Our discussion of the Cordoba Initiative (a.k.a. the Ground Zero Mosque, now officially called by its postal address “Park51″) began yesterday with 3 Controversial Points: Ground Zero Mosque.

Voices in support:

I’ve come across three types of Cordoba House supporters:

1. those involved in the actual work (Rauf, Soho Properties, sponsors, contracted labour)
2. print and TV journalists (the New York Times and the Economist especially keep coming up)
3. ordinary citizens

I am disappointed with the poor quality of the supportive dialogue.  I’ve found but two arguments, and rather than being in support of the project, they are in opposition to the opposition:

• No, the project is not insensitive.
• Racism is the only explanation for why anyone would be offended.

Absent from the discussion is mention of why the particulars of the Initiative are worth supporting.  (For a notable exception, see the next section.)

Why the time and place?

There’s actually one reason given for the location of the Ground Zero Mosque, but it begs some deconstruction, so let’s get cracking:  The FAQ of the official Cordoba House website includes the question, “Why are you building ‘a mosque near Ground zero?’”  The answer begins as follows:

Strictly speaking, it will not be a “mosque,” although it would have a prayer space on one of its 15 floors.

Yes, it looks like textbook misdirection, a tactic used to make the attacker lose sight of his/her target.  That’s not why I’m quoting it, though.  I’m quoting it because it conflicts with what is later offered as the real answer (under the FAQ’s next question):

We were always close to the World Trade Center.  Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has been the Imam of a mosque twelve blocks from the Twin Towers for the last 27 years.

The “we” that was always 2/3 of a mile away from ground zero is a mosque.  In fact, that mosque (named Masjid al-Farah) is undamaged and currently in service.[1] We’re not replacing that mosque, so I’m still left with the question of why the “community centre” needs to be 600 feet from ground zero.  And the answer isn’t “to be near a mosque” either; there are over 100 other mosques to choose from in New York City.  (Seems like a lot for a city that’s only 25 miles across at its widest point.)

The FAQ offers no explanation for the timing of the project (10^th anniversary of 9/11).  This lacuna notwithstanding, they seemed to think it worthwhile to dedicate a third of the page to “Clearing Up False Charges Made Against Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.”

Rebuttal to the support:

In yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, Irshad Manji (a Muslim herself) gently criticized the body of American supporters.

Too many Americans are mistaking feeling for thinking.

Consider Bob, who feels so offended by antimosque activists in his state of Tennessee that these feelings alone drive him to support more mosques—without prior thought to what, exactly, he’s supporting. “I found local citizens to be intolerant and un-American,” Bob tells me over email. “So as a gesture of tolerance and Americanism, I donated to the mosque building fund.”

Before pledging a penny, Bob should have asked the imam: “Where will the men’s side of this mosque be?” It’s a discreet way of discerning whether the project will replicate segregation, and thus whether the mosque will wind up bolstering the intolerant behavior that Bob can’t abide.

I am not saying that Bob should cast his lot with antimosque demonstrators. I am simply saying he should not give them the power to commandeer his brain by hijacking his heart.[2]

Manji further points out an inconsistency in the fact that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf (the man behind the Initiative) says that Cordoba House is not insensitive but that the Danish cartoons of Muhammad were. Indeed, he called them “willful fomentation.”

Voices in opposition:

Public figures that have voiced opinions have largely voiced opposition to the project, though they have also expressed support for the people’s freedom to carry out the Initiative.  Among those who have publicly frowned on the project are: McCain, Palin, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, and George Pataki.  Even Joe Lieberman expressed some hesitation.[3]

Palin’s voice

Former VP-candidate Sarah Palin has made her dissent known through Twitter.  In the tradition of tweets (and the twits who post them), she employed a bit of poor English, inadvertently inventing the term “refudiate.”  This error might be blamed on the fact that she was typing on a Blackberry at the time, but as you might well imagine, she’s been ridiculed by the professional news services for it.[4]

Gingrich’s voice

As mentioned yesterday, Gingrich views the construction as a deliberate insult.  Once more for the record: “Every Islamist in the world recognizes Córdoba as a symbol of Islamic conquest.”[5]

President Obama’s stance

I don’t believe that Barry has as yet given his voice in personal support or opposition, but he does support the legality of the Initiative.

Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. And that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances[6]

I agree with the president on this point, but I expect he would express personal opposition if it were a Muslim population being offended by a Christian edification.

Well, this has gone on rather longer than I had hoped, so we’ll leave off here for today.  Tune in Monday for a deconstruction of freedom and racism, as well as a discussion of legal and civilly responsible means of exercising one’s opinion on Cordoba House.

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[1] http://www.salatomatic.com/d/New-York+2855+Masjid-al-Farah

[2] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703632304575451433090488678.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park51#Politicians

[4] http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/23/ground-zero-mosque-the-battle-beyond-palin/

[5] http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/07/29/james-pinkerton-world-trade-centre-arizona-alqaeda-wikileaks-ground-zero-mosque/

[6] http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/08/14/general-us-obama-mosque-text_7851689.html?boxes=Homepagebusinessnews