The Ground Zero mosque tests our national character

Townhall ^ | August 23, 2010 | John David Powell

[John David Powell]

The current debate over the proposed Park51 project, also known as Cordoba House, in the geographic and emotional shadows of the World Trade Center calls to mind the Kobayashi Maru test. Star Trek aficionados know this as the no-win scenario that measures the character of future Starfleet captains.

In the test, a starship receives a distress call from the Kobayashi Maru, a freighter on the brink of blowing up. Rescuing the crew requires entering the Neutral Zone and inviting Klingons into a fatal encounter for the starship or risking all-out war. Abandoning the crew saves the starship and prevents war, but allows the destruction of the freighter with all hands on board.

James Kirk was the only Starfleet cadet to pass the Kobayashi Maru, only because he hacked the computer program and changed the test parameters. Some called that cheating. He received a commendation for original thinking. Such is the world of science fiction.

The Ground Zero debate, whether over a mosque or an Islamic community center, is a real-world scenario that tests our national character by presenting no-win alternatives: support the project and dishonor those who died in the 9/11 attack or oppose it and ignore the Constitution and appear to harbor ill-will toward a religion and its billion and half adherents.

This debate has become an emotional orgy that distracts us from defining once and for all the events of 9/11. Until we, as a nation of diverse political ideologies and religious beliefs, put a true and lasting label on the attacks, we will continue to be ruled by emotions and we will surely miss the next attack because we failed to identify its source.

By defining the 9/11 attacks, we change the parameters of this no-win scenario by making it possible to arrive at an answer devoid of the emotions that paralyze even the most clear thinkers among us and send us down rabbit holes that emerge into a labyrinth containing traps disguised as good intentions.

Opponents of the project use the terms “sacred” and “hallowed ground” to describe Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. The use of these words, however, and others like them, implies the people who died, including Muslims, were innocent victims, martyrs in a holy war, a jihad. If so, then we must define that war and identify the people who wage it against our country.

Who among us, except kooky conspiracy theorists who believe George W. Bush played some weird role, does not believe the 9/11 hijackers acted on a perverse and narrow interpretation of their religion? The alternative is to define the attacks as acts of a political or economic war, even though everyone claiming credit or rising in support of the attacks says otherwise.

Also, we must determine the 9/11 attacks were not acts of terrorism. The FBI (www.fbi.gov/publications/terror/terrorism2002_2005.htm) defines terrorist incidents as criminal actions designed to promote political or social objectives. The Oklahoma City bombing by fringe followers of white supremacy and abortion clinic bombings by criminals with a warped view of Christian dogma are terror incidents.

The 9/11 attacks were one-sided acts of jihad, not attacks upon capitalism. Need proof? When was the last time you heard a jihadist cry “Death to the dollar!”?

And that brings us to the reason why the Ground Zero project is a no-win scenario: our nation chose to let emotions and hubris rule our hearts instead of allowing logic and foresight to rule our brains, and understandably so. Evil men attacked our country and killed nearly 3,000 people, mostly civilians, including people from 70 other countries. In those first sad and confusing days we vowed as a nation to rebuild the towers as a mighty “up yours” to those who knocked them down.

That is where we went wrong. We fix it by changing the parameters. First, we define the 9/11 attacks as acts of jihad, thereby classifying the victims as martyrs and the site as hallowed ground. Next, we declare the site a national monument, joining the nine sites associated with the War in the Pacific (including Pearl Harbor), the Little Bighorn Battlefield, Fort McHenry, and other battle sites (www.nps.gov/applications/contacts/contacts_atoz.cfm).

The Antiquities Act of 1906 (www.nps.gov/history/local-law/anti1906.htm) gives the president the authority, “in his discretion”, to declare the site a national monument provided the owners give the property to the federal government. For this to happen, the owners of the property would forgo economic gain to honor the war victims and the president would agree those who died deserve such commemoration by this nation.

If we, as a nation, place greater importance on making a buck than on setting aside hallowed ground as a memorial to victims in a holy war not of our making, then objections to the Ground Zero mosque seem hollow and petty and portray a national character unbefitting those who died.

Our nation has no beef with Islam. We have a large animosity toward those groups waging a religious war against us. By defining the 9/11 attacks as acts of war by jihadists, we provide the means and the moral authority to take all appropriate measures to protect our nation and our Constitution against these enemies, whether foreign or domestic.

