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Nice to see someone of the stature of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria speaking up.
The debate over whether an Islamic center should be built a few blocks from the World Trade Center has ignored a fundamental point. If there is going to be a reformist movement in Islam, it is going to emerge from places like the proposed institute. We should be encouraging groups like the one behind this project, not demonizing them. Were this mosque being built in a foreign city, chances are that the U.S. government would be funding it.
And to the Anti-Defamation League which opposes the building of a mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero, Mr. Zakaria writes:
Five years ago, the ADL honored me with its Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize. I was thrilled to get the award from an organization that I had long admired. But I cannot in good conscience keep it anymore. I have returned both the handsome plaque and the $10,000 honorarium that came with it. I urge the ADL to reverse its decision. Admitting an error is a small price to pay to regain a reputation.
As I’ve written previously, this issue has never really been about how close the Islamic center is being built to Ground Zero. Two blocks, ten blocks, a hundred blocks and those who now protest would still be shouting their objections. The real issue at hand is intolerance cloaked in the patriotic colors of 9/11 angst. The shouting is being done by those who equate terrorism with Islam and regardless of their denials to the contrary, they are too bigoted or ignorant to understand the difference.
I heard a conservative commentator mention the other day that people would have no problem with the mosque being built in New York if it was, say, twelve blocks away instead of two. I had to laugh. If this were so, then there should be no objection to the mosque being built in Rutherford County, Tennessee which is 870 miles away from Ground Zero. But there is much protest and so I ask, what is the problem now? Still too close?
Lying bigots.
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Zakaria’s key point is that cordoba house would have to become a beacon to a reformist islam or else be an important catalyst to growing inter-cultural tensions.
The ADL is a blunt instrument. It required more nuance in this case. Sometimes giving ground to one’s supposed “enemies” is the best way to expose them to new pressures. It’s a standard maneuver in war and politics, which of course are kind of the same thing.
Having said that, Zakaria’s posturing by returning the ADL prize was an ironic echo of the unsubtle blundering that ADL itself used in this very case.
Why Simon? Because someone is willing to back up his strong convictions with something other than mere words? I applaud Zakaria on this.
You’d think that if anyone would understand the significance of tolerance and openness, it would be Jewish organizations like the ADL.
@punchline it undermines his journalistic integrity. i expect more of the guy.
@Simon. He’s not making a political statement. He’s making an ethical and reasoned one. Zakaria is not a beat writer for the NY Times. He’s an opinionated commentator who expresses his thoughts every week in print and on his show. Why should this be viewed differently?
@timothy you make some strong points, but nobody even knew he had received the award. it’s grandstanding by an otherwise intelligent man with ethical and reasoned positions. to this observer at least, it seems to be jumping on the bandwagon.
I just got into this argument the other day with a bunch of ex servicemen who I umpire with. They instead choose to see it as a slap in the face of those fighting the war and those that lost their lives. They just can’t see past the hate to look towards building bridges. Now they’re saying so much as those arabs who live in america shouldn’t be allowed to be muslim because we say one nation under god, not Allah. So much hate. Why can’t we just come together and live in peace. Melting pot doesn’t mean everyone change to be like you. It means a part of everyone is in the mix. I wish they taught that in the service.
@Emily,
I wish we could teach our children what you would like the service to teach their enlisted. Just think, if we could teach all of our children tolerance then hate and bigotry would be gone within a generation.
@everyone
As to Zakaria. I watch his show every week. He is very intelligent and puts for reasoned opinions and arguments. I did not think he was grandstanding here by mentioning his award, it just seemed a passing reference to explain his position more fully.
I learned in my broadcast journalism training that when a group gives an award to a journalist, sometimes it is a veiled attempt to get good press from that commentator. I love that Fareed Zakaria has shown his journalistic integrity by showing that ADL’s honors to him will not influence his positions nor his reporting! I’ve always believed that those who put their money where their mouth is have more integrity. Now I see Fareed do just that. He won’t keep money if it might be seen as him agreeing with ADL’s position. Good for you, Fareed! The greatest award you can have is your own integrity! I hope other upcoming journalists will learn from your example and take the high road!