Go to the Daily Show website to see the video (8/19/10) I posted called EXTREMIST HOMELAND MAKEOVER about the Muslim Mosque controversy if you're not on facebook to see why I wrote this.
Sorry Facebook Friends!! This was too long to respond as a follow up comment on Facebook, so I decided to put it on my blog. It was the only way I could answer your questions after posting the Jon Stewart video on Facebook. Thanks for the comments (and for not de-friending me.) Haha! Me of little faith, I thought for sure it would happen. Facebook is not normally a place of tolerance when it comes to religion or politics. I keep my mouth shut on a lot of things believe it or not. :-)
Here goes: I know I'm not going to change anyone's mind. I just wanted to express my heart about the Muslim Mosque controversy, as you expressed yours.
I appreciate your concerns and understand the sensitivity. REALLY I DO!! But I think 9 years later; we should recognize that those who are American Muslims did NOT cause the tragedy on 9/11. (Any other thinking is fear-based.) And to my relief (9 years ago), our country didn't start persecuting or vilifying ALL American Muslims after we found out who started all this: Osama Bin Laden. (It was one of our finest hours.) Instead, our country recognized that they had to affect justice by going after those who were radical fanatical Muslims. (And so, two wars began, justice was issued!) Although, I cried when the wars started, not just for the losses our country would suffer, but also for the old men, women, and children, who had to listen to bombs falling around them in Iraq and Afghanistan. They must have horrified. They did NOTHING to deserve what was happening. In our lifetime, WE in America have never had to go to sleep listening to sirens blasting or bombs falling night after night. Being the evolving pacifist that I am, all I could think of was that song I grew up listening as a kid, "WAR! Was is it good for? Absolutely NOTHING!!" I believe that to the core of my being! That doesn't limit my respect for our soldiers who were sent over to do the job their president asked them to do. I know freedom comes with a price. It just makes me sad that is the only way to get freedom.
To Patti’s and Lori’s point, Thank you for recognizing that American Muslims died too on 9/11. We weep and mourn together and want something better. This mosque could do much to continue the healing our country needs and bring understanding between cultures.
To Carol’s question, I do think Muslims are a peaceful religion? Like Christians and Jews, they’ve had their times of war and violence. I believe when every culture and religion doesn't have understanding, when egos get in the way, war will ensue past, present, and future! War is never going to end until we check what's in our hearts; until we recognize the the violence in our own heart; untill we see there is something within us that is driven to be right and to control!
This mosque that the American Muslims want to build is also a community center. And this mosque is NOT going to be built INSIDE the fallen replacement towers that will one day be built. This mosque is very near ground zero (within blocks). And they are American Muslims. To Steve's point, you are right buddy, Congress (our constitution) has already established by law their right to peaceably assemble. With all this talk, why are we trying to UNDO our constitution by preventing it? To Carol's point, nobody is claiming victory here but radical nut cases or the media speculating or beating that sad horse. The Muslim people are not stupid. They know they are not welcome and worse are vilified as a people/faith of violence. I'm sure they are sensitive and they is why they have waited 9 years.
You and I have never had that kind of racism directed at us as White Americans. Again, that is what the media is doing. And I could puke each time I hear it stated! It is FEAR BASED BULL S*#T! And the sick part is American’s are buying into this and listening to what is on TV and talk radio 24/7. Muslim Americans have the right to worship, as do Jews, Japanese, Germans, Russians, etc. These American Muslims have been in New York, respectably, already near ground zero for years. They just want to build a nicer place to worship and do community life. The reason I'm so upset is because if we take away their rights, my rights could one day be taken away if we don't abide by the law. Nobody is safe if we mess with our constitution. If our own Chicago Sear's Tower or John Hancock were bombed by terrorist radicals of any race, I'd want the better side of mankind to prevail. It would be okay if good things we're happening nearby. Let the healing begin.
