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Normally it would be peculiar to watch a battle being waged over the construction of an Islamic mosque near the World Trade Center, which collapsed after a terrorist attack in 2001.
Ever since the attack, though, the area has been considered hallowed ground and a contentious battle has arisen over whether a Muslim edifice should be built there.
There are those who are ugly enough to say that Muslims -- just because they are Muslims -- should have no right to place a house of worship near the New York City space, because its proximity is a reminder of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism.
Those people are wrong and misguided and are being misled by racists.
But the fact that this is happening is actually a chance to peer into the bigotry that is being waged against Muslims all across the country as they simply try to practice their religion.
Take a look at this New York Times article, and you can get a good example of the not-in-my-backyard attitude springing up across the country in several places where Muslims are simply trying to practice their faith. In some towns, people, including "Christian" ministers, are holding protests against Muslims erecting mosques. In others, they are flat-out vocalizing their disdain for the religion of Islam.
One woman has even voiced her paranoid fear of being taken over by Sharia law, because Muslims may become part of Congress or the Supreme Court.
Seriously?
Now, from what I remember, most Americans can't even define what Islam is, nor could they tell you anything about the Koran, what an Imam is, or the difference between a Sunni or a Shiite. Back in the day, the most well-known Muslim in America was Muhammad Ali.
But after 9/11, anybody who is of Middle Eastern descent, practices Islam or has an Arabic-sounding name is considered an imminent danger to the republic.
It's all hogwash and it comes from the same spirit as the anti-immigrant fervor in this country, which also has a history.
Just prior to the Civil War, Americans were heated about European immigrants coming over to make their way in this country. In fact, there was a major New York City riot over it in 1863. In 1915, the Ku Klux Klan was restarted in Stone Mountain, Ga., as a reaction to black workers actually earning enough to feed their families and wanting equality. In 1970s Boston, people were turning over cars because they couldn't stand for black kids to be bussed to schools in white neighborhoods.
The problem really is mainstream America and its consistent reluctance to change. Even in the 21st century, Americans are gripped with the ridiculous fear that Mexicans are going to ruin the Southwest (here's a clue: Mexicans were already there; it's everyone else who is interloping) or that Muslims are going to plant their insidious minions all through the country and blow it into outer space (another clue: the vast majority of Islamofascist terrorists harm far more Muslims than anyone else).
The only reason 9/11 actually happened was because of an administration that had been warned about the possibility of such an attack but ignored it anyway. That's like standing there while a dog raises his leg on your pants, but you refuse to get out of the way.
So after all that, now America is forgetting that everyone is supposed to have the right to practice their faith here and instead embracing paranoia.
But honestly, people, what school did fear ever build?
What child did xenophobia ever protect?
What mouth was ever fed by people whose intentions were to hurt other Americans?
If you can't answer that question, then it's a good idea to change your position.
Comments: (13)
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By: paul on 8/09/2010 4:57PM
Get a clue. Islam is a call to arms that preaches world dominance and ZERO tolerance for "free thought" and other sins. There is no comparison between the racial oppression of blacks in America and the religious oppression of Muslims.
Two big reasons:
1) Your religion is a choice. Tomorrow all Muslims could wake up and decide not to be Muslims, or I could change my mind and become a Muslim. Your race is not a choice that you can opt out of any time you like.
2) Islam teaches that non believers must be converted or killed. Their savior was a sex crazed murdering psychopath and the basis of the "religion" is world dominance at any cost. Unlike racism that is based on the incorrect assumption of some kind of racial superiority of one group over another, islamophobia is based on the correct assumption that good Muslims will stop at nothing to eliminate the Western way of life.
Not all Muslims are bad people, but good people can't be good Muslims.
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By: SidtheKid on 8/09/2010 6:33PM
On your comment about muslims must convert or kill non believers. It is not true. As a muslim I understand that my faith is not for every one. We have the same creator as the christians and jew and believe in all major religions. I am an african American muslim so I know both sides of growing up black and being muslims and they do have similarities. Some places I go I am the pink elephant in the room whether I am covered or uncovered. Please read a a credited book before you make another ignorant comment on something you don't know. Have a blessed day.
