Just Between Us
by Steve Tandy

September 5, 2010

TO MOSQUE OR NOT TO MOSQUE?

Although the national news furor over the Ground Zero mosque controversy has died down considerably, I’m sure it will continue to be a hot topic locally in New York City. Since I’m no expert on Islam or NYC zoning regulations, I don’t intend to enter the fray with this column. (All I know is what I hear on the news – and not all of that is fair and balanced.) I did notice something amazing in the August 22nd Wichita Eagle, however, that might be instructional for us to consider.

The Eagle filled half of the Opinion page with “Four views on mosque.” They had four religious leaders from Wichita opine on the controversy – a Methodist, a Jew, a Unitarian Universalist, and a Muslim. The Methodist and Jew were in total favor of building the mosque. They used phrases such as these to describe the people who were against building a mosque at Ground Zero: “narrow-minded intolerance,” “The suspicion and ignorance and fear are tangible.” The Unitarian didn’t really take a position – which I guess would be the preferred position for a Universalist. He did speak of “so-called Christians” who exhibit “irrational and hateful behavior,” and pronounced them “Christian in name only,” but he never really said where he stood on the question. He did manage to encourage “ministers, reverends, priests, rabbis, imams, ayatollahs, roshis, senseis, lamas, yogis, gurus, and shamans” to develop universal compassion. (Wow, sounds like he really is a universalist!)

Now, here’s the interesting part. The only writer clearly against building such a mosque was the Muslim. Mr. Maher Musleh is the coordinator of Muslim Public Affairs Council, Wichita chapter. Mr. Musleh wrote, “As an American Muslim, I believe building a mosque in the vicinity of ground zero is un-Islamic, as the Quran compels Muslims to repel evil with good.” He went on to say that those Muslims who own the property should use it as a charitable institution and “dedicate the building to fund scholarships to benefit the kids of Sept. 11 victims.” He also said he was “appalled by the shortsightedness and the colossal error in judgment” behind the decision to build a mosque there.

Can you guess which one of the four writers put on his thinking cap before opening his mouth? The other three started pontificating about rights and prejudices and ignorance without much forethought. (Political correctness will make you do that…) One way to force yourself to think is to imagine yourself in another’s shoes. So, suppose some ultra-wacky Church of Christ member blew up the village of Eastborough and claimed he did it for the glory of the Church of Christ. I can’t imagine proposing that we build a nice new Church of Christ building on the spot as an outreach. That seems like a “colossal error in judgment,” even though it might be legal. I think Mr. Musleh got it right, and I applaud him for having the courage to say so.