There is still time -- and there are many reasons -- to stop the Ground Zero Mosque. The siting of a mega-mosque so close to Ground Zero has focused critical attention on the issue of mosque placements all across the United States. The fact that we are caught with no standards by which to assess this imam’s grand mosque project – or so-called community center -- spotlights the need for a national mosque litmus test.
Between a blind fixation on free speech, freedom of association and a general sense that anything called religion gets a pass from government scrutiny, Islamists are free to set up shop in America’s towns and cities with little more than random protests. The Ground Zero Mosque has become a flashpoint for a long overdue national discussion.
What we must confront is that strict Islam, or sharia, is more a political regime than it is a religion. As world-recognized historian and scholar Bernard Lewis writes in Islam and the West, “There is only a single law, the shari’a, accepted by Muslims as of divine origin and regulating all aspects of human life: civil, commercial, criminal, constitutional, as well as matters more specifically concerned with religion in the limited, Christian sense of that word.” The western idea of distinct institutionalized roles for church and state “is alien to Islam” according to Lewis.
Students of Islamic immigration trends, Sam Solomon and E. Al Maqdisi, write, “Islam is neither a religion or a faith in a personal way as defined and understood in the West. It is a whole encompassing political system, garbed in religious outfit, addressing every aspect of the life of its adherents. Importantly, these authors warn host societies “in interest of national security [to] examine all requests for cultural accommodation from a socio-political angle.”
While permitting mosques is argued as a harmless religious accommodation, it often becomes a series of escalating concessions as participating Muslims seek to absorb and reform the surrounding community. Establishing a mosque, as hub of family and community life, is often just the beginning. As the concentration of Muslims rises, existing residents flee. Muslims have also begun to require communities to tolerate sharia requirements by expanding prayers onto public sidewalks, halal-only food sales, requiring community pools to restrict mixed bathing hours, and filing permits to broadcast calls to prayer. In Paris, streets are blockaded for Friday prayers in two city districts. Once a Muslim enclave is established, the area often becomes “no-go” for others. In Manhattan, there is an annual Muslim Day parade and streets are filled, curb-to-curb, for prayer before the parade starts.
Muslims expecting to build mosques should not be given a blanket religious legal exemption to gather, teach, raise money, and potentially spread wahabbist radicalism. While some mosques may pass scrutiny, we must subject all to reasonable questioning and accountability. We have made it too convenient for Islamists to hide behind religious or cultural pretext by invoking special First Amendment protections. Also, these organizations should be put on notice up front that community compromises will not be made once the mosque is established. A house of worship is one thing. A center for spreading radicalism and requiring the neighborhood to conform to sharia is another.
Sharia-practicing Muslims have learned to push our intolerance button. Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) executive director, Nihad Awad told Bill O’Reilly that those complaining about the Ground Zero Mosque were just hiding behind the charge of “insensitivity” as a “smoke screen for bigotry.” It is time to defend against these spurious charges of intolerance. Not only are we tolerant, we defend tolerance to the death, and do so around the world. It is just prudent to protect ourselves from a strategy of sabotage. Period. No apologies.
So, as we respond to the utter insult and defiance of placing this Cordoba Initiative Mosque – reference to 711AD Muslim conquest of Spain – on the outskirts of Ground Zero, there are some important answers to demand of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his wife, Daisy Khan. Yet, it has been difficult to even pose the questions as reporter Claudia Rosett has learned. She succeeded in tracking the imam to his office in Malaysia, only to be told that Feisal was too busy to talk. So we are left to speculate as to the source for funds to purchase the land and complete the over $100 million project. We certainly know that somebody will have a huge investment in the implementation of this “initiative.” Even worse, the imam also refuses to answer questions about his past admiration for the Muslim Brotherhood, his advocacy of a Shariah Index that would rate countries’ compliance with the strict Muslim code, and his accusatory statements about America’s blame for 9-11: "I wouldn't say that the United States deserved what happened, but United States policies were an accessory to the crime that happened . . . . In fact, in the most direct sense, Osama bin Laden is made in the USA."
Prosecutor of the Blind Sheikh after the first World Trade Center attack, Andy McCarthy says in his new book The Grand Jihad that the “Framers gave us a Constitution that guarantees freedom of conscience, not freedom from examination. You can believe whatever you wish to believe, but you do not foreclose your beliefs from inspection by labeling them ‘religion’— even if the label is accurate.”
Our religious liberty legal standards require that any law that specifically targets a religion must demonstrate a compelling governmental reason for singling out the particular religious practice. First, we should ask whether all Muslim organizations qualify as religions as distinguished from socio-political organizations -- and then we must determine whether the government’s national security interest is sufficient to challenge the group’s right to assemble.
The Ground Zero Mosque should be an easy initiative to defeat since the funding and imam present questions and suspicions on many levels. Whether there is the will to mount the public pressure needed is another question. When one considers that the Brits were able to block the erection of the Mega Mosque whose minarets were intended to dominate the London skyline for the 2012 Olympics, it should be easy for Americans to marshal the will to stop a mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero. The planned Newt Gingrich-Geert Wilders 9-11 rally is just the time to draw the line and say "We stand and fight here."
