A discussion initiated by a friend of mine has brought to my attention the controversy in New York right now over whether to allow a mosque to be built a few blocks away from Ground Zero. Apparently this is a pretty high-profile issue the city at the moment.
I find it hard to conclude that the city government would be in the wrong, at least politically speaking, to deny permission to build the mosque, given the emotions conjured up by this issue and the repercussions that such a move could have.
That said, I believe that were NYC to decide, after appropriate deliberation and some semblance of consensus, that the mosque construction could go forward, it would constitute a tremendous act of moral courage and, in fact, a tremendous act of patriotism. Allowing the mosque to be built would say to Muslims that (1) we recognize the legitimacy of your religious tradition, (2) we recognize that your religion has been maligned and distorted by those who would coöpt it for their own hate, and (3) in solidarity with you and all whose identities and communities are misrepresented and perverted, we will help you build a better image of your faith and advance its inherent desire for peace, working for a future that we can share in common rather than hold in division.
As for patriotism, it would say (1) that America is wise enough to distinguish between those who want peace and those who want war (though this idea is by no means obvious to most of the world, due to our own foreign policy!), (2) that America is strong enough not to throw out that which works for good, for justice, and for peace in Islam with that which perverts it for the ends of evil, and (3) that America is a place that people of all faiths can share together and with pride.
Of course, from my personal perspective as a Christian, I support this as well, and even more strongly. I believe that the message of Christ reveals to us a God of infinite grace, of radical welcome, and of always-expanding love. How better to spread that message than to welcome with open arms those who often find themselves among the most maligned and marginalized in this country? Is there a better way to “love your neighbor as yourself”?
I believe, therefore, that not only should the city of New York allow this mosque to be built, but that the Christian community of New York should be among those most vocally in support of this effort.
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8 June 2010 at 16:10
anonymous
Your blogs are both pompous and annoying, and should be wiped off the face of this Earth.
8 June 2010 at 16:19
anonymous
just kidding
9 June 2010 at 04:30
Matt Shafer
Your anonymous criticism is both juvenile and irrelevant, but will nevertheless not be wiped off the face of this blog.
9 June 2010 at 21:12
Jeffrey Shiau
As a native of New York City, the schools I have attended were rather diverse. As a result, I grew up accustomed to a relatively peaceful coexistence between people of various religious backgrounds. This did not make me blind to the fact that religious animosity exists even in areas of diversity, but it does contribute to my initial surprise whenever I encounter one of these instances.
I am glad that the community board approved the plan in the end. In such a diverse country, the citizens should work to understand each other and their cultures and most of all, to accept other’s freedom to practice their own religion.