Hard Hat, Hard Heart?

There are a lot of mosque protesters on the internet, but I found one campaign that really made me think more about this debate: The 9/11 Hard Hat Pledge.
The campaign, started by Andy Sullivan, a lifelong New Yorker and a "hard hat" himself, urges construction workers in the NYC area to refuse to work on the construction of the Ground Zero mosque.

What struck me about this group is that they acknowledge that Muslims have the right to build a mosque. Some groups in opposition don't even recognize that there is a constitutional right to build a mosque here. What the campaign does believe is that building a mosque at Ground Zero is insensitive since Ground Zero is a "cemetery" to those Americans who lost their lives on 9/11. Here is an excerpt from the website:

"As Americans, we acknowledge Imam Feisal Rauf's 'right' to build a mosque. That is not the issue. But for most Americans, it is wholly contradictory of the Ground Zero Mosque developers to claim that it will be a center of “inter-faith” relations... when implicit in the term 'inter-faith' is the fundamental notion of respect and sensitivity to those of other faiths and to those who view the Ground Zero area as a cemetery."

To me, this argument is flawed. Yes, "inter-faith" does imply respect, sensitivity, and tolerance to other religions, but 9/11 was driven by extremism, not a religion. Islam did not cause 9/11, a radial way of thinking did. Many Americans lost their lives on  9/11, and included in that group is Muslim Americans. I think acknowledging that Muslim Americans ARE Americans too and that they experienced loss and tragedy just like the rest of us did is truly what having respect and sensitivity to other faiths is all about. And what better way to acknowledge this respect by building an interfaith community center with a mosque included?

The website also gives anyone with a passion for this campaign the option to be a part of it. When users "Act Now," people can send postcards that state the cause of The Hard Hat Pledge to President Obama, NY Legislatures, and NY media figures, a total of 20 people. They also had the option to send post cards to lawmakers in their hometowns. The post cards cost $1.65 a piece, and there were discounts to those who bought more than 10.

What I don't understand is if you believe in this cause so badly, how can you make money of it? To me, this is wrong. It's one thing to ask for donations, and it's one thing if this is a nonprofit cause. But there's no way the production of the card and the postage itself amount to $1.65 per card. Talk about insensitivity.

After seeing this website, I wanted to see the Hard Hat Pledge Facebook page. The information on the page is very similar to the information on the website. At the time of this posting, the page had 2,163 fans. A lot of these fans didn't appear to be in the construction industry I was curious as to what made people who were not involved in the construction industry join this pledge. I interviewed a fan named Kathy Crawley. Kathy is not a construction worker, but her husband and son are union workers. Kathy was a pleasure to interview, but even she as a fan of this page, she wasn't entirely sure about who was involved in the Hard Hat Pledge and what construction industries were involved in the campaign. What did strike me though was her passion. When I asked her what made her take an interest in helping the Hard Hat Pledge's message, her response was,

"[W]hat made me join is that my husband and son are both union and refuse to work on the 'The Cordoba Initiative.' We all feel very strongly about it, having lost friends at the WTC. Our neighborhood is blue collar and with many fire fighter and police officers as neighbors, I feel that their pain and loss."

Kathy and I may not see eye to eye on the Ground Zero Mosque debate, but her response has made me more sensitive to those who oppose the location because of their past pain. Kathy knows firsthand what it feels like to lose somebody she cares about in such a tragic, and my heart goes out to her. What worries me is that campaigns like The Hard Hat Pledge play on these emotions.We will always remember those lives lost on 9/11, and we will always feel saddened by the events of that day.

I understand why people join a campaign like The Hard Hat Pledge, but sending a bunch of postcards to lawmakers isn't going to erase the pain. And where are the profits going? I hope they are helping those who are still struggling with this tragedy in some way. Having a community center and mosque two blocks away will never change the sadness we feel, but it will strengthen our ability as Americans to honor all those lives lost during 9/11 whether there were Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, or Muslim Americans.

DN! Imam Rauf Moving Islamic Center Will Strengthen Radicals

Imam Rauf also explains in this interview that he thinks Islamophobia is on the rise in America. Do you agree with him? How do you think we can start changing the way people see Muslim Americans?

Two Sides of The Debate, One Flawed Mentality

It's no secret that there has been a lot of people in favor of moving the mosque site further than two blocks from Ground Zero, but the idea of  putting a mosque on Ground Zero is starting to gain some momentum too. This idea really gained publicity by Michael Moore, who is a strong proponent of a mosque on Ground Zero. Michael Moore says in an interview with Wolf Blitzer, "The America I believe in is an America that is generous in spirit and not one that wants to attack people because of their religious faith." He also says that building a mosque on Ground Zero will help Muslims "restore the good name of their faith," a faith that was "hijacked" on September 11. In a post on MichaelMoore.com, Michael is quoted as asking people to donate to the current location's building fund, and he also says that he will match those donations with $10,000 of his own money.

