The hysteria surrounding the proposed plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero in New York has created an emotional situation that is fueled by prejudgments, irrationality and a lack of fact checking. When President Barack Obama decided to weigh in on the controversy less than a week ago, it created a media and political firestorm that caused citizens to express disdain or approval for the Ground Zero mosque.
Right-wingers such as Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin believe that the proposed plan would be disrespectful to the families of the victims who were killed on Sept. 11. Other prominent politicians such as Harry Reid, D-Nev., have also disagreed with President Obama. Protestors have lined the streets of New York with signs that read, “No Mosque at a War Memorial,” and “Stop the ‘Islamization’ of America.” On this year’s anniversary of Sept. 11, a church in Gainesville, Fla., is planning to burn a Holy Koran.
Seriously, how did we get to this point? The entire controversy started back in December 2009 by a right-wing extremist named Pamala Gellier. Gellier believes that Obama is the son of Malcolm X and thinks that Islam encourages violence.
However, Gellier and other individuals who make irrational statements regarding the proposed mosque at Ground Zero have not educated themselves on the facts. First of all, the “Ground Zero mosque” is not a mosque. It will be a community center two blocks away from Ground Zero that will feature culinary arts classes, an athletic center and a prayer room.
The individuals who are building the Islamic center are not members of al-Qaida. The terrorists responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks were extremists who happened to be Muslim. Al-Qaida has less than 3,000 members worldwide. According to a study by Pew Research Center, there are 1.3 billion Muslims worldwide. To presume that all Muslims represent the thoughts of a small group like al-Qaida is as insane as believing that all Christians think like the KKK.
However, myopic thinkers will continue to spew hatred and disregard the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants religious freedom. The controversy surrounding the “Ground Zero Mosque” has little to do with what took place on Sept. 11. It reveals how propaganda and lack of education can create a situation that gets out of control. –amir shaw
