The Salem Witch Trials, The Red Scare, and now...

This is a pretty amazing commentary on not just the “ground zero mosque” debate, but on our country’s perception of Muslims in general. I feel the overall point is that so much of our country of made up of Americans who have incredibly strong opinions about things they have not taken the time to inform themselves about. Media and politicians manipulate people’s perception of issues. The term ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ paints the image of an Aladdin looking building that would cast a shadow on what used to be the World Trade Center. The reality is that there are two blocks of buildings that are more than six stories tall separating the proposed Islamic center from the site of the twin towers and the World Trade Center Memorial. The “mosque” itself is a normal, Manhattan building over ten stories tall. It will primarly be a community center open to the public, with facilitates such as cooking school, a basketball court; only the top two stories will be used for prayer. But these points are just facts that those adamantly against the “ground zero mosque” haven’t taken the time to learn about. Perhaps my favorite point that Keith made above is that the whole reason we were supposedly in Iraq, is too protect the citizens of Iraq; who are Muslim. We will risk our lives to save Muslims, but don’t want them building a cooking school in lower Manhattan.

The minds of Americans are being manipulated by those who can gain from it. What’s there to gain? Politicians need the votes of Americans to have a career/celeberty/moneyforstrippers. What’s a better/easier campaign strategy? To tell voters to change how they think, or to inflame what they already perceive to breed success on election day. Sarah Palin said in a tweet regarding the building of the Islamic Center:
“We all know that they have the right to do it, but should they?”

Vast amounts of Americans already have a stigma towards Muslims, and she is perpetuating that. Polititions know that stating things like, “I will not let them build them build a mosque at ground zero; NOT IN MY AMERICA!!!” will resonate with voters. Voters will say, YES, I agree with how you think, you got my vote!” Politicians use fear and American pride to work up a frenzy on issues that aren’t even real.

And what does the media have to gain? Well what sells more papers, “Controversy on Ground Zero Mosque Continues!” or “Islamic Recreational Center Gets Permit”

Donald Trump pointed out that it’s insensitive for Muslims to put a community center that close to a tragedy caused by other Muslims. What an incredibly racist statement. If a black guy shot some kid on a playground, and six months later another black guy was playing basketball on a nearby basketball court. It would be outrageous if someone said, “Hey, I know that you have the right to play here, but there are a dozen other courts you could play at. Why do you have to play right here? I know that YOU specifically didn’t have ANYTHING to do with the tragedy, but people around here don’t really want a black person being a part of this area because of what that another black person did. In fact, I think you playing basketball here is incredibly insensitive”, that would obviously be an offensive racist outlook. We have a new racism in our country. Ignorance and anger cause Americans to be so blind to the new racism, they don’t even realize that themselves are being racist.

Don’t be manipulated. Inform yourself. Then decide who to hate.