When I was growing up, I was a typical white American Anglo Catholic kid. We lived in a relatively mixed religious town of both Jews and Catholics. I never felt the slightest judgment towards my Jewish friends. I sang Jewish songs in school, recognized Jewish holidays, and occasionally was invited over for a Jewish event (although, I’ve always been bummed that nobody invited me to a bar mitzvah. ☹) There were only a few Blacks and Hispanics in my community. Again, I never had any prejudice towards any culture or religious minority. I've NEVER understood racism in any form, and will stand up to it all day long! The way we were raised in Buffalo Grove, racism was never justified-no matter what. I also knew that I wasn't any better than any other person (except my little brother Rich. But that's what siblings think as kids.) So like Steve mentioned about the little Mexican girl who came up to him in school asking why do people hate her, that breaks my heart. I think about what it must be like for Muslim or Mexican school children in this country today. OMG!! I can't imagine how horrible it must feel to have fears because of their race or religion. Have we forgotten what’s like to put ourselves in other people’s shoes? Have we forgotten that we too came to this country by ways and means? I can't imagine what it's like for them to go to school under such intolerance in our country. And I'll say it again, it's very damaging psychologically. It's getting worse if you watch the news. Growing up, Walter Cronkite didn't spew his opinions on the Vietnam War, the President, or any racial injustice happening, he just gave the news (just the facts). Thank God!!! The opinions on the news today are forming hateful ideologies that are unhealthy and damaging to our countries soul! I thought we were better than that? I seriously want to throw up when I watch Fox News. Brian Williams on World News Report doesn't spew his opinions, he gives the news and facts of the day. And because it's all gotten so out of hand, I'll watch Jon Stewart because his satire makes me laugh when I want to weep. And sometimes, he NAILS the heart of our hypocrisy no matter what side of the fence you're on.
So to Pam's point, 'we've come a long way baby', but still have a long way to go with equal right for women in the world. So do many (if not all) of the Muslim countries.My grandma was the original single parent, as was my great-grandmother (both being widowed). She watched women gain their rights as women and find their place in the work place. Only in my lifetime have women recently gained strides in equal rights in the workplace and at home (that's not a long time in the history of our country-it's pretty recent, I'm only 46 years old). I agree (and so would many many Muslim women) that women's rights need to be established throughout Muslim countries, and the world (in China, Russia, to the ends of the earth). In our lifetime, women are just now finding their voice and establishing their equal rights all over the world. Change is happening slowly. Many nations have horrible things still done to young girls that are unthinkable, not just Muslim countries. In our own country, there is violence done to our own children: rape, murder, molestation, physical abuse, etc. Our prisons are filled with offenders. Our own people do unthinkable things to children. To Dave's point, it's the nature of sin in mankind. (I hate to point out that men cause most violence of every race, but it's a fact. Sorry guys.) And let's not forget our own countries breach birth history. In order to over throw a undeveloped country, we MASSACURED American Indians: women, children, and their elderly. We have forgotten our flawed beginnings and have painted nice stories to make it all justifiable. Yet we built temples and churches all over American Indian's sacred grounds without the media attention back then! They had no rights, no voice.
To your question Carol, do I think all roads lead to God. I hope so. But I'm not God, and thank goodness His love, grace, and mercy knows no bounds towards color, race, or religion. I've been a Christian since I was 18. In the past, I've been very narrow-minded and I'm embarrassed by my judgment. (I also see it in other Christians and it concerns me. It is so UN-Christ like.) Jesus was the biggest loving-radical of them all, and he turned the religious establishment upside down. He was for women's right, freedom of worship, and the right to be healed. He also saw the big picture and knew the heart of man was to keep the little guy down and oppress (even his own people), so he encouraged people to 'follow him'. He was about setting people free. He turned the law on their heads. Awesome! So if you're asking if I think people of other faith can find God? Yes I do. In fact, I know many who have a heart for God who are not 'like me'. Their faith is real and so is God in their lives. I'd feel pretty arrogant if I say, "NO, GOD ISN'T IN THEIR LIVES!" I just don't see that. He is present and loves them. We were ALL created in HIS IMAGE. We have forgotten that.
This is where I'm at in my life. I've been in ministry. I know the evangelical talk, and have walked the evangelical walk. My faith in Christ hasn't changed; only my desire to see understanding that God is alive and well in other religions and cultures too. I feel called to start breaking bread with people of other faiths, in the hope that we can build peace and understanding. Then maybe we'll all find salvation because we loved the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And loved our neighbor as ourselves. I pray that God’s love and peace will spread THROUGH US will. This is what God calls ALL MEN AND WOMEN OF FAITH TO DO. If we’d spend less time hating and judging or pushing our agendas, it can happen. It's a start........
