A new monster is hitting New York City, only this one doesn't climb the Empire State Building. This monster is a part of the American sentiment that wants to deny religious freedom to those that are different from "us".
Everybody knows about September 11th and how it has effectively shaped modern history into "Pre 9/11" and "Post 9/11" eras. The political and military ripple it started has consumed headlines for the better part of a decade. And most important, the emotional and cultural effects that remain because of it are the most obvious we've seen in a while. Take for example: The color printouts of the American flag in newspapers across the nation, and the subsequent hanging of such flags in windows everywhere, the "Rally 'Round the Flag" phenomenon that we saw in the months directly following September, and presidential approval ratings through the roof. We mourned with those who lost loved ones, and we gathered together in the name of a beloved country with a deep wound. For as horrible as the attacks were, they brought the country as close as it's ever been since WWII (in my opinion).
There was an equal reaction, however, when it came to national security. Take for example the USA PATRIOT Act (which is an ingenious acronym, by the way). This re-drew the line between personal liberties and infringements on said liberties for the sake of national security. And one would be foolish to deny that there was a backlash against those of Middle Eastern descent. I specifically recall, even as a freshman in high school, radio hosts discussing the problems of judging people based on their skin tone or dress because of the race of the attackers. I'd like to think we could get over that, like we are still doing with Civil Rights-era prejudices, but any estimate is an underestimate when it comes to predicting when all races can live peacefully together.
Now, almost ten years after the attack (which, granted, is not that long), there is a proposed Islamic center a few blocks away from the site of the attacks on the Trade Centers. Note - this is not a radical Islamic Center, this is not an Al Quaeda training camp, this is not even a real mosque with minarets and Friday sermons, but a generic Islamic cultural center. Consider it a different version of an old-fashioned YMCA (a YMMA, so to speak). There is absolutely no reason to link every member of one of the world's largest religions with the vicious attacks on the World Trade Centers, yet for some reason, we Americans are.
So much for freedom of religion. It seems to be a trend that American civil liberties are being viewed through the lens of the will of the majority. James Madison warns against this in the Federalist papers when he talks of the tyrannical majority and the dangers they pose to a functioning democracy. Now we see it - a majority of Americans who wallow in ignorance and xenophobia try to argue that 1) couples that are different than themselves don't deserve the same marriage rights, 2) immigrants who are here illegally should be hunted like animals and denied basic rights, and now 3) religions that spawn radical, violent groups should not be allowed to build a symbolic bridge or an extended hand towards the American people at the site of a great atrocity. In some cases, one has to take a step back and say, "Who cares if that is what the majority wants!" Because sometimes, the majority wants the wrong thing and it takes a Platonic philosopher-king to point that out.
Of course, there is another angle: Have we forgotten the violent escapades of Christians and Jews? The Crusades, the Inquisition, the KKK, even the current violence between Israelis and Palestinians - but it doesn't seem to matter as much that violence is an inevitable consequence of the human condition, not just the Islamic faith. Of course, the recent 9/11 violence strikes way too close to home and is way too fresh in our memories, but we should hesitate before we lay an umbrella-conviction on a huge group of heterogeneous people. We should remember that we are guilty of many of the same things, and forgiveness does not require forgetting.
Just because a small fraction of a large group hurt us does NOT mean that we should retaliate against the whole group by denying them basic religious freedoms. Let them build, let them socialize, let them worship. It won't take any more lives, and although it certainly won't bring any lives back, both sides' willingness to extend an olive branch and live in (at the very least) tolerance is a step in the right direction.