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Vini, Vidi, Bombed, Vinci
Lewis assertion that “There is only a single law, the shari’a, accepted by Muslims as of divine origin and regulating all aspects of human life: civil, commercial, criminal, constitutional, as well as matters more specifically concerned with religion in the limited, Christian sense of that word" is grossly misleading. Sort of like saying there is only one interpretation of the US Constitution - we know different.
Not unlike Calvary Chapel Patriarch Chuck Smith taking exception to the Vatican’s assertion that the only true path to salvation is through the Vatican’s teachings.
Or take the New National Automobile Support Administration's (NASA) new mission to build a 21st Century Bridge to the Muslim world. To AG Holder, this means to refuse to acknowledge that Islamic terrorists have been involved in the three most recent terrorist incidents: Ft. Hood Murderer Nidal Hassan, Christmas Day Underwear Bomber and Time Square Bomb Square. However, he profusely praised the Muslim community for its help in this week indictment of 14 individuals charged with supporting terrorist organization Al-Shabaab.
Then consider that Radical Islam, including Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Shi'ite creed says mortals can not only influence but also hasten the awaited return of the 12th Imam, known as the Mahdi. Iran's dominant "Twelver" sect holds that this will be Muhammad ibn Hasan, the righteous descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. He is said to have gone into "occlusion" in the 9th century, at age 5. His return will be preceded by cosmic chaos, war, bloodshed and pestilence. After this cataclysmic confrontation between the forces of good and evil, the Mahdi will lead the world to an era of universal peace - standing in the way is Israel.
On the other hand, the symbolism of the Cordoba Initiative Mosque is more powerful than planting the US Flag on the moon. The message? "Vini, Vidi, Bombed, Vinci"
On the other hand, the symbolism of the Cordoba Initiative Mosque is more powerful than planting the US Flag on the moon. The message? "Vini, Vidi, Bombed, Vinci"
Good post
Good post, Karen. Many Muslims want Westerners to be sensitive and tolerant toward them, yet they are insensitive and intolerant toward other cultures and faiths. Freedom, respect, and tolerance are two-way streets, or else they become meaningless terms. I will be writing to Mayor Bloomberg.
Cotobuzz, the correct Latin form of Caesar's phrase of a quick conquest was "Veni, Vidi, Vici," which means "I came, I saw, I conquered."
Cotobuzz, you are right about the symbolism, though. A mosque so close to the hallowed soil of Ground Zero would embolden the Islamist enemies of freedom, progress, and security. Unfortunately, Bloomberg has a polar opposite view.
Bloomerg is not alone - is the major Issue
Christian- my point is that Bloomberg is not alone - it is an administration that happens to be supported by Bloomerg in this particular issue, that seems to be infatuated with what I refer to as the Global Idol, as in we want everyone to like us, rather than America's safety - that is, a policy of appeasement, rather than peace through strength.
Vinci is a variant of Vincero, which was what I had in mind as I was trying to merge Vini, Vidi, Vici and Nessum Dorma.
As Andy McCarthy writes for NRO today - on purpose of mosques:
Here is what Islamists intend for the neighborhood "community center" or mosque:
The memorandum elaborates that every city should have an “axis” and “perimeter” from which this jihad-by-sabotage strategy is headquartered. That axis, it adds, will be known as “the Islamic Center.” Islamic centers — just like the one at Dar al-Hijra, just like the one planned for Ground Zero — are to become “the ‘base’ for our rise,” the memo says.
https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/12a4c249371d5b23
Yes We See
oh, ok, now I get it. Kinda like a COMMUNITY ORGANIZER???????????????
The Constitution has been pilfered enough already
An argument for a national mosque litmus test even in light of an “Islamic Center Expansion” strategic plan can be easily misconstrued, dangerous, a slippery slope and detracts from the main issues. I posit that activist judges and Attorney General Holder pose a greater danger. Consider the extent to which California schools have gone to accommodate Muslim students, while making sure that the Christian God stays out of the public discourse, and it included, it is typically vilified. Considering the Bible as “hate speech” is another target.
Wit Judge Walker’s irrational ruling on Prop 8, writing that there was no "rational basis" for supporting marriage as the union of a man and a woman, despite the fact that 7 million California voters had approved the marriage amendment in 2008.
Now, whether Islam is a religion of peace is arguable. Whether there are peaceful individuals in the world and in the United States who practice Islam is not up for debate.
The question as you noted, is whether Islam should get a pass, at the expense of other religions, simply because the President and the Attorney General want NASA top build a 21at Century Bridge to the Muslim World, or whether activist judges should be allowed to serve.
Turn to France and its Burqa Issue for example: Traditionally, Americans have sought personal liberty, to live as they see fit, to worship as they please. Americans freedom from the use of power wielded arbitrarily by whoever holds the political sword – enter the Constitution, creating a political regime for individuals who wished to be united with their countrymen not essentially by a common language, ethnic background, or other accident of birth. Americans are united by a love of liberty, respect for the freedom of others and an insistence on their own rights as set forth in the Declaration.
