I certainly do not support the anti-Islamic sentiments that are rising, fanned by agenda-laden groups and individuals who just hate Islam and Muslims. I also do not consider the land of "Ground Zero" as sacred. If that is the case, then we should consider thousands of parcels of land throughout the world as "sacred," if death and destruction are what turns land into something nearing a divine nature.
My opposition to this center is based on several points.
First, our duty as Muslims is to call others to Islam with knowledge and excellent behavior and speech, as Allah orders in the Qur'an. Seeing how sensitive the location of the Cordoba Center is and the overwhelming polls showing objection to its location, why court with this emotionalism that is also being whipped up by "special interest Islamophobes"? Moving to a new location is not losing a battle but using wisdom in revealing the mercy of Islam and Muslims by recognizing how sensitive the issue is.
In several blogs I have read many comments supporting the rights of Muslims to establish a place of worship, yet many felt it insensitive to build an Islamic center so close to the "Ground Zero." I agree and see this more as a provocation than an exercise of our rights and a proof that a Muslim can be a "good American" too. A good Muslim is a good citizen anywhere in the world he or she resides. Creating such hard feelings will make giving the message of Islam more difficult and I do not believe it will be overcome by trying to make a Muslim-flavored "YMCA" type of organization.
Second, it is amazing to find an Islamic organization with $100 million or the ability to raise such a staggering sum. There are many struggling Islamic schools in America that find it very difficult just to raise a few thousand dollars. I believe supporting these schools, especially those providing accredited education is far more important than a multipurpose, multicultural center with an indoor swimming pool in lower Manhattan, which is not a highly populated residential neighborhood.
Third, with such virulent opposition why pump so much money into the local economy? There are calls for construction workers not to work in this project. If those workers are so well-off financially then don't work, but for those who need employment, especially during the economic crisis affecting New York like other cities, then build where the community welcomes the center and let them benefit from its construction and likely spin-off businesses that may be supported by such a center.
Last, the anti-Islamic trend making Islam- and Muslim-bashing acceptable, if not fashionable reeks of Klu Klux Klan (KKK)-like behavior. The difference, there is no need to hide under masks and hoods. While this open opposition to Islam and Muslims becomes more widespread and acceptable, I believe it will not be long before physical confrontation will ensue. It is being primed by some of the hard-core Islam-haters. Recently, a Houston radio talk show called for the Cordoba Center to be bombed if it is opened. It is not difficult to envision, particularly as there are now calls for these KKK-like (or actual members) individuals to harass Muslims while they are praying in mosques as what happened in Connecticut recently by a group from Dallas and national opposition to any mosques being built. Civil rights work to protect and further the rights of Muslims is important and indeed has been helpful, but fighting for this center, in my opinion, is a costly diversion from the day-to-day issues that Muslims face in America.
Pushing this center to prove a political point about the American Constitution and the rights of the Muslims does not require this type of costly folly with brewing opposition that is set to include expensive legal challenges and as I believe eventual violence whose costs may go well beyond the exorbitant price tag for this center. Nor does Islam need a Martin Luther King symbol to further its cause.
The pure, simple and divine message sent down by Allah to His Final Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) is that there is "No god but the One True God, Allah, and only Allah is deserving of worship and Muhammad is the Final Messenger of Allah and a servant of Allah." The method prescribed by Allah and His Messenger in giving this message is sufficient.
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