US claims itself to be a peaceful democratic country in the world but as we put a closer look over it, we find something different, different from what it claims. The recent Mosque building controversy at a place near the ground zero has given a chance to the people around to discuss and doubt the very claim of US as a democratic and religious tolerant country.
Almost a decade later after the notorious 9/11, a proposal to build an Islamic centre and mosque two blocks away from the World Trade Centre (WTC) site has sharply divided the country. The voices of rationality have gained pitch stressing America's constitutional tradition of strict separation of church from the state.
However, President Barack Obama has fueled the controversy by weighing in. First on the side of the rationalists, as might be expected, from a former professor of constitutional law. On August 13, 2010, Obama asserted, “Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country, and that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances”.
The next day Obama clarified that he was only speaking of legal rights and was not commenting on the wisdom of making the decision to place a mosque near the ground zero. With this U-turn gesture, which came at the start of a ferociously competitive election season, Obama opened himself up for criticism, not just from conservative Republicanism but also from many Democrats.
The portrayal of Obama as an ivory tower intellectual, out of touch with the average American is a wild card for the Republican plan of attack this November. The faltering recovery, and resultant discrediting of his economic policy, which was crafted by a group of Ivy League college professors, makes this an easy job on the economic front. Now, the president appears to have handed his rivals the perfect opportunity to broaden their attack.
Former US President Bill Clinton also supported Park 51 (the proposed Islamic centre) after noting that many Muslims were also killed on September 11. Union supported it as well, citing principles of religious Freedom. The Interfaith Alliance also supported the mosque, while indicating that it agreed with the need for transparency as to who is funding the project.
On the other hand, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg strongly endorsed the project, saying that Ground Zero was an appropriate place for a mosque, because it would send a message to the world that US has freedom of religion for everyone. Responding to opposition, he said, “We want to make sure that everybody from around the world feels comfortable coming here, living here, and praying the way they want to".
The statements are positive though but the public opinion tells some other story. It’s not a question of building an Islamic centre or a mosque, but it’s a question of an undefined and unremitting malice towards a particular religion. Has the 9/11 affected the religious tolerance of US? I think it has!
