Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Less Than Ground Zero

Adam Serwer on the Ground Zero Mosque stupidity:
I'm sure that the intensity of emotion shared by some of the projects' opponents are sincere. But where they hold Muslims collectively responsible for the actions of a few extremists, they are mistaken, and where their feelings are the result of falsehoods spread by the conservative media, they are misguided, and where they believe the First Amendment does not extend to American Muslims, they are simply wrong.

The reason this became a national controversy is because Republicans see a political advantage in harnessing anti-Muslim sentiment, particularly if that forces Democrats to defend an unpopular minority group. Rauf and Khan are merely collateral damage in a larger political battle in which the rights of Muslims are forfeit as long as Republicans see some political interest in curtailing them or forcing their opponents to defend them. But just as no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people, no Republican ever went broke underestimating the political cowardice of the Democratic Party.

So what we're left with is a largely uncontested notion that any observant Muslim is a potential national-security threat, a view that was once confined to the conspiratorial right-wing fringe but is now, thanks to Republican demagoguery, Democratic cowardice, and mainstream media know-nothingism, an entirely respectable, mainstream view. This isn't just a setback for religious tolerance and individual freedom; it's a setback for the fight against terrorism, which demands that the United States marginalize violent extremists, not embrace their narrative and worldview.
And my question stands:  the one person we have not heard from on this issue is President Obama.  he's the one who could put this to rest.  He has said nothing on this.  Democrats have barely said anything, and even then it's mostly Anthony Weiner and Chuck Schumer punting.

If you will not defend American Muslims as American citizens there Dems, then you are lost.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't worry, Zandar. Sarah Palin says that she's fightin' for all Americans now and for the Constitution and stuff. Oh wait. She also wants to refudiate the building of this mosque near ground zero. I'm so confused!

No wonder our glorious leader can't speak about it. It's too confusing.

Sorry about my attitude. This is just so absurd, which is the second time I've used that word today.

Zandar said...

Absurd is an excellent term for it. It certainly feels stupid to the point of being surreal.

Bush repeatedly would clamp down on this crap and would remind everyone that American Muslims are Americans.

Why doesn't Obama do the same? Why does this go unchallenged by the bully pulpit?

Tom Steele said...

And what does Obama get for wading into this? I understand the desire for a little leadership here, but the downside is HUGE with elections coming up. The matter has been decided by local authorities and there's nothing to gain by keeping the issue on the front burner.

Anonymous said...

I didn't realize that about Bush, Zandar. I'll have to do some research. Maybe there's a teeny tiny little soft spot in my heart for him after all.

I don't know though.

Zandar said...

As cheesy as it sounds, "Because it's the right thing to do".

Anonymous said...

I agree Zandar, but can't you hear all the little teapots now, if that were to happen?

I KNEW Osamabama was a muslin!

Zandar said...

Yeah, I know. Angers me still.

StarStorm said...

In that, they might as well, as far as they are concerned "Black" is synonymous with "Muslim".

Crazy, I know, but fuck, they think he's a Muslim anyways, so why not just step out for it. If anything, it would be a half-decent PR move among Muslims.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm. Yes, StarStorm, why the heck not?

I mean, he WAS a Constitutional scholar, was he not?

On the other hand, the history of America is not abundant with examples of "freedom for all", in spite of governmental, constitutional assurances of it.

Hey, I said that without being ugly or mentioning Native Americans.

Wow, I've grown.

StarStorm said...

True enough.

As far as I'm concerned, the Cordoba House is pretty much given, and the assholes can go fuck themselves, but hey, they need those votes!

Anonymous said...

Cordoba House. Thanks StarStorm. I didn't know the right name.

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