close to ground zero would not be appropriate. Such an addition would be analogous to the addition of a Japanese military museum on the shore adjacent to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, the location where members of the U.S. Navy were killed in the name of the Japanese government. A mosque so close in proximity to the World Trade Center site would be no different: Yhe innocent civilians who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 were murdered in the name of Islam. I have visited both the USS Arizona and ground zero memorial sites and the common theme I have observed is one of respect: quiet and deep respect for those who are no longer with us. Landmarks honoring the name in which these people were killed in such close proximity to the actual location in which they were killed would be a disgrace to their memories.

I worked at America's Camp, a summer camp in Massachusetts for children who lost a parent on 9/11. I had nine girls in my cabin, eight of whom lost their fathers and one who lost her mother at the site of ground zero on Sept. 11, 2001. As the girls get older, each year they hear about 9/11 everywhere: the news, their history books, Blockbuster and popular Internet websites such as YouTube. The Blockbuster film "World Trade Center" shows the events of 9/11 from the perspective of a Port Authority officer. One girl from my cabin was deeply disturbed by this movie because her father was a Port Authority officer. It was gut wrenching to watch a 12-year-old try to make sense of her father's death from the influence of a Blockbuster film. What have the values of our society come to when children are so familiar with the horrific violence that Hollywood glorifies?

Because of the freedom granted to all American citizens in the First Amendment of the Constitution, film industries are allowed to release violent movies to the public and the creation of a mosque two blocks from ground zero is legal. All citizens of the United States are granted religious freedom, the freedom of speech, and the freedom to peaceably assemble … so does that mean citizens can do whatever they want in exercising these rights without regard to what might be morally right and respectful of other citizens? We are blessed to have the freedom to exercise such rights, but where do we draw the line?

I argue that the nearly limitless freedom that we are granted as American citizens has compromised our sense of responsibility. Too often we are concerned with our own personal interests and forget to consider others. The film "World Trade Center" brought in a large revenue and Park51 would relieve other Manhattan mosques of small inconvenience … but at what cost?

The controversy surrounding Park51 is not an issue of whether or not a mosque should be created, it is an issue of a mosque being built in the exact area in which innocent lives were taken in the name of Islam. A new Islamic prayer center could be constructed almost anywhere; let the sacred space of the World Trade Center memorial rest in peace in respect for the family members so deeply affected by this tragedy and for those who are no longer with us.

As Gonzaga students educated to serve others, we can think twice about what values we surround ourselves with every day and how we can become more conscious and respectful human beings. Just because we have the right to do something does not make it right.

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4 comments

Joe
Tue Oct 19 2010 18:48
What a misguided editorial. I love how certain people like to stereotype and paint all Muslims as if they were terrorist extremists. Should catholic churches not be allowed to exist around playgrounds and day care centers? While we are on this misguided stereotyping train of thought we can make the claim all priests are pedophiles just like all Muslims are terrorists, therefore Catholic churches should not be allowed to operate or reside close to underage kids. Stephani, not only is your deductive logic wrong but it is also insulting to Muslims on campus and everywhere.

Even if I was against this fox news painted "Muslim Super Center," I would not want to kick our foundational right to freedom of religion to the curb just to shove it to the Muslims. Not now not ever. Freedom of religion and worship is a cornerstone foundation to which the America was founded upon. Stereotyping and creating a scape goat is no way to go about that.

Sorry Stephani but I hope one day your idea of this will change. Hopefully these comments will evoke a new change in thought, one not evoked from irrational emotion but one from reflective and conscious thought about about how and why America was formed. I have not even touched upon intolerance but that is an idea explicitly obvious in itself.

Zagalum
Fri Oct 15 2010 14:55
Way to go Wrenn, this is the opinion to have. Should we allow Catholics to build Churches so close to children's playgrounds? Also the comparison of Islam and this community center to the Japanese and Pearl Harbor is absolutely ridiculous.

America was founded on religious freedom. Islam counts too.

Anonymous
Thu Oct 14 2010 21:59
Anonymous,
It sounds like you definitely have an opinion on this! If you want the entire Gonzaga community to hear your view, perhaps you could consider writing a letter to the editor. All you have to do is send it, with your name, to: bulletin@gonzaga.edu
WrennNYC
Wed Oct 13 2010 19:59
Sigh. It is not a mosque, it's a community center with prayer rooms. A community center, in an area that they don't have one. Where, currently, a derelict building stands. In an area of Lower Manhattan that is desperately in need of renovation and rebuilding. Also, in an area that has had a muslim population since BEFORE the WTC was built. There already is a small mosque within 3 blocks of the WTC that has been in the area since 1970 (Their community is far to large for the space they have to use. This mosque, Masjid-Manhattan, is not the group from which the imam involved with Park51 is involved. He is with Masjid-Al-Farrah, a Sufi mosque in Tribeca, about 10-11 blocks north of the WTC campus).

You are wrong about Park51 being 'within two blocks' of the WTC. it is 2 and a half blocks from the northern edge of the WTC campus two streets up, half an avenue over. (the campus, itself, is about 6 city blocks. two across, three up. Look at a map.) The twin towers were at the southernmost edge of the campus. so it's 5-6 blocks from the site of the towers.

The tragedy of 911 was caused by a handful of terrorists who self identified as followers of Islam. It was not caused by Islam. Saying that the people who died were killed 'because of Islam' is not true.

This is not a case of a group of people moving into an area and trying to set up a 'religious place of worship'. It is a case of a community that has been in the area for 30-40 years and more, wanting to build a community center (with some prayer rooms set aside to allow prayer). Your upset is misplaced.

So, we are to tell a community of people, many of them american born, that they can't have a community center where they live, because a couple dozen foreigners, people they did not even know, who said they belonged to their chosen religion, committed an atrocity nearby. An atrocity most of them lived through. The damage, the dust, the debris. There were muslim victims on the ground and in the towers that day. Workers in the offices, in restaurants, in support services... at least one muslim fireman, too.

And, finally. THIS is NYC. REMEMBER, REBUILD, RENEW. The site where Park 51 is not sacred space. It is blocks away from the WTC campus. It is part of Lower Manhattan, one of the densest populated places in the US.

Are we going to have this argument with any rebuild in this general area? That it may, or may not offend others, or 'that should not be built' in sacred space? There is a strip club within 2 blocks of the WTC campus. And the campus itself. The plans have been available, for years. Construction was started years ago. I've been there recently, and most of the underground construction is finished, and metal can be seen up over the walls again. There will be, in the 6 sq blocks that make up the WTC campus, 6 high rise office buildings, A 2 story underground shopping mall (the largest in Manhattan), a museum, a performing arts center, and a memorial garden, around the footprints of the twin towers, with reflecting pools where their foundations were.

You remain offended about a community center run by muslims 2 and a half blocks from the northern edge of the WTC campus. And not just muslims. Sufis. The most liberal and modern type of muslim (They even let their men and women worship together.) Radical muslims do not like Sufis. What do you think about the long available plans for the WTC campus itself?

Tell you what, make a date in late 2012. I'll take you shopping. Meet me at the sacred Starbucks, in the holy food court. We may take in a show over at the blessed arts center.







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