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Imam Abdul Rauf Says The Mosque Debate Is Good For Islam Relations, What Do You Think?

by Jon Bershad | 7:19 pm, August 23rd, 2010

» 10 comments

At the center of the debate over the proposed Islam cultural center a few blocks from Ground Zero is the Imam behind the project, Abdul Rauf. Over the course of the debate, he and his wife have been depicted as both heros and terrorists, (sometimes by the same people). Throughout the debate, the Imam has kept fairly quiet, however an interview published today with the Bahraini newspaper, Al Wasat, is filled with his thoughts on the ubiquitous controversy. His remarks, of course, will be twisted and turned by people on both sides of the fight.

Some of his comments, given during a U.S. State Department funded tour of the Middle East with emissaries of other faiths to promote religious tolerance, one would expect would be embraced by all Americans were they said by anyone else in any other situation like where he favorably compared our form of government to those in that area of the world.

From the Associated Press:

“‘American Muslims have the right to practice their religion in accordance with the Constitution of the United States,” Rauf said. ‘I see the article of independence as more compliant with the principles of Islam than what is available in many of the current Muslim countries.’”

Very nice of him to say, obviously. However, his comments on the current backlash may be hard for even the “Ground Zero Mosque’s” supporters to agree with. Rauf claims that he sees all the attention that the project is getting as a sign of success. That’s an interesting idea.

The debate has clearly brought to the surface a lot of uneasiness that many Americans have with Islam. This, in theory could be a good thing and it has been in some cases. Discussions have been held about the reasons (besides the obvious extremist violence) that Americans don’t trust one of the most popular religions in the world (it’s treatment of women and gays, et al). However, this conversation, with the flashy “Ground Zero Mosque” tag, has been a late summer ratings boom for news outlets and, as such, has frequently been boiled down to the most simplistic of terms (“Muslims want building, Normal Americans don’t” or “Muslims want building, Racists don’t”) and that has fueled hatred on both sides.

The Imam has always said that he wanted this project to inspire dialogue between Islam and the western world. That has happened. However, much of that dialogue has turned very, very ugly. This could all end up being a necessary bump in the road towards peaceful cohabitation but it’s getting hard for the cynics amongst us (this writer included) to see a light at the end of the tunnel. If the whole thing just ends up causing anger and hatred, both sides will inevitably blame the other (“You should have let them build it, bigots!” or “They shouldn’t have wanted to build it there in the first place, idiots”) and both will kind of be right and it will all just be pretty sad. As we seem to draw closer and closer to that outcome, the Imam’s comments are starting to sound a little naive.

Al Wasat, Ground Zero Mosque, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Imam Rauf, Mosque, Mosques

Azarkhan

“What Do You Think?”

I pray to Allah that Imam Rauf continues with his absurd plan until Nov. 2.
Pablo

I think Rauf ought to start his bridge building with his wife.
moneymack

Azarkhan said:
“What Do You Think?”

I pray to Allah that Imam Rauf continues with his absurd plan until Nov. 2.

you can be snide with your pray to Allah comment but Nov. 2 just may be your worst day of the year.
alamo2

Azarkhan said:
“What Do You Think?” I pray to Allah that Imam Rauf continues with his absurd plan until Nov. 2.

While the Iman’s comments may be naive, yours are plan nasty.
Raygun

This is just gonna end in sadness for all involved. The imam is clearly doing it with the nicest intentions.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/08/ground-zero-imam-i-am-a-jew-i-have-always-been-one/61761/
Mr B

If he is a jew then he shouldn’t have a problem condemning the terrorist organization Hamas then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ12z7odWiQ
jk76

I miss the non-partisan opinions….like maybe june or early july, alot of peeps on TV had opposite opinion and reasons and just calmly said them. Then the media were like, hmmm let’s keep pushing and asking people until we get responses that make people watch/read/look-up. You can always find someone with an extreme view on anything.

I’m glad alot of people still remember 9/11 and that it’s ok to question Islam since we can see it all over the world and of recent past actions. I think a good amount of people that are pro-near-gz-cc/mosque are for it to spite their ‘enemies’ in the opposition, also as a side note tend to bash Christianity. Also for the politicos a possible voting bloc. I’m cynical, skeptical, and analytical by nature. Half-emtpy =)

Might as well talk about it now and not when the next big thing happens. I’m agnostic btw in case you think I’m part of a crusade. Some people will use any tool for power, and power is intoxicating. Power is the only thing that is culture-neutral.
OTR

Muslims have a constitutional right to build their mosques on private land (in compliance with construction codes and local ordinances) anywhere they desire… AS DOES EVERY OTHER RELIGIOUS ORDER AND ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA. To deny them that right, regardless of the strength of the personal feelings of those who think it “insensitive” or “unwise” for them to do so, is to permit reactive emotion to replace American justice and equality under the law.

Those who oppose the building of this mosque near Ground Zero need to consider that they may win in this instance only to, at some later date, find themselves in the minority on some other controversial issue. They should not then, in that instance, be terribly surprised if their consitutional rights are denied them because of the public outcries of some equally bigoted opposition.

Contrary to what the writer said, both sides are not “kinda right”… only those who do not oppose the building of the mosque are right… the bigots are simply that: bigoted and wrong.

One of the great strengths of the U.S. Constitution (and, indeed, of the constitution of every formal organization) is its intent and ability to prevent an emotionally charged majority from trampling on the RIGHTS of ANY minority.

In the event that you, the reader, have a problem with the essence of the preceding statement please imagine how African Americans would be being treated (even today) if the laws in some of the Confederate states were permitted to be reflective of the popular beliefs and opinions of the voting majorities in those geographies (rather than be ruled – by Federal Courts – unconstitutional, as many of them were.) Or consider, just for a moment, what did happen to CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES who were of Japanese ancestry as a direct consequence of the popular hysteria that followed the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

It is long past time for ordinary, constitution-loving Americans to tell these vocal opponents of the building of this mosque to redirect their considerable outrage into supporting activities that unearth and bring to justice the terrorist organization(s) that visited 9/11 upon us. Our problem is with a relatively small group of radical extremists… not with all those who practice the Islamic religion.

That is what I am doing right now. I am telling those hate-mongers and bigots to get off the streets, get out of the media and get on with your lives. Leave your fellow Americans, the Muslims who desire to build this mosque, free to exercise their constitutional rights.

And, finally, just for the record: I am white, over 65 and atheist; in other words: I don’t have a dog in this fight.
Azarkhan

OTR said:
is to permit reactive emotion to replace American justice and equality under the law

Is it “reactive emotion” that leads to affirmative action, racial and gender quotas, busing, and set-asides for minorities? I don’t see were any of those government programs fall under “equality under the law”.

OTR said:
only those who do not oppose the building of the mosque are right… the bigots are simply that: bigoted and wrong.

One does become weary hearing the same old broken record over and over. We’ve already been told (thousands of times on multiple issues) that we are wrong and you are right. Sing us a new one.

OTR said:
I am white, over 65 and atheist; in other words: I don’t have a dog in this fight.

You’re a tired old 60′s leftist. That’s your “dog”.
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