Mosque at ground zero

By Jim Killebrew

[October 08, 2014]  Some time ago my friend sent me a picture painted on the back of a truck that was said to have been taken at some NASCAR event. The picture depicted the World Trade Center in New York City still standing, but with the smoke and flames burning from where the planes struck them just prior to their crashing down to the ground. Beside the picture was a sign of an Islamic man depicting the assurance that Islam was a religion of "peace." I am sure the painter of that picture and the owner of that truck intended for people to see the truck and picture and think about what happened on 9/11. More than that, however, they were making a statement about a religion that is shared by millions of people around the world.

Many might say that the word “Islam” should not be depicted in the same picture that shows the horror of the burning of the World Trade Center on 9/11. It seems to paint a broad picture that perhaps unfairly, microscopically narrows a religion practiced by millions of people to a relatively small group of extremely radicalized zealots whose aim is not to worship, but to destroy.

Perhaps it was only coincidence that the accompanying email with this picture’s sentiment arrived in my mailbox on the day President Obama raised the national debate of the building of a Mosque and Islamic Civic Center near the 9/11 ground zero site to the level of the Oval Office. Nevertheless, the President moved it from a “local” debate to a national one. The news story reported the following:

“WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama forcefully endorsed allowing a mosque near ground zero, saying the country's founding principles demanded no less.

‘As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country.’

Obama made the comments at an annual dinner in the White House State Dining Room celebrating the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.”

“It was already much more than that [a local issue just at New York City], sparking debate around the country as top Republicans including Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich announced their opposition. So did the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group.”

The President’s statements in support included,

"As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country."

"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," he said. "This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable." And finally, "Our capacity to show not merely tolerance, but respect towards those who are different from us – and that way of life, that quintessentially American creed, stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked us on that September morning, and who continue to plot against us today."

“President Obama elevated it to a presidential issue without equivocation.”
 

It seems like our President knows a lot more about Islam than that guy who painted this truck. I just wonder if in other world capitals where Islam is the national religion if they are willing to be as tolerant toward Christians.

Let's take the President's words and see if the Muslim world leaders would repeat them about Christianity. Let's pretend the leader of ISIL is standing in the General Assembly at the United Nations and uses the President's words to address the world:

"As a citizen, and as a leader of Islam, I believe that Christians have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), or any other Islamic country," And again,

"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Mecca, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," the Islam leader said. "This is ISIS [or Saudi Arabia], and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable." And finally,

"Our capacity to show not merely tolerance, but respect towards those who are different from us – and that way of life, that quintessentially ISIS or Saudi Arabian creed, stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of those who attacked the United States on that September morning, and who continue to plot against them today."

If the President had actually believed that those Islamic capitals and leaders would have followed suit by his example, then perhaps that debate could have turned into a victory for Christianity. But this is 2014 and nothing could be further from the truth.
 

We understand things like children being raised in a family taking on the values of that family as they grow up.

We understand that prejudice is overcome when a prejudice person becomes personally involved with the targeted group and becomes close friends with others in that group.

We understand that ideology taught to children at an early age will be embraced as a life-style for the majority of those children as they grow to adulthood.

With all that foundational belief, it never ceases to amaze me that so many Americans continue to believe even in the face of the jihadist activities from the radicalized Islamic ideology, that Islam somehow is a religion of "peace."

[By JIM KILLEBREW]