Steven Prothero, a religion scholar at Boston University, shares Moore's view by also supporting a mosque on Ground Zero. In his blog post on CNN.com, Prothero says,

 "I believe a small mosque ought to be integrated into the redesign of the World Trade Center site itself — a reminder in steel and stone that the United States is not at war either with Islam or with our core values."

He also says, "... New York City is a place where people are free to be their own idiosyncratic selves, to do their own idiosyncratic things and to hallow whatever they find holy, even in a space as public as a Fifth Avenue Sidewalk."

As much as I agree with Moore and Prothero, I think supporters of the mosque are missing the point a bit. Yes, muslims have a right to practice their religion freely. Yes, they should have a place of worship in the new Word Trade Center site. Yes, they have a right to reclaim the good name their religion once had. But it's not just about their religion and their rights. It's about all of our rights as citizens of this country. I know my blog is titled, "Investigating the Ground Zero Mosque Debate," and maybe I am being hypocritical for including "Ground Zero Mosque" in the title because the site of the proposed mosque, is much  more than just a proposed mosque, it's a proposed community center. It's a community center with plans to welcome those from other religions with open arms. It's a place for recreation, worship, meeting, and learning from people who are different from ourselves. I think that we as citizens have a right to integrate all religions, races, and cultural values together. That's what makes us grow as people, and America grow in cultural wealth.

While Moore and Prothero make great points about Muslims having the right to practice their religion freely and wherevery they choose, I think the flawed "us verus them" mentality is prevalent amongst supporters and opponents of the mosque site. Many Islamic supporters of the mosque are Muslim Americans. Essentially, It is our right as Americans to practice the religion we choose, it is not their right to practice what they choose. The people behind Park 51 got it right- to make a place for all citizens to come together no matter what they believe. I think that's what truly makes a place hallowed ground because, sadly, it's a rareity in this country anymore.

President Clinton on plans for mosque near Ground Zero

Bill Clinton says that the Ground Zero mosque would spark much less of a debate if those who build it dedicate the building to the Muslims who lost their lives on 9/11. What do you think?

Have We Lost Sight of Our Country's Values?

After reading some blogs about the location of the Ground Zero Mosque, I decided to write what I think about its location and the controversy surrounding it. One blog post in particular got me really thinking. It was a post made by a man named Foster Kamer titled, Dear Rest-of-America: Take This Map, It's Why You're Wrong About the "Ground Zero Mosque."

In his post, Kamer uploaded a map of Ground Zero and some of the establishments in close proximity. He also posted some pictures another blogger took of stores and restaurants really close to the proposed mosque's site. Some of these buildings include a Burger King, a Gentleman's Club, an Offtrack Betting Place, and a Dunkin' Donuts. Even though I think that this blogger could have made his brilliant point in a more respectable manner (his language was a little crude in my opinion), Kamer raises a good point. We let a Gentleman's club and greasy fast food joints clutter the area surrounding Ground Zero, but we fight about a place of culture and religious worship.

It saddens me that nobody makes a fuss about a Gentleman's Club being so close to Ground Zero. I find it way more disrespectful that women sell their self-respect for money so close to a place where American values should be held to their highest standards.

Also, according to Henry Blodget's article, there was a Muslim prayer room on the 17th floor of the World Trade Center. The fact that there was a Muslim prayer room in the World Trade Center shows just how much this tragedy affected every American no matter what their race or religion may be. As Blodget reminds us,"On September 11th, 2001, when a handful of terrorists flew planes into the towers, some of the folks who used the room evacuated in time. Others probably didn't."

Also if the World Trade Center promoted religious diveristy, why can't Ground Zero promote the same values? If we're really intent on keeping Ground Zero such a sacred and symbolic place, then we should focus more on promoting the equality and opportunity that lie in our country's foundation and less on our differences. Differences make the United States such a great place to live and learn from each other, and they shouldn't be used to alienate a religion that shares more similarities with Christianity than many people think.

Pastor confirms Koran bonfire is cancelled

I know that Terry Jones cancelled his plans to burn the Koran on September 11 on Friday, but this video describes Terry Jones motives for cancelling the Koran burning.

Who is Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf?

This is a great video for learning more about why Imam Feisal Abdul Raul wants to build a mosque near Ground Zero and build a bridge that allows all religions to coexist peacefully.

Koran Burning: An Exercised Right to Freedom of Speech or a Removal of Religious Freedom?

