Last week a controversial story conquered the airwaves, newspapers and Internet. The Cordoba Initiative is planning to build a Muslim cultural center, called Park51, about two blocks from Ground Zero in New York City. The Park51 center website says it will include a swimming pool, gym, library, restaurant, a 9/11 memorial and a mosque. They claim that although the mosque will be located in the building, they will run it separately and open it to the public. Park51 has predictably caused a firestorm only because of its proximity to Ground Zero.
At first, this debate seems to be about a local zoning issue, but it really is much more. The contradictory stances by both sides show how impossible it is to find coherent political views in either of our mainstream parties. Conservatives, who claim to support the Constitution and freedom of religion, are all of the sudden concerned about sensitivity and victim’s rights. Liberals, who have been pushing sensitivity and victim’s rights, are now supporting Park51’s religious freedom to build the mosque. In this debate, both sides are violating their core principles.
Saying it is “not wise” and insensitive to build Park51 is quite anti-freedom. If I wanted to build a satanic church right down the street from a Baptist church — believe me, I’ve wanted to — I should be allowed to do so if we are to respect religious freedom. My views may be repellent to Baptists, but they have no right to prevent my church as long as I am not breaking any laws. A right to freedom of religion and freedom of speech does not imply a right not to be offended and upset.
There has been an interesting language game played between conservatives and liberals in this debate. Conservatives have been saying that the mosque is “at” Ground Zero and liberals have been saying “near.” If you Google the address of Park51 — and then request walking directions to Ground Zero — the map informs you it’s about one-tenth of a mile walking distance from the edge of the World Trade Center site. The attacks on 9/11 damaged the building the Cordoba Initiative chose for Park51. It is clearly close, but that doesn’t matter when discussing freedom.
When I visited Ground Zero a couple of years ago, the whole area around the site had a ghostly resonance due to the attacks. It felt as if the whole community around the site had been traumatized. Despite this, I still think that it is perfectly OK for Park51 to be built. If we give up our freedom of religion when under attack by religious extremists, then they have already won. We have become our enemy.
The only logical and coherent solution was offered by Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld, who hosts their late night comedy/talk show “Red Eye.” He suggested that Park51 should be built, but that a gay bar that caters to predominantly Muslim men should be built next to it. He even offered to help pay for it. This plan doesn’t violate anyone’s rights or freedom and also points out intolerance of gays by many in the Islamic community — and in most religious communities in general.
Competitive solutions are the true representation of freedom, not subtle threats that building your church or mosque is “unwise.”