Last week, after being offered a Bible several times in McCullough Plaza, discussing burning Qurans in my Religion in American Culture class and following the media coverage about the debated Islamic Center two blocks from Ground Zero in New York City, I was reminded that freedom of religion carries a hefty price.
Nine years ago, our country was violently reminded that national security can be compromised and our long-standing comfortable status quo can be subjected to radical attacks. Many are curious if America has recovered from the falling of The World Trade Centers and the thousands of lives lost that day.
Islamic followers are curious if Muslim intolerance still exists and to what extent they are protected against religious persecution defined in the first amendment.
Although our country is seemingly recovering and showing signs of healing after Sept. 11, signs of religious intolerance are emerging.
The intolerance has taken the form of religious blackmail. The blackmail has resulted from sensitivity — sensitivity to the respect of the families that lost loved ones in Sept. 11, sensitivity to the Islamic faith and sensitivity to American troops overseas.
A game of religious blackmail began last week between government leaders and Rev. Terry Jones, leader of the Dove Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla.
In the days leading up to Jones’ “Burn a Koran Day” — yes, that’s how he spells it — scheduled to take place outside the Dove Outreach World Center in Gainesville, Fla., on Sept. 11.
He was urged publicly by President Obama on “Good Morning America” to not burn the Qurans in fear of retaliation by the Islamic faith that may result in violence to American troops overseas.
President Obama said the idea was “completely contrary to our values” of religious freedom and tolerance.
The State Department on Thursday also issued a travel advisory warning U.S. citizens abroad to be alert for possible violence in reaction to the planned Quran burnings.
The advisory warned “of the potential for anti-U.S. demonstrations in many countries” and stated that demonstrations, some violent, have already taken place in several countries, including
Afghanistan and Indonesia.
“The potential for further protests and demonstrations, some of which may turn violent, remains high,” the advisory said, adding that travelers should pay attention to local reaction to the situation and avoid areas where demonstrations may take place.
Burning the Quran for a Muslim would almost be an equivalent insult to burning the American flag to an American.
Jones said, in a press conference last Thursday, that he also received a personal phone call from the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates pleading for the pastor not to torch the Qurans, expressing a concern for international condemnation and enflaming Muslim sentiment.
In response, Pastor Jones made his own conditions and extended his own religious blackmail to the Imam Feisal
Abdul Rauf, sponsor of the Islamic Center project in New York City.
His condition was that he would not move forward with plans to burn Qurans if the plans for the location of the Islamic Center would change.
Following the pattern the Imam Rauf, extended his own kind of blackmail.
In an interview on Larry King Live last Wednesday, Imam said it would be dangerous at this point to back out of the planning for the new location of the Islamic Center by Ground Zero because it may threaten America’s national security.
He said Muslims are watching worldwide and they are waiting to see what America will do to respond to this controversy.
Thus, religious intolerance certainly still exists. Although our first amendment rights allow for religious freedom, there are loopholes in every law. Politicians are laced with religious crack and high on personal agendas, hence the extreme importance of keeping America secular.
Personally, I like Donald Trump’s approach to rectify this intense situation in respect to religious freedom and the sensitivity to the Sept. 11 attacks.
He offered to buy the potential Islamic center building site from owner, Hisham Elzanatyan, Egyptian-born businessman, plus 25 percent.
So, now Elzanatyan will be left with the question of how much the building is worth.
By LEAH TATE
Profiles Editor
lmtate@umail.iu.edu