A fiery debate has been raging throughout the country about the planned construction of a mosque and cultural center within blocks of the former site of the World Trade Center. Opponents invoke sensitivity to the loss of life that occurred on 9/11 while proponents crusade for the freedom of religion guaranteed by the First Amendment. The debate was lit ablaze this past weekend as President Barack Obama weighed in on the issue and gave both his critics and his supporters fuel for their respective fires. The rhetoric is certainly heated, but the debate itself? A smokescreen and nothing more.
The following seems clear: The builders have every right to construct the proposed center in the proposed location. The relevant city board confirmed this and the mayor confirmed this. The builders face neither legal obstacles nor personal reservations to construction. Therefore, the interfaith center and mosque will be built as planned. Muslims and others will enjoy use of the center. Some families of 9/11 victims will grieve over the construction. New Yorkers who do not frequent the site will not be appreciably affected. Life will go on.
In this sense, the "Ground Zero mosque" is or soon will be a non-issue. So why then is this conversation dominating the blogosphere? Why are certain media outlets waiting on pins and needles for each politician's denouncement or endorsement of the mosque plan? It is because this story is simply as juicy as can be infused with relevant fears and superstitions all while under the guise of contemporary events. It raises questions about the First Amendment, reminds us of the tragedy of 9/11 and invokes discussion of contemporary "Islamophobia." This story is just too much fun for politicians, journalists and the public. Politicians have been jumping at the opportunity to show their allegiance to a certain camp, either to score political points or out of necessity. Take Obama for example: He issued a strong statement on Aug. 13 supporting construction of the mosque. Amidst brutal criticism from the right including from leading Republicans Obama soft-pedaled his stance to one of simply supporting the legality of the mosque's existence just a day after his initial comments. All the while, journalists feed off the drama of such political jockeying. They draw sweeping conclusions about any public figure that makes even marginal comments about the mosque. The public soaks in the issue because, perhaps, the controversy lends a brief vacation from the constant flow of dour news from Washington.
Unfortunately, this holiday has to end, and soon. The national unemployment rate stands above 9 percent. The United States is currently engaged in two of the longest wars in its history in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively. A whopping 55 percent of Americans support the repeal of the health care bill passed in March, according to Rasmussen Reports polls. And what's happening with all that? Well, we're still talking about the legality and morality of building a mosque that will almost certainly be constructed as planned.
This is all to say that we're missing the point. This overheated debate has obscured our vision from true challenges facing our country. Legitimate questions about our debt and deficit remain unanswered as an endless analysis runs in the media. Our politicians are sniping one another instead of leading and legislating. Tea Party candidates find it far easier to denounce the mosque and its supporters in order to gain momentum than to propose sound and well-reasoned alternatives to the current state of affairs that they so abhor. Certain liberal media outlets enthusiastically cast opponents of the mosque as nativists and bigots. All such behavior is meaningless political posturing and simply a waste of time.
Politicians and commentators on the left and the right can declaim and defame as they wish but sooner or later they must face the facts. The mosque will go up, and their lives will go on. Hopefully we can all realize this before the true issues facing our country are too far gone.
