Breaking down the walls of division: nine years after 9/11

By Ken Russell in Articles

Ken considers the need for Compassion in the issues surrounding Ground Zero.

The world will never be allowed to forget 9/11. America sees to that, and whether it is by the persistent and erroneous notion that it was a calculated attack in a holy war against "Christian democracy", or any one of a number of conspiracy theories that purport the government of Geo W. Bush was party to a nefarious plot to curry public opinion in favour of an attack on Iraq, 9/11 will doubtless remain for many years to come as a rallying point for the political and religious right in that country to ferment virulent anti-muslim propaganda.

9/11 will always make a story. Footage of airliners flying headlong into iconic buildings and panic stricken New Yorkers fleeing the Twin Towers holocaust, will remain etched in the collective mind of Americans. That much is understandable.

The 10th anniversary is but one year away, and the question yet to be answered is whether the emotional observance of that terrible day, one year hence, will continue to be used by the extremists of the far right, hardline Republicans, the military establishment, Fox News, and a host of tele-evangelists, to continue their relentless campaign against all things Islamic - or whether a softer, more tolerant voice will be heard, of reason and sanity, that clearly and fairly distinguishes between mainstream Islam and radical Al Qaeda is a question of supreme importance far beyond the bounds of the United States.

It is in the context of that as yet unanswered question, that the current fiercely waged debate in the U.S. over proposals to build a Muslim mosque and community centre within not much more than a stone's throw from Ground Zero warrants our attention.

Imagine, if you will, the courage, (or is it the foolhardiness) of such a proposal - to build a major centre for the practice of Muslim religion and culture adjacent to the site where radical Al Qaeda wrought death to 3000 Americans and destruction to two of the proudest landmarks of American life and commerce. Claiming that every fibre of American public opinion is incensed at the very idea, that American pride and honour is at stake, a barrage of opposition has been mounted, one with the potential to divide America on racial and religious grounds and even to threaten the government of Barack Obama. One commentator put it recently - "the rise, or not, of an Islamic powerhouse so close to America's 'holy ground' has the potential to influence the shape and direction of government in this country for the next decade. This insult to 3000 slaughtered Americans must be stopped."

An unlikely hero in this escalating saga is New York Governor, Michael Bloomberg, a former Wall St mogul, long-time Republican, and a practising Jew. Every one of these affiliations would, one might think, place Mr Bloomberg in the camp of powerful conservative forces determined to stop the proposal in its tracks. But not so. As the boss of City Hall in Manhattan, the Mayor has led his administration to approve the plan, and is leading the charge for the Centre to go ahead.

It is useful to note Mr Bloomberg's stated reasons for his courageous and outspoken support. They are said to be both civic and personal. For years, with a mix of care and impatience, he has been encouraging New Yorkers, including the families of 9/11 victims, to move beyond the horrific memories of nine years ago. As if guided by an instinct that he must practise what he preaches, he took the initiative to meet the Muslim principals, among them Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, a controversial New Yorker with a track record of advocating for moderate liberal Islamic programmes in cosmopolitan Manhattan. While heavily condemned for doing so, Bloomberg became personally impressed by the integrity of the people, and on that basis openly refuted claims by opponents the centre would be used to harbour radical elements plotting to inspire acts of terror. Then, only weeks ago Mr Bloomberg approached an adviser on Muslim issues, Fatima Shama, a Palestinian-American commissioner on immigrant affairs and asked her what she thought of the project. Ms Shama, it is said, framed the issue in personal terms. She has three sons, she said, but there is no place in all of Manhattan for them to share their faith with their Jewish and Christian friends. "This could be such a place," said the Mayor, and gave wide publicity to the conversation.

What a role model. Friendship, not prejudice. Relationship, not reputation. Trust, not fear.

We should not gain the impression the Mayor is alone. As the controversy has mounted, liberal Christian and Jewish interests in the Big Apple have weighed in behind him. The future, or the non-future, of the bold project, has assumed a symbolic importance far beyond New York, and the President himself, who his opponents are openly accusing of being a closet Moslem, is fast approaching the time when he must clearly declare himself for or against. Clearly he campaigned for just such bold initiatives as the Mayor is advocating. It will be a moral test of his presidency.

As with many things in America, their influence on our media, and thus on our opinions, can hardly be overestimated - whether for good or for ill. We have made much of the Charter for Compassion as the way forward for interfaith dialogue, but it needs to be more than an academic discussion among theologians. Mayor Bloomberg is a Hero of Compassion. He is "doing" the Charter, moving beyond lip service, and we may observe at what cost, and to what extent he is being demonised by the apostles of prejudice.

Could it be that at the site of infamy, in arguably the world's greatest city, mecca for tourists from every country and culture, a landmark of tolerance, respect and peace could yet arise that in time will stand as an alternative testimony to the real spirit of Islam, a spirit of compassion, "breaking down the walls of division." (Eph 2: 14)? Hope springs eternal.
Pray for this mayor.

-- Ken Russell

First printed as a Connections article in the Parish Weekly Bulletin, August 22, 2010.