(Video version available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miF3Bil7ANQ)

John David Powell is an award-winning Internet columnist. His email address is johndavidpowell@yahoo.com.

[the invisib1e hand]

i don't know about testing our national character, but it has proven how tolerant we are (thus far) of being bullied around by our own myth-makers in the media.

Man, we are a patient people. I wonder what we'll look like when we're really roused.

[Hildy]

You are wrong...we are not patient. The Muslims are patient...and they will wear us down and use our kindness and goodness against us..that is their plan. And it’s working.

[The_Reader_David]

Humbug. Numerous religious institutions have been obliged to resite for zoning reasons. The Port Authority can force St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to move after the Port Authority, without their consent as land-owner excavated the church’s land. The only losing option is letting the mosque be built while continuing to obstruct the reconstruction of the church—of course, the left insists we pick that one.

[jwparkerjr]

re: The Ground Zero mosque tests our national character

In much simpler terms it tests whether or not we will allow our ‘freedoms’ to be used to destroy our freedom. Without saying so explicitly I don’t think the Founding Fathers ever intended for us to commit Constitutional suicide.

If the exercise of a freedom results in the destruction of that freedom, or the ability to enjoy it, then, IMHO, insisting it be honored is not a choice.

If we let a group that’s intent on destroying our way of life use a freedom that leads to losing that freedom then all bets are off.

[moehoward]

"..and they will wear us down..."

Already happening.

[oneolcop]

CORDOBA: An Iberian and Roman city in ancient times, in the Middle Ages it was capital of an Islamic caliphate.

[DallasDeb]

The whole premise that disallowing the mosque at that specific spot goes against the constitution is nonsense. NO ONE is preventing muslims from practicing their faith. There are many mosques in NY already, and they can surely build another one—just build it somewhere else. This imam is proving to be as anti-American as most radical islamists. He has a hidden agenda and is using taxpayer’s funds to promote that agenda. American sensibilities should prevail over this issues.

[MNJohnnie]

or oppose it and ignore the Constitution and appear to harbor ill-will toward a religion and its billion and half adherents.

Start your argument with a false premise and you lose the debate at the start.

There is noting in the US Constitution that says "You may build what ever you want where ever you want". There is nothing in the US Constitution that states "You are free to use inflammatory incitement rhetoric to promote division and riot". That is the purpose of this building. It is a political statement.

IF, as the supporters of this center claim, it is to foster toleration and understanding of Islam, they would move it since the vast majority of New Yorkers oppose it's construction at Ground Zero.

There is a Mosque 5 blocks away, there is no need for another one here.

That they refuse to move it indicates they are not at all interested in “bringing us together” but are looking at the symbolic value of the site.

[Liz]

JUST SAYING This tidbit oughta get the mosquevites' panties in a twist (/snix).
Spain's "Cordoba Mosque" was converted into Roman Catholic Cathedral.

The Great Mosque of Córdoba, Spain, begun 786 by Muslims (who tookover St Vincent's Church). But in 1238, the Cordoba Mosque was converted into Roman Catholic cathedral. The Catholic Cathedral is known locally as La Mezquita —The Mosque.

Aerial view of the Great Mosque of Córdoba, Spain, begun 786, doubled in area in the 10th century to 585 x 410 feet, with 1,200 columns supporting horseshoe arches, patterned with colored marbles and other stones. Although it was converted into Córdoba's Roman Catholic cathedral in 1238, the building is known locally as La Mezquita —The Mosque. LINK AT SITE: see the Great Mosque of Córdoba, showing the Christian alterations.

[edcoil]

The President of the United States has noted we are at war with islam. islam, meets in mosks.

I cannot ever imagine what FDR would have said if Hitler demanded a brownshirts nazi meeting hall while our troops were dieing in europe against them.

[Liz]

Clearly, when he gave his build-the-mosque speech (from the WH) Ohaha's articulated words and his voice inflections, were archly crafted. Ohaha knew full well that he was throwing a megaton bomb into the American culture......and he was not in the least concerned.

Ohaha knows full well that building the Ground Zero mosque is another version of "Triumphalism".....brough to you from another group of hyphenates bent on mischief. Latinos are itching for Reconquista. The mosquevites are looking to impose Sharia law on the US.