Not too long ago, a person on parole sued the OCSD because she was compelled to remove her burqa for safety reason. Local papers, such as the OC Register and the LA Times focused on how the woman may have been traumatized, not on the fact that she was on parole, and transgressed, again!
The point is, should Islam, or any other new-age or traditional religion for that matter, be allowed to change American culture – in other words, be silenced for the sake or political correctness and or expediency? Should Americans be subjected to different laws as a function of their religion and or choice?
Peace through strength
We need more Reaganesque "peace through strength" from the current administration, but it's unlikely we'll get it from the Left, or from modern liberals (not classical liberals).
Cotobuzz, no religion, or political system should get a pass, or be allowed to alter our cherished principles enshrined in the Constitution. Folks that freely move to the USA need to adapt to our culture, not the other way around.
Currently, there are too many career politicians who wish to appease a variety of special interests, instead of staunchly defending liberty. Let's hope and pray that common sense will ultimately prevail in NYC.
Amen
Christian - Amen to the statement: "no religion, or political system should get a pass, or be allowed to alter our cherished principles enshrined in the Constitution." - for reference, what this means to me is that if you must go through airports, jails and or other high security place, but your religion requires you to wear a burqa, a decision must be made - either not attend those places, or take the burqa off - this is an illustration of what I refer to as the Threshold of Belief
Changing Direction
In my opinion -- even though no one's asking for it, is that the new kind of stability in America appears to be based on a growing type of political repression for those with dissenting views of the present administration. Therefore ANYONE who says ANYTHING about this project is considered to be a "dissenter" of the administration and watch-the-hell-out!!!!
This is not the type of "stability" I grew up with and it is not what I want. So what are we all gonna do to change this direction.
NO HOPE NO CHANGE NO NOTHIN'
Tradionalist
Tank - my sentiments - I will keep the hope, they can keep the change.
Call me old-fashioned - retrosexual if you will. I am not a Hyphen-American. I want to keep the traditional American exceptionalism and do not want America to apologize for it and or accommodate a foreign lifestyle in the misnomer tolerance - As Humpty Dumpty would argue, the "tolerance" they want is not tolerance as much as is "acceptance".
Ground Zero Mosque
This entire project is not about anything other then a celebration of the Muslim extremists victory over America with the collapse of the World Trade Center. Until we Americans understand that this project is not about tolerance, understanding nor healing but only about power, we will be defenseless. They plan to demonstrate to us and the world that we Americans are weak and can be overcome by determination and commitment. Let's show them otherwise.
Ground Zero Mosque
This entire project is not about anything other then a celebration of the Muslim extremists victory over America with the collapse of the World Trade Center. Until we Americans understand that this project is not about tolerance, understanding nor healing but only about power, we will be defenseless. They plan to demonstrate to us and the world that we Americans are weak and can be overcome by determination and commitment. Let's show them otherwise.
Hijacking the Dead
Ground Zero is a grave site. The headstone -- ie, the unbuilt flat land or plot or gravesite -- IS the grave marker. By building that bloated and highly charged political monstrosity on TOP OF the existing grave marker, the message to America is clear: We can and will not only hijack your planes and we can and will hijack your dead and next we can and will hijack your country.
Look toward Germany
TANK - now, look at Germany:
Celebrate 9-11 - Close as Mosque!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_germany_mo
The so called "Inter-Faith Dialogue"
During the demonstrations opposing the 9/11 mosque project, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf declared to the press that the mosque will be built to encourage “Inter-Faith Dialogue”, and it is not an act of defiance designed to undermine the pain inflicted by Islamic radicals on all those who lost loved ones in the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York City.
If Imam Abdul Rauf strongly believes that Islam is a religion of “Peace & Tolerance” dedicated to dialogue, he should also head a project of building a church in the city of Mecca-Saudi Arabia. The Vatican is the seat of Catholic Power representing almost 1 billion Christians, showed Christian tolerance with deeds not words, by convincing the City of Rome in 1974 to donate (absolutely free) 32.000 squ.m of land in an area of Rome, less than 3 km away from St Peter's Basilica known as “The Pope Diocese”, to build a mosque and an Islamic Cultural Centre to encourage “Inter-Faith Dialogue”. The inauguration of the mosque took place on June 21, 1995, and the mosque’s construction was financed by king Faisal of Saudi Arabia, head of the Saudi royal family, as well as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
Isn’t it time for Imam Abdul Rauf to convince the Saudi King to lift the absolute ban imposed on building churches anywhere in the Kingdom, especially Mecca. If any person is interested on knowing why the ban does exist, he/she should consult the following link:
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2010/08/koran-holy-book-or-hate-literature.html
Mosque
The Imam says he wants to build bridges between Christians, Muslims and Jews by building his Mosque at ground zero. Well we would like to have our part of the deal as well in return for his mosque as he says must be built. well God has ordained that his third temple mount must be built in Jerusalem, and just who is stopping that but the MUSLIMS! If he wants his mosque in return he and his fellow muslims in order to build bridges must allow the building of the third temple mount in Jerusalem, No Gods holy temple, no mosque period!
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