'Yes Mosque!' vs. 'No Mosque! Or the Debate over the Essence of Americans' Identity

by Adrienn Kácsor

The symbol of religious freedom on one side, or simply a victory mosque for 9/11 killers on the other side – just two examples of how politicians and the media have interpreted the “ground zero” mosque during the last few weeks. The Muslim Cultural Center, planned to be built only two blocks away from the former Twin Towers, can be considered from many different angles, as one could see. While for some people the mosque (also known as Park51 Project) could mean the representation of the essence of American democracy and tolerance, others view it as an absolutely unnecessary provocation against the 9/11 victims' memory.

After researching and analyzing the media representation of the political and public debate over Park51, it seems to me that this enduring story has an essential moral for American citizens to learn. Not only is it the limits of democracy and constitutional rights what they can rethink now, but also their own history and identity. In the long run, the main question could be: what does it mean to be American?

Intense disputes in public life

According to the latest poll conducted by New York Times, “the debate over the religious center has captivated much of the city”, since two-thirds of the questioned New York residents thought that they had heard a lot about Park51 project, and many of them also pointed out that they had been absolutely focused upon the topic.

One should not be surprised by this result, as politicians – just as well as the media - really did their bests to keep the topic alive. Both political side has taken part in the struggle for and against the legacy of the mosque, with a series of performative political acts.

One of the most important action was made by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, on 3rd August. “It would betray our values if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else”, he said in his speech delivered on Governors Island, with the view of the Statue of Liberty behind him (cited from New York Times' article, 'Mosque Plan Clears Hurdle in New York'). With this statement, he made it clear that the disputes around the mosque had deeper meaning for the society– just as the nature of American democracy and freedom of religion.

The same idea was declared in President Obama's speech, given on 13th August at a White House Iftar dinner. “As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country” (cited from Voice of America News). Once again, the Ground Zero mosque was defended in the name of religious freedom.

Even if one can see Barack Obama's speech as negligible, since one day later he clarified his statement's meaning (about this see WNYC News' article), it still had been extremely needed, considering the opponent views on the Muslim cultural center. When speaking about Park51 Project, some loud Republican politicians, like Sarah Palin or Newt Gringrich, and also the Jewish civil rights group, the Anti- Defamation League have been trying hard to emphasize the insensitivity of the planned mosque (article about this in New York Times here). For example Newt Gringrich, as an effort to prove his moral victory, has often been aimed to draw analogies between 9/11 terrorists and German Nazis. By doing this, he rather has became ridiculous, as it turns out from many journalists' and bloggers' immediate reactions (one good argument by Steve Krakauer here).

Recently, it has became almost impossible to avoid the argument around the building of the 'Ground Zero' mosque – that argument which has been mostly generated by the media itself. “There has been a lot of shouting and screaming on cable news about the mosque or Islamic center in lower Manhattan. And if you're looking for that here, you have come to the wrong place. I want to have an intelligent conversation with intelligent people” - that is how Fareed Zakaria started his weekly conversation on the 22nd August's GPS Show. He invited Peter Beinart, a contributing editor at "TIME," and Bret Stephens, a columnist for "The Wall Street Journal". One point became perfectly understandable by the end: that respecting and understanding the constitution and the religious freedom does not necessarily mean respecting the Park51 Project...

“Wake up America!” - Pro and Con Groups Muttering at the Two End of Park Place

„Well, this is just not the best time to visit Ground Zero” - starts Erich Storm, a tall man in his thirties, as because of my accent, it immediately turns out that I am not local. He might be right: there are around 20 to 30 annoyed women and men on this Sunday afternoon, holding protest against the building of Park51.

Erich and me, we are standing immediately next to the cordon which aims to separate these people, who seem like never want to stop shouting. “No Mosque!”, “Shame on Obama!”, “Shame on Bloomberg!”, “Shame on New York City!” - these are the most common words raged by the protesters.

In the crowd, there is a loud man, holding an enormous placard to tell everyone to “REMEMBER 9-11-01! WE WILL NOT SUBMIT!”. “He has been here for two weeks now” - Erich tells me, who has visited Park Place every weekend since the protests started. “Me, personally, I absolutely have no feelings about this project. I mean, I don't mind if they build this mosque here! Not at all! One thing, that I can totally not understand is why now?! I mean, I am here each and every year during the memorial ceremony, and it is always about remembering and respecting each other. The City used to be calm on anniversaries. Why isn't it the same now?”

At the other end of the block, there are two ladies, holding placards about “Peace, Love & Tolerance!”. Both of them are Muslims, as it turns out. One of them, Mona Eltahawy, an American Muslin, as she introduces herself, has been also here for two weeks now. “ Generally, we are not separated from each other, but this Sunday the policemen decided to keep the two groups apart from each other” - she says.

When explaining her feelings about the debate, she strictly points out two things. “First of all, this is our constitutional right to have an Islamic cultural center here. This is simply about the freedom of religion, what people do not seem to respect in this case. Secondly, I personally feel sad about those families, who lost their loved ones in the terrorist attack 9 years ago. But do not punish me instead of the terrorists! It was a group of crazy al Qaeda terrorists who committed this terrible attack! So for me, this is now all about the future of Muslim people living here!”.

The debate over American Identity

With her last sentences, Mona has some strong points in this whole argument – this is what might has become the most essential aspect of the debate by now- the growing islamophobia.

Mayor Bloomberg stated the same as Mona in an Iftar dinner last week, when he said: “Islam did not attack the World Trade Center — Al Qaeda did.” (cited from New York Times' article). With this sentence he made an extremely important political step toward the clear understanding of 9/11 attacks.

Not only it is vital in the debate over the 'Ground Zero' mosque, but also in the long run – as the understanding of what happened 9 years ago on 9/11, and the avoiding of islamophobia can play a key role in forming the Americans' identity as well.