Only Muslims should decide whether to build Ground Zero mosque

When I first began reading about the controversy surrounding a proposed Mosque being built near Ground Zero in New York City, I was completely mystified: We live in America! In 2010! Are we seriously debating whether a mainstream religion should have the right to build a house of worship?

I was even more bewildered when I read that 52 percent of New Yorkers were opposed to the construction of the Mosque, with 31 percent in favor and 17 percent undecided. Filled with moral outrage, I posted an angry Facebook status with a link to an article about conservative politicians capitalizing on the bigotry.

Almost immediately, though, I began to question my indignation. Having lived in New York for about three months now, I can attest to the fact that it's among the most tolerant places in the world. On any given subway car, you'll find more economic, racial, religious and political diversity than most college campuses. The 8 million people who live in New York 's five boroughs are not generally a bigoted bunch – so why were they showing such contempt for Muslims?

There's no simple answer, of course, and that may not even be a fair question. Some New Yorkers are clearly just motivated by blind prejudice and hatred. Some are worried about zoning laws. And still some have formed their opinions based on centuries-old religious struggles. (The same poll found that 66 percent of Jews in New York opposed the Mosque.)

But all of them – at least those who have lived in New York over the past decade – have one thing in common: they watched as the twin towers fell only miles from their homes.

And so I tread carefully here. As someone who watched 9/11 unfold on CNN, safe in my suburban Massachusetts home, I cannot relate to the people who lost family members, friends and co-workers in those towers, the people whose minds filled with fear for months every time they boarded a bus or entered a crowded office building.

But as a Mormon, I can't accept that religious persecution is justified by an isolated group of people who severely misinterpret their faith. Very little compares in scope to the 9/11 terror attacks, but every religious group contains members who use their beliefs as an excuse to commit atrocities. Should Protestant churches be banned from places where the KKK has committed murder? Should Latter-day Saints be forbidden from building chapels on blocks where crazed fundamentalists have committed child abuse?

Much was made last week of Sarah Palin's Tweet on this subject: "Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in interest of healing."

And I can see her critics' points. For one thing, Palin must know by now that whenever she makes a comment (even on a local zoning issue) she further incites the type of inflammatory partisan debate that has gridlocked Congress. For another, it seems unreasonable that she wants "peace-seeking Muslims" to distinguish themselves from terrorists while so many of us seem unwilling to distinguish a Mosque from a terrorist boot camp.

But on at least one count, I think Palin has it right. If anyone is going to decide not to build a Mosque near Ground Zero, it should be Muslims. Again, as a Mormon, I would be infuriated if a government prohibited my church from building a chapel because of a few violent, misguided Latter-day Saints, but if church leaders decided for themselves that it was unnecessary to incite the anger of so many, I would stand behind their judgment.

I understand that New Yorkers have more reasons than most to be anxious, scared or angry. But I also believe that all people should be allowed to worship "how, where, or what they may."

McKay Coppins is a journalism major at BYU. His weekly blog chronicles the Mormon twenty-something experience. McKay's column, "Mormon Twentysomething," appears Fridays on MormonTimes.com.

Good point.

Taking into account that there is a very high probability that the lib freak who wrote the article is probably quite active and worthy within the LdS since the LdS church (Deseret News) owned paper printed his screed.

The LdS encounter a lot of resistance from non-mormons when temples are announced.

This may be a pre-emptive article or an attempt to present an argument for LdS when they announce a temple or church bldg, so they can say they’re the only ones who “should get to decide if it gets built.”

Useful Idiots like him are as Dangerous as the Terrorists.

***

It figures he’s is clueless

Without spending too much time on my opinion of the pundit/entertainer — I’m going to have to face my in-laws at the next family reunion, after all —

I’ll just say I think Beck’s unique brand of hateful rhetoric, fear-mongering and conspiracy theorizing represent a dangerous fringe of American conservatism.

That younger Mormons seem to be rejecting him is encouraging.

Of course, my only evidence of this assertion is anecdotal, and I’m not aware of any data that track the political leanings of LDS young adults.

But more broadly, a recent Harvard study has found that an increasing number of 18- to 29-year-olds consider themselves independent of either of the dominant partisan platforms.

It’s entirely plausible, if not likely, that the same trend toward moderate politics is taking place within the church.

I have written before about the hazards of our church becoming too mono-partisan.

If we risk alienating Democrats by being too Republican, then we risk alienating an even larger group — namely, rational people of any political ideology who find the rantings of extremists repellent — when we defend and even join the radical fringe.

There is no doubt that Beck’s story of repentance, recovery and conversion is an inspiration, and we should be careful not to demonize him as an individual.

But some of his rhetoric and some of his politics are uncivil at best and frightening at worst.

If we want our church culture to welcome people with a variety of opinions, we would do well to follow the brethren’s counsel regarding civility.
http://www.mormontimes.com/article/1710/The-Glenn-Beck-problem

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