Friday, July 23, 2010

Tyranny of stupidity

Sarah Palin wants “peaceful Muslims” to “refudiate” the plans to build a Mosque two blocks from Ground Zero in New York City. When terrorism occurs in the name of Islam or on behalf of all Muslims, the rest of the world along with America is quick to blame moderate Muslims for not standing up to refute and repudiate extremists and their actions. People like Sarah Palin love taking pride in the great nation that is America and it’s so called “exceptionalism” through mere words but no actions. America is a great nation because it was founded on religious tolerance and freedom. It is great because its Constitution guarantees certain rights. It is great because not only are these freedoms held inherent but there is a responsibility on all those who live in this great nation to make use of that freedom to advance society, increase the knowledge and create a more tolerant society where differences in thought, philosophy and ideas are celebrated rather than demonised. If it is assumed that Mosques “breed terrorists” as has been touted by so many opponents of the plans to build Mosques not only in NYC but all around the country, then the greatness that America has stood for, for the last couple of centuries can only be considered an illusion. If Mosques in the U.S. are breeding terrorists, then it is not a Muslim problem but an American national security problem in the same mould as Christian militants. We’re not going to stop people from building Churches just because a sect of people believes in the superiority of one race or one idea.

Moderate Muslims do not have a voice in many countries around the world the same way Christians and Jews and other minorities do not in those same countries. It is true that Christians cannot build a Church in Saudi Arabia but it is also true that moderate Muslims also do not have the freedom to educate women about their rights in Saudi Arabia either. Not allowing Christians and Jews to practice their religions, not allowing moderate Muslims to have a voice, not allowing the freedom to debate differing ideas is precisely what makes those countries intolerant, inhumane and unattractive to the rest of the world! America’s Mosques should be breeding grounds for universal human rights establishment, supremacy of diplomacy over violence and the forum for intellectual dialogue for a better world. Why does Ms. Palin assume that Muslims living in the western world haven’t lived with the same heart break of terrorism as she has? Why is Ms. Palin afraid to address Muslim Americans on the merits of strong military and low taxes? She doesn’t see Muslim Americans as American like the way she is. Who decided that moose hunting is inherently American and fasting during Ramadan isn’t? America has always been a melting pot. Whatever Americans do what is what is American. Ms. Palin seeks to have everyone believe that America was founded on her Christian principles and her understanding of capitalism and any idea that does not conform to her belief is an inherently un-American idea. The U.S. Constitution promotes “general welfare” of the public. One of the first Treaties signed by President John Adams and ratified by the U.S. Congress said –

“As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.” – Article 11, Treaty of Tripoli (1797)

Sarah Palin said that building the Mosque in NYC is an “UNNECESSARY provocation”. No Ms. Palin. You are an UNNECESSARY provocation and an embarrassment to what America truly stands for.