Asharq Alawsat runs a couple of pieces today that look at the 51Park cultural center and its main promoter, Imam Feisal Abul Rauf.
The first is an op-ed by Adel Al Toraifi, current Editor-in-Chief of Al-Majalla magazine. He takes a look at the dispute over the center through the eyes of Alexis de Tocqueville, the 19th C. French diplomat who wrote an important work analyzing American culture and society. Al Toraifi correctly notes that the US Constitution, through its Bill of Rights, seeks to put limits on ‘the tyranny of the majority’, i.e. mob rule, in order to protect the rights of minorities and individuals. He also notes that in times of tension—today’s economic crises fit the bill—Americans have strayed from the ideals put forth in the Constitution. They do, he concludes, come back from the extremes.
I do disagree with him, however, about whether the US is ‘suffering from a case of Islamophobia.’ The disease may not have reached every corner of the body politic, but the infection does exist and it is purulent. As I pointed out in an earlier post, it is not just the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ that is being questioned.
Tocqueville…and the Ground Zero Mosque Crisis
Adel Al ToraifiIn his historically important book “Democracy in America” (1838) Alexis de Tocqueville writes that “I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and real freedom of discussion as in America.” This description put forward by the French diplomat brings to mind the escalation in the dispute in the US over the issue of building an Islamic community center and mosque close to the site where the World Trade Center collapsed in New York. In just a few weeks, the mosque issue has become a major public opinion issue in which everybody has had their say – including the US President – whether in favor of or against. However the issue has taken a negative turn both inside and outside of America due to the approach of the US mid-term elections, with the issue now being portrayed as a debate over America’s position towards Islam. This issue would not have reached this level of controversy if this project was scheduled to be built on any other street in New York or in any other US city; so is the US truly suffering from a case of Islamophobia?
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Asharq Alawsat also runs an article from the Associated Press that gives an overview of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. The article notes the controversy over him, over the questions of how 51Park will be funded, and arguments made, in good faith or bad, about him.
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August:29:2010 - 13:29
My computer doesn’t have a condom and it is coming up in Russian.
Is there a connection between Area 51 and Park 51??
August:29:2010 - 16:22
Sorry to hear that your computer is at risk. What’s coming up in Russian?
On the connection, clearly ’51′ is drawing weirdness out of the woodwork.
August:29:2010 - 18:06
Definitely weirdness on the 51. My MSN was coming up in Russian for a while. I haven’t checked it again.
August:30:2010 - 01:00
A Muslim quoting the US Constitution about rights and ideals is about as pathetic as it gets. John, as I have said before, these people do not believe in rights except for themselves. When they start treating others like they want to be treated then I will change my position. When Muslims repeal the laws that discriminate against non-Muslims, we can talk. There can be no discourse with people who are not honest about simple facts.
Both articles have distortions and mistakes about Islam. Neither mentions the many verses filled with hate and violence against non-Muslims. Neither mentions how Muslims treat the “other in today’s world”.
Worse yet, not a single Western leader has mentioned this simple obvious fact. We are truly governed by moral midgets (and I apologize to people of short statue for that comparison). We deserve our fate.
As to 51, I’ll take the Chahaça 51.
http://www.barnonedrinks.com/tips/dictionary/c/cachaca-51-3351.html
August:30:2010 - 16:45
Kactuz:
Broad generalisations such as the notion that “these people [e.g. Muslims] do not believe in rights except for themselves. ” is a form of hyperbolic demagoguery.
Muslims are (like every large grouping of individuals) extremely varied in their beliefs on politics, ranging from theocrats to monarchists to secular social democrats and many other things as well.
So, let us have no more of the absurdity of attributing any single political set of beliefs to all Muslims.
Indeed, Muslims do not even agree on religious beliefs (and Islam is a religion) whereas beliefs by Muslims on politics essentially account for every single political belief system present.
Tiresome tirades that portray all Muslims as anti-democratic are simply to negate reality.
Enough of such foolishness.
August:30:2010 - 19:12
@Jay,
So as an American Jay, what would you rather I quote than the Constitution? Please enlighten me. And as one of “these people” how dare you claim I care for no ones rights but my own. That is simply not true.