All of us are sick and tired of these foreign-born "hyphenates" sticking it to Americans. Americans know all the world wants to live like we do---even our poorest live handsomely compared to some of these backwater Third World hellholes. Now instead of blending into the US melting pot, the hyphenates want to radically change our culture---they want us to be like them.

That ain't gonna happen.

========================================

Now he tells us.............he's a Muslim.

Ohaha was the consummate con man candidate----what he left off his resume is astounding.

Even more horrific for America---Ohaha is surrounded by ruthless, calculating individuals (the ones really in charge). Emanuel, Axelrod, Jarrett, the people who wield the actual power, will not give up that power easily. Execrable characters Van Jones, George Soros, Anita Dunn, who control Ohaha, will not back down.

It'd be nice to think that Ohaha is finished......but we have to face the reality of the satanic monsters that occupy the WH.

[MNJohnnie]

“The choice is not between order and liberty. It is between liberty with order and anarchy without either. There is danger that, if the court does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom, it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact.”

Justice William O. Douglas

[Dilbert San Diego]

I call BS.

He says this is no-win because if you attack or oppose the mosque you are ignoring the Constitution. I call BS on this line. Nobody is questioning the constitutional rights of Moslems to build a mosque. There are 100 mosques already in New York City.

This guy is exhibiting liberal thinking, whether he knows it or not, on that aspect of things. You are not in favor of violating constitutional rights if you oppose a mosque at this location.

And why are good Democrats such as Howard Dean and Harry Reid allowed to oppose the mosque? Why is all the vitriol aimed at the conservatives/Republicans who oppose it?

Even our dear leader good Democrat, Obama, said he will not comment on the wisdom of building there. He was just pointing out that people have rights to build religious facilities (ya right Barack).

[RC2]

Talking about National character, the Constitution and so forth is all well and good. But when you consider that after the Twin Towers fell, the muslim world was dancing in the streets, it’s hard to accept them as wanting peace. Something is happening in the States that we haven’t seen before. People are standing up saying “That’s enough”. They are saying “Don’t use our Constitution against us”. That’s a big one today. The Constitution was written for American people, not for the world or immigrants to this country that are looking to change us.

[freespirited]

Good post!!

[SoldierDad]

First, what's with the "Ham-handed" referrence to a hollywierd script with respect to a real life scenario whereby Islamic fundamentalists demonstrate a complete and utter lack of caring for our national pain?

Second, where is the real-world understanding that Islam is not just a religion? It is predominately a political, economic, judicial, and military ideology wrapped in the facade of a religion. If we (Americans) don't come to recognize this fact we will be facing the annihilation of our freedoms and liberties, and in their stead will be Sharia law. This is the goal of Islam - to dominate the entire globe; to subjugate all non-muslims everywhere who will not convert to their ideology.

[Sans-Culotte]

A good article, over all. I like the idea of establishing some sort of national monument there. I did, howver, take issue with this:

Who among us, except kooky conspiracy theorists who believe George W. Bush played some weird role, does not believe the 9/11 hijackers acted on a perverse and narrow interpretation of their religion?

I am really tiring of the mantra that "we are at war only with that small element of Islam that has perverted their religion". It must apparently be stressed over and over: the Jihadists are the Muslims who are being true to their so-called faith.

The nice Muslims are, in fact, apostates. Islam was made for conquest. It was the tool that Mohammed used to conquer Arabia, and then North Africa is almost no time. It is built on the premise of "submit or die", and "if you submit and die in battle, you will be rewarded with perverse pleasures in heaven". those who do not subscribe to the "submit or die" form of Islam are like people who claim to be Christians and yet do not believe that Christ was divine or that he rose from the dead.

[eddie willers]

You are wrong...we are not patient. The Muslims are patient...and they will wear us down and use our kindness and goodness against us..that is their plan. And it’s working.

Succinct and true.

[Bitsy]

The Ground Zero mosque tests our national character

My character says - DON’T TREAD ON US! Freedom of religion is allowed in our country but disrespect for our dead is NOT! Don’t push us to places you don’t want to go. Americans are the most generous people on earth but we reverence our fallen citizens who died needlessly by cowards who killed innocent men and women from all nationalities on 9/11.

For every mosque you build here, let us build a mosque in your country, yeah, right, like that will ever happen because Islam by nature is not a religion of peace but of fear and murder. But, as our country allows, you may worship here are you wish - but that is where it ends. As I said, DON’T TREAD ON US.