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You get the strong sense reading through the Anti-Defamation League’s objection to the Ground Zero Mosque Cordoba House that they know better than to object. They’re not cool with “appeals to bigotry on the basis of religion, and condemn those whose opposition to this proposed Islamic Center is a manifestation of such bigotry.” They say their objection is based on the “unique circumstances” of the case. They present innuendo about amorphous problems with the moneymen behind the mosque, but don’t care enough about that line of argument to premise their objection on it. And they couch everything they say in the language of tolerance and healing that’s supposed to be the True North for the organization.
So look: unless someone’s prepared to make an argument that a straight line runs between Cordoba House and Usama bin Laden, no objection to Cordoba House’s location makes any sense. That’s the only sense in which the Cordoba House could actually offend the reasonable sensibilities of those victimized by 9/11. No one can make that argument without sounding like bin Laden himself. Everything else about this debate is just ugly noise. Those who sincerely believe that Cordoba House is offensive need to tell a Muslim serving in the U.S. military precisely how far from Ground Zero he may acceptably practice his religion.
To the ADL: you’re breaking my heart here. Are you prepared to tell Jews not to build synagogues in Hebron because of the crimes of Baruch Goldstein? Do we Jews bear the guilt for the murders he committed?
Adam Serwer has more. So does Tablet. [Update, 2:02 p.m.: Jeffrey Goldberg, too.]
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What is getting lost in all this, alas, is that the Cordoba House folks are going to bulldoze a landmark building (the former Burlington Coat Factory) to put up their “mosque.” I have zero objection to placing a center for muslim study or worship there–I sure wish they would just rehab a great old building.
I find the “Freedom Tower” much much more disrespectful of the victims of 9/11.
Opponents of Cordoba House: This Mosque will get in the way of our perpetual hating !
I share your pain, attackerman. You read their statement, and it feels like they’re almost making an argument in defense of the Cordoba House, and then they just come to the opposite conclusion for no apparent reason. They reject discrimination, but they oppose building it because… it might offend people?
I think it’s especially frustrating because I am Jewish and I am sensitive to anti-Semitism (which I still think does exist in many ways, even in the US.) So then to watch an organization that is supposed to be defending against defamation participate in defamation itself… it just… it hurts. It’s frustrating. It feels so counterproductive. It makes me want to donate half my money to J Street, even though politically the two organizations are entirely unrelated.
Also, as a New Yorker, it seems to me like the Cordoba House could be an awesome opportunity to open up community events to the general public and to interfaith interest groups. The New York Jews have the 92nd Street Y – so wouldn’t it be cool if the two places had a joint lecture series on a subject of mutual interest, alternating locations? Or something? And I think that was what the creators of the Cordoba House intended it to be, so watching Islamophobic commentators pervert its mission makes me want to cry.
To see ADL stand side by side with Pamela Geller, who regularly refers to palestinains in particular and muslims in general as “less than human” and who supports the English Defense League tells all about the new pro-Israel alliances being built. ADL is pro Palin, anti Obama. Palin is pro-Geller, anti muslim. Geller is batshitcrazy and an open racist.
Repeat after me: Islam is Satan, and Obama is the antichrist. Read Caroline Glick in the JPost who openly posits that the president is an anti-semite, “letting no chance go pass to attack the jewish nation”, “obsessed with Israel” etc. Thats the prevailing line of reasoning in the established hasbara camp. Thats the game they want to play.
J Street just released a statement which hits all the right notes: http://www.jstreet.org/blog/?p=1177
Well, the ADL has lost Goldblog, so that’s a counter-point. This ADL isn’t anything like the old ADL. It’s become a RWNJ organization ever since Foxman has been its head. It’s such a shame.
“Those who sincerely believe that Cordoba House is offensive need to tell a Muslim serving in the U.S. military precisely how far from Ground Zero he may acceptably practice his religion.”
OK, Let’s ask Major Nidal Malik Hasan.
Cities all the time tell Churches were they cannot develop properties to worship. The blanket thinking that all of Islam is the same, and should be protected under freedom of religion, needs to be looked at carefully. Certain branches of Islam act like Christian missionary operations, but with the intent to force convert a society under Islam once proselytism has permeated that society to a point where various forms of forced conversion can be practiced.
Bin Laden is just one icon in an entire theocratic based civilizational group that when strong enough in a society will practice force conversion, which is what “freedom of religion” is addressing. We have freedom of religion because we generally agree that it is wrong, or futile, to force someone into a religious belief. However, some traditions of Islam are inclined to empower themselves to a point where they can practice forced conversion.
There is the opposite view…
I know norwegians who fought on the lebanese side in 2006. And kno several norwegian-paki soldiers. Islam is not a monolith, you have some archtypical differences within it. And thats what we got to exploit.