An Essay on Tolerance

Voltaire is often quoted to have said "I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it." This is actually a misquote; he never said that at all. What he did say, though, was "Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so." Close, but it's a pet peeve of mine when people get it wrong, like misquoting a movie.

I know a pet peeve of at least a few of my friends is the way I always seem so passé when people get all riled up about political arguments. They will often say things like “Why don’t you care more?” and “I can’t believe you’re not more pissed off about this!” The truth of the matter is that it’s not that I don’t care, it’s just that, well, Voltaire and I are kinda BFF. Maybe I’m just too good at putting myself in other peoples’ shoes – I see where they’re coming from, I understand their position, and as moronic and ignorant I might believe it to be, they have every right to believe it. I know I’ll never change their mind and a circular argument would ultimate break down into pointing out grammar mistakes and questioning one another’s sexual preferences. So I let it go.

But I can't do that when it comes to Park51 – the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque.”

First, let’s clear up one misconception: Park51 is not a Mosque, it’s a Muslim Community Center. Yes, it will be filled with Muslims and there will be room to say prayers, but there will also be art galleries, a gym, an auditorium, etc. An MCC is no more a Mosque than a JCC is a Synagogue, or a YMCA is a church. I think it’s important to note that there is a legit Mosque four blocks from Park51.

Putting the MCC near Ground Zero has been equated (by I forget who) with putting a Nazi memorial next to the Holocaust Museum. This is not correct. If anything, it’d be more like putting the German embassy next to the Israeli embassy, which still isn't really accurate. (For the record, the Israeli and Austrian embassies are separated by a scant 1000 feet.)

To be honest, the only argument I can find (and trust me, I’ve been looking) against Park51 is that that space is “hallowed ground,” being two blocks from the former site of the Twin Towers. So what exactly makes the place “hallowed?” Was it the devastation that occurred there on 9/11? Well, what about the Park East Synagogue? Never heard of it? It's just three blocks from Bernie Madoff’s former building. Granted, Bernie Madoff didn’t murder 2,000 innocent people, but he stole $65,000,000,000, effectively ruining countless innocent lives.

Even if the place is hallowed ground, what, exactly, is wrong with putting an MCC near it? What makes it so much different from anything else that’s been built without making headlines? The only response I’ve been able to find is that it’s insensitive to the victims and their families. But again, the question arises: what is so insensitive about it? Again, why is an MCC so different from whatever was in that building before? OK, let’s just stop beating around the bush – it’s that whole Muslim thing. You know it, I know it, we all know it.

Just say it out loud, “Muslims freak me out.” It’s ok, you’ll feel better afterward. The is the only way to make progress is to admit the problem. Once you admit that you are having trouble separating Islam from terrorism you can begin to learn the distinction between the two. (Note on the picture below: I found it online, but am 99% confident that I actually saw this truck when I lived in Virginia.)

The Park51 folks want nothing more than to build a religious community, a right that’s guaranteed to every person in this country by the First Amendment. Their religion does not harm you or this country in any way. When manipulated, distorted, and bastardized, it can, but you could say the same thing for anything. John Hinckley’s attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan was inspired by reading Catcher in the Rye. If you want to read it, go head, nobody's stopping you. I don't recommend it, though, because it totally sucks.

Imagine that a peaceful Christian community wants to build a YMCA in Baghdad. Now imagine that the news coming out of Baghdad is that supporters of the Y are receiving death threats - Iraqis are saying that constructing a Christian community center is nothing short of an insult on their houses, a huge loogie on the graves of their friends and family who have fallen at the hands of the Americans since March 2002 and they simply will not stand for it. Obviously, not all Americans are Christian (and not all Americans support the war, nor do all Christians, nor do all American Christians), so their anger is pretty displaced.

Imagine that someone in Yemen had a picture of the above truck stamped all over their car, with the caption "EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICA, I LEARNED FROM THIS TRUCK." If you know that not all Americans are racist, bigoted assholes, then you can't assume that all Muslims are flag-burning terrorists. Q.E.D.

Now let's say, for the sake of argument, that one day in the future the president's policies aren't quite so friendly toward Muslims or predominantly Muslim countries. Would members of the Park 51 MCC have a right to be upset? Yes! Would they have a right to protest publicly? Aboslutely! Does that mean they love the United States of America any less than you and I? HELL NO! In my opinion, protesting against the government is one of the most patriotic things you can do. Democracy is built on the fact that people disagree and have the right to express their disagreements publicly; when you extinguish the voice of the people, you are left with Fascism at best, Totalitarianism at worst.

It’s generally agreed upon that the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII is a black eye on this country’s history. Out of an irrational fear of that which they did not have the fortitude to tolerate, grew a hate so strong that American citizens revoked from other American citizens the very inalienable rights they swore to protect: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This time, save the pitchforks for throwing out horse shit and the torches for illuminating darkness, so we can all live in a country where we can all believe whatever the hell we all want.

NOTE: I welcome rebuttals, as long as things stay civil. Leave them in the comments, or send me an email, the address is on the left module somewhere.