The "Mosque" "at" Ground Zero, Installment #1

First, some housekeeping.  I know the images pasted into my last post are not appearing.  This is simply because Earthling blog tech is still in its infancy and I shall remedy it as soon as I figure out what I’m doing wrong.

Now, new topic.  The “mosque” (which is not a mosque) “at” (though it is nowhere in sight of) Ground Zero, item #11 on the growing list.

On my home planet, one of our founding laws states that the government “…shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…  …or the right of the people peaceably to assemble...”  It is probably why I think the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America is such a nifty thing (see post #1).  On my planet, this is a precious, jealously guarded right.  It is treated as if it were impossibly fragile because so often in our history, as I gather is also the case in your world, it has proven so easy to destroy.  Children on my world of all creeds are taught from a very young age to react to any threat to anyone’s, even a stranger’s, rights to freedom of religion and peaceful assembly as if that threat were made to them personally.  For, at least on my planet, and certainly among all the astronauts serving aboard all its spaceships, we understand that we hold all our lives in each other’s hands; that, if I do not zealously defend my fellow citizen’s and crewmate’s basic inalienable rights, I should have no expectation that anyone will protect mine.

I have recently had the opportunity to correspond with someone, an Earth woman, about the hubbub downtown.  While acknowledging that legally there is nothing she can do to stop the planned installation of the Musilm Park 51 cultural center two blocks (and around a corner) from Ground Zero, she insists that the commitment to go through with the building is “tacky” and that “They” are being inconsiderate of  “us” (she actually uses these words) and our sensitivities in the aftermath of 9/11.

When pressed, she claims that she harbors no ill will towards Muslim’s per se.  However, she insists that a Muslim center 2 blocks (forget that you can’t even see it) from Ground Zero would pose an affront to anyone who suffered loss in that calamity.  She suggests that 10 blocks might be a minimum distance to contemplate such a center, but implies that no matter where it was placed, it would rub salt in our national wounds. Had she the ability to do so, she would tell “Them” not to build where they intend to build.  Because they are Muslim.

Forgetting the numerous ways in which these positions are offensive, contradictory and, in part, nonsensical, I could not help think of a scenario parents use to teach young children on my world the basic meaning of religious tolerance.  I’ll rephrase here using the particulars of this situation.

Keep in mind (as I mentioned) that we all hold each other’s lives in our hands, and that this blade cuts both ways.  If you are among the many, many people who acknowledge the Park 51 group have a legal right to build at 45-41 Park Place, but who support – even if only in words – the campaign to make them move from the location, you may, today, indeed succeed in intimidating, coercing or cajoling the project into going elsewhere.  But what happens when, some day, your basic rights, or your very life, or the rights and/or lives of your children, depend on the goodwill of a Muslim?  When some loud majority of strangers of another faith try to stop you from having your house of worship in place X because they find it offensive, how will you explain your actions of today to the Muslim neighbor you may then desperately depend on for help?  Will you be able to say, “Hey, friend, remember when I had your back down at Park 51?  I need your help now.”? 

On my planet, every Muslim knows that he or she has a right… a RIGHT… to expect me to hide them in my basement to be safe from ethnic or religious violence.  And I know I enjoy that same right among them. I ask you, Earthling, when they come for you, and the only door you find belongs to a Muslim whom you told today, “Move your mosque where it doesn’t offend my sensibilities,” will you have the temerity to knock and demand safe haven?  They may offer it to you, but I’m not sure you will have the right to expect it.