When I read that there was an International Burn a Koran Day Facebook group in an MSNBC.com article, I had to see it for myself. I couldn't even bring myself to log into my Facebook account to view this group. It would make  me sick to my stomach if this group could be traced back to my account name somehow. Instead, I managed to view it without having to login to my account. The group's homepage stated that the event would take place at the Dove Outreach Center at Gainesville, FL from 6-9 PM on September 11. Their mission stated:

"...to bring awareness to the dangers of Islam and that the Koran is leading people to hell. Eternal fire is the only destination the Koran can lead people to so we want to put the Koran in its place-the fire!"

As of 1:50 on September 9, the group had 14,382 fans. 

The leader of the Koran burning ceremony, Reverend Terry Jones,  preaches an Anti-Islamic philosophy and has even written a book Islam is of the Devil to help spread his message to the public. In a CNN interview, posted in a previous post, Jones said that the constitution gives him the right to publicly set fire to the Koran. Also, the CNN Wire Staff said that while Mayor Bloomberg finds the ceremony 'distasteful,' he believes that Reverend Jones has the right to hold the ceremony due to the right to Freedom of Speech.

Due to Government pressure, public pleas, and heavy fees, Reverend Terry Jones has decided to cancel this event. The New York Times reports that Reverend Jones even has plans to meet with Imam Feisal  Abdul Rauf, the Imam who proposed the building of the mosque/community center.  

I understand that everybody in this country has a right to free speech, but they also have a write to freely practice their religion too.  A formal ceremony to burn the Koran on September 11 is a violation of the right to freedom of religion. A ceremony of this proportion instills fear in and berates Muslims. They may fear practicing their religion in public, and no Americans should be fearful of practicing what they believe. If a group has the will to reach 14,000 people and motivate them to help burn Korans, then what else are they capable of doing later? What if the mosque/community center near Ground Zero does get built? What backlash would ensue after that? There has to be a line drawn between exercising one's freedom and taking away others' rights to their freedom.

Although I do not agree with Reverend Jones' beliefs at all, I understand that he has a right to state his opinions. If he wanted to hold a three hour event to preach why he thinks that Islam is evil, government and citizens do not have the right to stop him. However, burning Korans is an attack on a religion and prohibits Muslims from freely practicing their religion. If the Koran burning ceremony did occur, it would not be the exercise of a right to free speech, it would instead be the removing of a right to religious freedom.  Also, if a group of Muslims publicly burned Bibles, many Christians would try to take legal action against them. And I guarantee that they would believe that their rights have been violated. It's time we learn to put ourselves in others' shoes; we'll be able to see things much more clearly that way.

What do you think? Do you think that Reverend Jones is protected by the First Amendment to hold the Koran burning ceremony?

Imam defends Islamic center

U.S. Church plans Quran burning event on 9/11

Ground Zero Islamic Center Debate

Ground Zero Mosque Debate: The Basics

The proposed location of the Ground Zero Mosque

This blog further investigates the Ground Zero mosque controversy. Muslims have proposed the building of a mosque and community center two blocks away from the Ground Zero site. This proposal sparked a heated debate. Many people are protesting the mosque. They believe that Islamic extremists were responsible for the attacks and that the building of the Ground Zero mosque is disrespectful to Americans as a result. Others believe that Muslims have a right to practice their religion freely no matter where the location of their mosques may be. 

Actually, the Ground Zero Mosque is much more than a mosque. The following passage was taken from Wikipedia. You can find the full article here.

"Park51, originally named Cordoba House (and referred to as the "Ground Zero mosque"), is a planned 13-story, glass and steel Islamic community center and mosque, to be located about two blocks from the World Trade Center site,^[5][6] in Lower Manhattan.^[7] The facility's design includes a 500-seat auditorium, theater, performing arts center, fitness center, swimming pool, basketball court, childcare area, bookstore, culinary school, art studio, food court, September 11 memorial, and prayer space that could accommodate 1,000–2,000 people.^[8][5] The center would replace an existing 1850s Italianate-style building that was damaged in the September 11 attacks.
Although the Park51 building would not be visible from the World Trade Center site,^[9] opponents of the Park51 project have claimed, among other things, that building a mosque so close to "ground zero" is offensive to the victims and the families of the victims of the 2001 World Trade Center attack, and that the building itself would serve as a victory memorial to Islam. Supporters respond that this argument is based on the idea that Islam is responsible for the terrorist attack, which is offensive to Muslims.
Opponents have also argued that the project should not be built because most Americans, including most residents of New York State and New York City (though not most residents of Manhattan), oppose it. Most Americans and residents of New York State do, however, support the legal right of the Park51 developers to proceed with the project."

Do you think that Muslims have a right to practice there religion this close to Ground Zero? Doest banning the building of the mosque violate Amendment 1? (Amendment 1 states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." In other words, Amendment 1 gives us the right to practice whatever religion we like and wherever we choose to practice it.) What cultural implications does the banning of the mosque imply?

I will investigate these questions and more on this blog, and I look forward to hearing what you have to say as well.