Bringing Compassion to the debate around "Ground Zero Mosque"

I feel deeply called to take a stand for my Muslim brothers and sisters. What does 'hallowed ground' mean? What about the scores of Muslim American victims of 911? To me, what we stand for as USA
and what is the appropriate response to terrorism - is to rejoice in having a
Mosque, synagogue, church, union hall, ashram or demonstration anywhere,
including right at Ground Zero. “Paranoia strikes deep; into your life it
will creep; it starts when you’re always afraid.” Please watch
this. I am chilled to see the harsh graffiti... it reminds me of
outbreaks of anti-Jewish graffiti on our synagogues and the times we've needed
police protection to go to services. That is not my America. Let’s
take a stand for our deepest values.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3icwKy8_QQ&fmt=18

I hope we will give this deep thought and care, to examine our emotional responses to see what lies beneath. If you care to explore further with me, read on…

Some of my questions: What makes us anxious or ambivalent or hostile about this issue of the Mosque in NYC? Why does building an Islamic community center seem to
“violate” so called ‘hallowed ground’ ? What does hallowed ground
mean? How far does it extend? Why are the voices of those victims
who are offended to be heard more loudly/fully than other voices? –
surely not all of the families of victims of 911 feel offended. (Scores
of them were in fact Muslims) What makes them offended? Do we ban
churches from being built near the abortion clinics where drs. were
assassinated by fundamentalist Christian fanatics? Do we fear all
Christians because of those fanatics?

I think we need to question what it is in our thinking that creates this emotional response….911 was an act of terrorists that to me has nothing to do with a faith shared by a
huge percentage of people on this planet – including many law abiding Americans
– including many innocent victims of 911 who were in fact of the Islamic
faith… Ultimately it does seem to me it is stereotyping and
generalizing from the act of a few to a entire people/religion that makes this
offensive: is that not the definition of racism? Why lies beneath
the extent of Islamaphobism around the world at this time? How do we
address the underlying causes? How do we move from fear to positive
action… and love.

For my part, I feel great empathy and compassion for my Moslem friends who feel marginalized, frightened and branded – indeed, victims of racism --in this country. I think it is
important for us to stand up as allies and speak out. I do not believe in
guilt by association.

With loving care for our world,

Susan