Page 7 The Lion’s Eye October 1, 2010 PAIR OF PENNIES: 9/11 Mosque Should Not Be Opposed By daniel j. taylor - Lion's Eye World and Local Editor - djt5036@psu.edu The opposition to the contro- versial New York City “Ground Zero Mosque” is heavily flawed and reveals an alarming trait in many Americans. For those who lived in isolation for the past few months, the project officially titled Park 51, is a Muslim-sponsored com- munity project that is intended to fill the property previously owned by the Bur- lington Coat Factory, only a few blocks from the site of Ground Zero. Now, the initial uproar over the project, I believe, is caused by the fact that the backers and leaders of the plify the fact that practicing Islam, alone, is not harmful. These men, however, were backed and inspired by Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaedian ideas, and it is this association which is dangerous. The arguments against Park 51 are consistently weak and often logically flawed. Two protestors, portrayed in the image exemplify this logical ignorance. The man on the left who claims that a | t % venture are Muslims. We’d in ; os : like to say that we’ve lived up B : | d | V re to the d f Martin Luth | | ERERREE o the dream o in Luther Ul Ing a | (0sQg ie poe he King, Jr, and that we only judge at (>roun d Loni slike : building A Memorial To others solely on the content of their character. We, however, are imperfect. Many of us hear “Muslim” and “New York City” and the alarms go off. “Oh...my...God..,” we say, “... those terrorists were Muslims, so...”—wait for it—*...those Muslims must be terrorists!” Such associations are the motivating factor for racism and xenophobia. We, as Americans and as humans, must use our reason to over- come our primal associations and the fears that come with them. Fred Phelps (Google “God Hates Fags” to see the | way this guys runs his church) and I both claim to be Chris- tians, but I assure you that it’s improper to assume that I condone his campaigns of hate...and that’s my point. We can recall the religious affiliation of 17 off-their- rocker terrorists and associate their wildly violent and immoral activity with anyone who shares that affiliation. The terrorists of the Septem- ber 11th attacks were agents of hate and violence, who were tricked into thinking that they were agents of Islam. Regard- less, like criminals of any sort, it is their malice and their deed which demonizes them, not their religious beliefs. Literally millions of Muslims, worldwide, exem- Mosque at Ground Zero is like a statue of Hitler at Auschwitz is over-looking the simple fact that while Hitler knowingly and willingly ordered the systematic an- nihilation of Jews, Muslims as a whole did not carry out the September 11th attacks. A select few were behind the violence, the leader of whom was Osama bin Laden. Building a mosque at Ground Zero is not the same. Building a statue of bin Laden on the other hand...well, you see how that’s actually similar. The woman who reproaches Saudi Arabian law and/or public opinion is also totally off-base. It doesn’t matter what people do elsewhere, PRR ERe 1 flee at usChw TA because here in America we do what’s right because it’s right. This country is a republic which we support due to its pro- tection of, and establishment of freedom for, all people. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is an absolute monarchy, a govern- ment system that we openly and nearly unanimously (I’d imagine) oppose. Why should we look to a system that we know to be less honorable and say “we won’t act right because you don’t act right”? That ideology is childish, at best, and repug- nantly ignorant, at worst. Similarly ill-bred theories have arisen, in public and private, regarding the nature of the Park 51 project. Among them include claims that it is the presence of any religious building near Ground Zero that is offensive and that the building will prove to be a jihadist foothold in our country. Opposition to mosques, nation- wide, are protested and opposed while other religious buildings are let alone. It’s got nothing to do with the presence of Ground Zero for most people, as they do not wish to see “foreign” places of worship anywhere in America. As for the possibility of the venture being a covert jihadist infiltration, I’1l say two things: 1) it is, technically, possible that this is true, however it is unforgivable to begin restricting the first amendment rights of citizens on the grounds of “could be,” and 2) I don’t think that Al-Qaeda could have picked a worse spot to build an undercover infiltration point, han two blocks from the most significantly motivating source of anti-Islamic sentiment in he world. Y The Park 51 [site is going to be controver- sial for a long time, whether protesting its construction is fair or not. If it is going to happen, though, let’s take a look at what this “mosque” ‘will really bring...let’s ana- yze the threat up close and re- lly see what we’re so pissed bout. According to one news source the Park 51 project will contain a 500-seat perform- | ling arts theater, a swimming | pool, and a basketball court. Hmm. ..doesn’t sound so bad. # Additional sources say that he center will also contain a firestaurant and culinary school, a library, childcare services, a prayer space (I can hear them gnow: “I don’t know about this prayer space, Dan, sounds risky”), and what’s this?—a - September 11th, 2001 memorial. Doesn’t really sound like much of a mosque, does it? If it is a mosque, don’t be an ig- norant boor and oppose it on the grounds of blind rage, and if it isn’t a mosque— and it doesn’t sound like it is—don’t be a close-minded fool and oppose what should be a wonderful, cultural hub for New Yorkers. People Poll with Kelly Crawford What is your favorite Fall TV show? Amanda Bowers Kelsey Smith Sophomore Freshman “Dancing With the “I don’t really watch TV” Stars” Bobby Harper Junior “Survivor” Chris Brown Sophomore “I watch the National Geo- graphic Channel everyday”
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers