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Ground Zero Mosque. . . .Why Not?
By: Hawwii Gudeta
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and the Islamic community, is set to build a 100 million dollar mosque an Islamic cultural center, two blocks away from ground zero in the state of New York. This plan has raised heated controversy throughout the state. Citizens of New York and the family members of the victims from 9/11, feel as though this plan is a direct slap in the face. Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf the conductor of the mosque says, this plan has to be implemented because they want to portray to America what it is to be a true Muslim, and that the negative actions performed by the terrorists on 9/11 do not define the beliefs of Islam.
The word Jihad is the Arabic word for struggle or effort. The Holy Qur’an states that Jihad is the struggle or effort to strive in the path of God, unfortunately, the meaning of this word as been thrown into war in the name of religion. It has been perceived negatively by the terrorists of the Middle East and has now created a twisted meaning for the citizens of America. Rick Barber who is currently running for Alabama’s second congressional district, states that Jihad threatens our families, our freedoms and our way of life. He also says and I quote “the word Islam means surrender and if we do not elect candidates to stand up for what we believe in, then surrendering is exactly what we’ll be doing.” This is the exact issue that Americans deal with today. If this is the perception of a political candidate, you can imagine how Americans view the Islamic community as a whole.
I recently conducted surveys here in Toronto and asked people of the Muslim and non Muslim faith to tell me what they thought of the construction of the mosque at ground zero. A young lady from Scarborough said that the culture center would break the animosity Americans feel towards Muslims after the terrorist attacks. The young lady feels the attacks on 9/11 isolated and marginalized Muslims throughout America, especially in the state of New York. She states by building the mosque at ground zero it would effectively put the Islamic culture into the mainstream because of the location and it would bring about positive dialog and break any barriers Muslims face in society today.
Daisy Khan the wife of Iman Rauf and the executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement states “that the purpose of the Islamic center is to project a different message of Islam, one of tolerance and love”. Mrs. Khan says that Islam over the years has been used as a veneer to fulfill the needs of political agendas, which must come to a stop now. By having a mosque at ground zero it would be a complete blow to the extremists. It would show the terrorists that the Islamic community is condemning terrorism. The center would be dedicated to showing the nation what it is to be Muslim and what it is to be an American. Imam Rauf feels that the current need of Americans and the current need of the world are, to combat against terriosm; the couple believes it would portray a positive message about the Islamic faith globally. The building of the mosque is not to purposely offend families of the victims from 9/11. About three hundred Muslims died at the World Trade Center, so the Islamic community and the families of the Muslim victims understand the great loss in that respect. Imam Rauf and his colleagues at the Cordoba House, contacted F.B.I. agencies right after 9/11 took place, to ensure that these extreme acts of violence is stopped within their community. Essentially the goal is to eventually come together and end any negative ideas Americans have towards Muslims and to also end any negative ideas Muslims have towards Americans.
So do you think America needs an Islamic cultural center right at ground zero? Well, why not? The center would be open to the public; which in turn would be extremely beneficial for other faith communities because this gives them a chance to learn about the commonalities their religion shares with one another. The plan would also strip the label off of Muslims in America as second class citizens. By purposing reasons to not build the center, only intensifies any hatred presently brewing among the nation. Opposing the cultural center would show Americans that separation between different cultures and religions is tolerated. If you are a person that practices a certain faith, whether you are Christian or a Jew, you understand that this will bring communities together and it would positively bring about actions of peace and non-violence. There are several similarities and differences between religions but in the end the message among these religions is transparent; the devotion to God, peace, and love for all humanity.
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