Does Ground Zero Mosque reveal elitists’ politically preferred religion?

In chemistry a reagent is defined as “a substance used to detect or measure another substance or to convert one substance into another by means of the reaction which it causes.” With this in mind, the Ground Zero Mosque (GZM) project is turning out to be an effective political reagent. In their reactions to it America’s political and other public figures are taking stands that reveal their core priorities and motivations.

In my last posting I discussed this in regard to Ron Paul’s slashing attack on the GZM’s opponents, among them the families and friends of those murdered in the 9-11 attacks, or who died in the aftermath.

Paul’s view of the issue suffers from an understanding of freedom that ignores the fact that a God ordained concept of natural right is the basis for every claim to liberty, including the claim to religious liberty. Paul is blinded by the idolatry of freedom. But what of others, including Barack Obama and Michael Bloomberg, who feelingly evoke America’s tradition of respect for human rights. What explains their eagerness to pretend that the mantle of religious liberty must be extended to every activity that wears the label of religion, whether it actually serves right or wrong?

On this issue the Bloomberg/Obama faction seem pathetically anxious to make clear to the world that in America all religions are equal; that Islam will not be given some kind of second class status. However, they are like the suitor who aims to please a rich widow with paeans of admiration for her flawless countenance. His anxiety leads him to protest too much. The more overwrought his poetical comparisons to limpid pools and lilies softly shining in the moonlight, the more plainly it appears that the only real attraction is her money.

Note: the prohibition against iconographic representations such as drawings of figures and bodies pre-dates Islam. See references to the iconoclastic controversy. Caves in Syria where people worshipped had competing groups erasing heads, redoing heads (of icons) and erasing them again. Byzantine art moved to use of 'leaves' and tendrils in mosaics, and the Muslims hired them for building decoration, especially starting with the Dome of the Rock (Umayyad capital & tribal homeland--the 1st Islamic 'dynasty' that spread and survived in Muslim Spain). See Empress Irene, the Arian (or Athanasian) controversy and Byzantine mosaics. We're talking 6th century timeframe, predating Islam. The Byzantine mosaicists BROUGHT the whole 'leaves' motif with them and carried this through into their art. Apparently, the start of the practice of using artistic Arabic script in art of Islam started with simply using letters willy nilly. The practice of not using depictions of the body/face of Muhammad may have begun after the 'Islamic Golden Age' (that is, after the 1st 4 caliphs, although some debate this. See "The Rashidun" or 'rightly guided Caliphs, which includes the murder of Uthman, the martyrdom of Ali and the whole Sunni/Shi'i split Note: Shi'is are further split into seveners or twelvers <--out there 'hidden imam' types. But I digress). The whole don't depict Mohammad is bunk. Mughal art in India was rife with figures in miniature. See also the mosaic art (existant or not) in Hagia Sophia. (much of it erased). Factoids of the day, and something to think about regarding the whole 'don't draw Mohammad' thing, which may have ORIGINATED IN THE 16th or 17th centuries. Images of Mohammad were ON COINS and in art from the Middle East as well as in early art, prior to the 12th century if not after 100 years beyond Mohammad's death. I don't talk about these things much on FR. It's almost like a coming out. I should probably be more vocal. Sometimes the stories and ideas get picked up elsewhere. There you go. Have at it. Oh yes........I forgot. If you research this, you'll find Arab/Middle Eastern influence on the original WTC structure. Look it up. The arches, the design, the esthetic included drawing on Islamic artistic tradition.

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