Did you know that the blown-out of proportion controversy over the mosque being built two blocks away from Ground Zero (not on the original site) is exactly what Bin Laden and the terrorists were hoping for- an open hostility of the West towards Muslims, including the moderate and peaceful Islamic communities. Bin Laden was not hoping that September 11th ended with a onetime deadly attack but rather that it would bring the U.S. and the Islamic world into a full fledged international conflict. It seems that he got his wish. The U.S. is embroiled in two conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and there is rising tension with a third nation-Iran. Hatred in the U.S. in the Middle East is at an all time high, and terrorist are finding it easier and easier to find young men to join in their ranks in reaction to their hatred of the U.S. and the West.
All this controversy is doing nothing to help heal relationships between the Islamic community and the general U.S. public; it is also failing to help heal some of the international wounds which have been created. It seems we have simply fallen into the trap that Bin Laden was hoping for. In many ways, we have alienated and gone after a whole ethnic and religious group of people. When this is done, peace, understanding, and moderation often become exchanged for extremism, hatred, and opposition. I hope that we as a nation can rise above these tensions and conflict and focus on real solutions to help create a more peaceful world.
The real way to let Osama Bin Laden win is not by allowing a mosque to be built in southern Manhattan; it is by allowing the hatred and tension between the West and the Muslim world to become so great that peace and reconciliation are no longer possible. Let's get out of the terrorist trap and realize that we live in a diverse and pluralistic society where all religions are guaranteed freedom, and all ethnic groups are to be treated with respect and dignity. All this outrage and tension over the mosque being built accomplishes nothing and only causes the path towards peace to become more treacherous.
This article was written by William McCorkle. He writes a blog on progressive social action and the search to find the true essence of the Christian faith at http://www.essencerestored.com. If you are interested in contacting the author, you may contact him at wdmccorkle@gmail.com.