So I happened to turn on CNN briefly before I went the the gym this morning, and I happened to see this Abraham Foxman chap from the Anti Defamation League talking to one of the CNN blokes about an Islamic center that is going to be put up soon a couple of blocks from Ground Zero. Good show. This is just the type of argument I love.
The situation breaks down like this: The site of the new Islamic center is currently occupied by the old Burlington Coat Factory building. A panel just ruled that it was not architecturally or historically significant enough to be designated for protection, so plans for the center are a go. This unleashed a hail of criticism and support. Palin's against it, says its a slap in the face, unnecessary (shoddily paraphrasing here). Bloomberg says if it doesn't go up in that location, the terrorists have won. (that is literally what he said). Interestingly enough, the aforementioned ADL, which is a Jewish organization against bigotry, is against it, taking the position that it would be in better taste to put it somewhere else. The are receiving heavy criticism for this sentiment. This is what I think:
There is no doubt that its placement is perfectly legal, I do not dispute this at all. The main point of Bloombergs's speech, with Statue of Liberty in the background for effect, was to confirm and emphasize its legality. I think the real argument however is whether, as the ADL pointed out, this placement is in good taste. I don't believe it is. Of all the places to put an Islamic center, they have to place it two blocks from Ground Zero, where the bloodiest wound ever inflicted by Muslims on America (as radical as they may have been) is still fresh and oozing blood? Their mission of course is to show Americans that mainstream Islam is not the enemy, but rather a friend in the fight against terror. The truth, however, is that they probably won't convert anybody per say (not to the religion of course, but to that way of thinking), especially those with their minds already set. The large majority of average people will simply see it and write it off, becoming enraged at the perceived brazen lack of respect that these Muslims are showing. I think that now, and for the foreseeable future, Ground Zero needs to be given some space. There are plenty of other less sensitive places to establish the center.
Now I sit back and eagerly wait for our student body president, Sumeer Sandhu, to disagree with me.
