The discussion over at Rachel Held Evans' blog regarding the controversy surrounding the planned Islamic Community Center close to Ground Zero made me ponder how followers of Jesus should engage in that discussion. Public perception for many Americans (maybe even a majority of the country) is: the planned location of this building is insensitive and distasteful (maybe even provocative) to most victims' families and to Americans in general. In other words: the main argument is one of empathy and therefore of love. Why purposely stir up that understandable emotional reaction and violate people's need to grieve and heal if you can just as well build somewhere else? Muslims certainly have the right to build wherever local zoning laws allow them to, but is it in the best interest of all to make use of that right in that particular location and its associated context? That's how one line of argument goes (and David can correct me if I misrepresented his objections to my remarks).
From a distinct Christian perspective, we also need to look at the Muslim community who has worshiped close to Ground Zero all along and how THEY are affected by all the sentiments expressed against them - which for the most part have nothing to do with insensitivity but a collective identification with evil and terrorism. Should those feelings be set aside? What about the Muslims who died at 9/11 and THEIR families? Wouldn't a denial to give a permit to something that has absolutely zero to do with terrorism not be equally a slap in THEIR faces? Now that the issue has become much larger than just a question of sensitivity but a revelation of public fears of massive proportions, should the extremist and hateful voices win the day just because they are screaming the loudest?
Christians are called to be peacemakers. Understanding each side and helping each side to understand the opposing view may be one of the most important steps we have to take. For me personally, it also means standing up and speaking out for those whose very lives may very well be threatened down the road (and in case you were wondering: I'm talking about the Muslims in the U.S. now!) - never mind just have their feelings hurt - if we don't speak up. The majority of my own countrymen in the Christian churches during the Nazi era failed to do this. We all know what happened and what continues to happen if good men and women do nothing and say nothing. Evil has a hayday! Yes, we need to speak up for those too who are still grieving and may not be able to distinguish rationally between a faith group who wants to have a community center and a place to worship from radical extremists who'd love nothing more than wipe the U.S. off the face of the earth. But ultimately the two issues aren't even close in comparison. And even all the non-Muslim families of victims and Americans must learn to see this instead of embracing the lie that these people are threatening their very existence.
Obviously we cannot force anyone into forgiveness, rationality or even just a calmer reaction to the whole issue. But what we can do is encouraging others to examine their own thought process and no matter what the conclusion is NEVER EVER to make people the problem. They are not. The problem is the problem. And we should try our darndest to communicate our concern for people instead of creating an impression that we just want to take sides on an issue. May God give us much wisdom, calmness and grace to engage in these debates both lovingly and firmly!