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By: paul on 8/10/2010 12:44PM
SidtheKid:
You sound like a peaceful and tolerant person. That makes you a bad Muslim (hypocrite or apostate), which puts you high on the list of people to be killed by "good" Muslims.
Take a look at www.prophetofdoom.net and ask yourself if Muhammad is someone you'd really like to associate with. Be sure to read his physical description of Satan.
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By: Vickiss on 8/09/2010 4:57PM
Actually it's just White Supremacy on the low.
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By: blackbear72 on 8/09/2010 9:49PM
The most asinine quote ever "the ONLY reason 9/11 ever happened was because the administration that was warned......", that is the only reason it happened? Only on BV could this stupidity be written or maybe a Muslim website. There was no other reason? It was a contribution factor, but no where close to the only reason. The biggest reason, Muslims, it could never have happened w/o them. Open your eyes, when in the last 50 years have you read about another religion killing so many, just because they didn't share the same view? The only reason the plane didn't blow up on Christmas was because of a poorly made bomb. On Christmas, is that a coincidence? Mosque at 9/11 sign, a coincidence? Are you kidding me? Show me one incident where in the US where there has been violence against a Muslim, just because they are Muslim and I will find you 400 incidences of violence perpetrated by Muslims, in the name of Islam. Has a non-Muslim in the military killed Muslims? A Muslim writer killed by a non-Muslim over an book or cartoon? A non-Muslim suicide bomber killing only Muslims? The article tell of protest against the building of Mosques, has there ever been a Mosque blown up in the US? Muslims carry out violence everyday, but violence is never done to them.
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By: Tina on 8/09/2010 10:44PM
I agree. 9/11 happened because of 19 hijackers. What a statement (Blame Bush, how original)! Did the author blame Clinton for '93 WTC bombing or the attack on the USS Cole? They "knew" of Bin Laden's threats.
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By: SidtheKidSo many m on 8/09/2010 11:20PM
I am muslim and have been attacked by people ignorance. After 9/11 so many muslims were attacked all over the united states but after the Oklahoma City bombing nothing happened to CHRISTIANS. We have to remember that because someone might have been muslim ( it's a religion not an ethnicity and just because someone comes from the middle east doesn't make them muslim) does not mean that muslims are bad. Islam mean peace ( look up the definition). I wish you would open a book and stop believing in the ignorance the media portrays. Have you known a muslim? Have you talked to a muslim to get this info? NO than stop passing judgement on something you are ignorant about.
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By: blackbear72 on 8/09/2010 9:52PM
Islaophobia was created by 2 planes crashing into the twin towers. Two planes hijacked by a group of Muslims, every last one.
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By: Tina on 8/09/2010 10:34PM
What a poorly written article! What would you say if a skinhead group wanted to purchase a slain civil rights leader's old home? I think there would be protest (and rightly so). Explain why a mosque is being built when the buildings that were originally at the WTC site have not? This is not xenophobia. A mosque could be built anywhere, but this site was selected as an obvious victory symbol. They have built thousands of mosques over the areas of conquered Jewish (Temple Mount), Christian and Hindu holy sites. Tolerating the very ideology (not Islam, but radical Islam)that seeks to destroy you is crazy. But hey, it gives you a warm feeling inside.
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By: umm saa on 8/10/2010 1:12AM
people, wake up, critically think, open your eyes, read history...
firstly, islam & muslims have been interwoven in the fabric of this land before it was known as the u.s.a...many muslims traversed these lands, bartered with the inhabitants and even intermarried...look at the names of many places in the east, south and even the islands...they are derived from islamic names, why? because muslims have been here long before many europeans...even columbus wrote about seeing masjids and muslim artifacts on his journeys...so for some people to act as if islam is something new, they have it completely wrong - the people are new to understanding islam & its impact on this land...
secondly, as far as 9/11, there are too many conflicting stories, news reports, reports from bomb experts, eyewitness accounts, etc, for you all to still think muslims were responsible...wake up!
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