As one who wishes to be a functioning member of society I try to keep up on current events. I find myself watching a balance of news... with cartoons. The news is important when it comes to being up on the aforementioned current events, however it depresses me beyond belief at times. Other times it insights such a rage in me that I can't even fathom words to describe it. That's where the cartoons come in. Balancing the horrendous negative emotions with silly, animated ridiculousness. However, the news of late has been so heinous that the bright colors and vivid, whimsical motions of my favorite cartoons have provided little solace. I'm referring to one particular story and that is the issue revolving around the controversy surrounding the building of the Islamic Faith Center in New York.
The events of 9/11 were...indescribably horrible. I remember being in school and watching the events unfold and just the sheer disbelief I felt. The disbelief and sadness. Since that day, however, many have responded to certain events in such a way that has poured salt in the wounds left by that day in 2001.
The most recent, of course, is the protesting, hate speech, and sheer ignorance surrounding this issue in New York. The proposed multimillion dollar Islamic Center has been in the works since before the dreadful events of 9/11. Daisy Kahn, Executive Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, said “It is a center that will, number one, amplify the voice of the Muslims who are against extremists ideologies but also want to promote an understanding and remove ignorance of Islam.” But political figures on the Right such as Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and their supporters seem to be completely ignorant of the goal for this center. They choose to see this as some sort of affront to the victims of 9/11 and America in general.
Now, I can understand this response, to a very small degree, but everyone who is up in arms about must slow down and think this through from a human stand-point. This response comes, mainly, from a fear of the Muslim faith. A fear that is housed in ignorance. Something that this Islam Center will work to combat. But none of the protesters see that. None of them see that the attacks of 9/11 weren't just horrible for us over here but for Muslim's everywhere. The group that attacked the World Trade Center was an extremist group. They were a group of hateful individuals who just happened to be Muslims. They represent the entire faith much in the same way individuals like Scott Roeder, the extremist that murdered Dr. George Tiller, represent all Christians. The fact of the matter is that New York needs a place like this. The closer to Ground Zero the better. The only way we can grow and heal as a society, as human beings, is to increase our understanding and knowledge of the things that wrongfully scare us.
The only way to truly purify evil is through higher thinking. We must rise above ignorance and hate. If we do not, then we are no better than those who chose to give in to their hate on 9/11.
"But political figures on the Right such as Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and their supporters seem to be completely ignorant of the goal for this center. They choose to see this as some sort of affront to the victims of 9/11 and America in general."
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm sure they understand the point perfectly. They simply see the greater political capital they believe this will bring them as part of the fight in the midterms.
Yes, too many of us are looking to support the "team" we currently associate ourselves with: Left vs. Right, White vs. Black, Cowboys vs. Redskins. We get so caught up in the environment of us vs. them that we forget we are all part of the human race and as such should be working together on issues that affect us all instead of fighting on issues that make us different.
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