America, Land of the...?

The title is a question because the United States seems to be a bit confused on what it wants to be.

I always grew up thinking that the U.S. was the Land of the Free. To me, free meant the opportunity to do as one pleased (of course, I was 5 when I stepped foot here so I was free as much as my mum allowed me to be). My interpretation of this phrase means that any citizen can do and say as he or she pleases so long as it doesn't violate local laws. That includes freedom to worship (so build the Park 51 mosque).

Unfortunately, it also means that people are free to hate. Irrational hatred has and always will exist, but 2010 is different. Now we have Twitter, Blogger, and a variety of other sites connecting us to potential (mis)information. In addition, a large percentage of the U.S. population probably has regular access to information on the Internet. So, all of a sudden, a fringe group that may enjoy the backing of 50 individuals could gain access to millions. Suddenly, a fringe group's activities are a rallying point for irrational hatred.

Enter the Dove World Outreach Center a 50-member (Evangelical) church in Gainesville, Flordia. They plan to burn Korans on 11 September. Thereby perpetuating the Islamophobia griping some, most?, of this country - where people somehow believe the actions of less than 20 persons spoke for a religion of well over a billion people.

On a blog post entitled "Ten Reasons to Burn a Koran," the author simply mixes personal assessment with a cursory discussion of the religion. "Reason" 9 reads "Deep in the Islamic teaching and culture is the irrational fear and loathing of the West." Those 50 members must have logged some significant frequent flier miles canvassing the entire world's Muslim population. Or they didn't, perhaps they were talking about themselves and got the order mixed up?

Besides stirring the pot of irrational hatred and extremism, the Dove World Outreach Center is getting some free publicity. What better way to recruit new members than with a controversial campaign? But at what cost?

GEN Petraeus in Afghanistan thinks that the Dove Center's recruitment drive is going to cost military lives and has condemned the event. I'm guessing the far-right will only pay lip service to its concern for the men and women in the military who may become causalities. If anything, causalities will just be held up as martyrs and proof that they were right all along.

As a side note, and a lead-up for the next post. Why is nobody discussing the growing numbers of converts to Islam among long-established populations in the U.S.? I get the sense that there's been more than a few conversions to Islam. Does this mean that these people are also enemies of the far-right? Do they no longer have the right to worship wherever they choose, be it in Gainesville, FL or at Park 51 in New York City, NY?

Just build the NYC cultural center and mosque

Any person or group can build anything, anywhere (within the law of city ordinances).

Unlike Charles Krauthammer, I don't believe that the actions of al-Qaeda crazies speak for the majority of Muslims. The actions of al-Qaeda don't even speak for those Muslims who may considered themselves Islamist. In fact, what al-Qaeda does speak for is a crazed band of murderers who are holding a Holy Book in one hand and a weapon in the other. That so many people are willing to, and allowing themselves to, associate al-Qaeda with over a billion other people is dumbfounding.

The Islamophobia gripping this country (as well as Western Europe) is getting a bit out of hand. France is instituting dress codes (not to mention deporting Roma), and the United Kingdom is having a fantastic time installing security cameras in predominately Muslim neighborhoods. According to polls, 60 to 70 percent of people in the United States disagree with building the cultural center-cum-mosque in NYC (this was in a Washington Post Metro Express paper on 20 August).

And do you know what else? There already is a mosque within a half mile (between 4 and 5 blocks) from the former site of the World Trade Center. Masjid Manhattan (masjid = mosque in Arabic) has been in the area since 1970. Of course, I don't know if they've occupied the same space, but I'm sure a tax revenue database search will clear that up. On a side note, it's sad that the masjid finds it necessary to state that it is not affiliated with any organization "to build anything new in the area of downtown Manhattan." Further, it's sad that they must also state two paragraph later that they, and their members, "condemn any type of terrorist acts." Perhaps the websites of catholic churches should carry similar disclaimers; that their resident priests are not pedophiles (St. Patrick's in D.C. does not). Or perhaps members of Congress should carry disclaimers stating that they are ethical).

Which brings me to my last point: this is an election year, congressional midterms. So rather than proposing new plans for growing jobs AND the economy, or for "winning" Afghanistan, nationalist strategists (both Democrat and Republican) would rather make electoral issues based on victimizing "the others." Between "illegals" and "Muslims," the nationalists have plenty to gripe about.