OF MOSQUES AND MEN part 2

America may becoming weakened by its need to always be the good guy on the block. Nine years ago today, innocent American lives were snuffed out by those who would speak of "Allah" as one who needs terrible aggression to justify American mistakes. Yes America must look at herself and her need to better the world with our evolved standards. We have used aggression as well and now is time for reflection. Not every nation is ready for a working democracy and aggression is not the way to serve it up.

But the Mosque issue is not really about American religious tolerance. We are proven in that area. There is no need for President Obama's punitive comments to us all about this need for tolerance and acceptance. And we do not need to be reminded by Mr. Obama of the gentle American Muslims who share our values. We DO understand that, Mr Obama, and your preaching style can be offensive. Amam Ruaf's project is an act of aggression. Aggression is termed with active and passive adjectives. Active aggression needs no explanation, but when something is done for an individual purpose pronounced as an act of peace and yet offends so many people, we must question and review the motives.

Rauf scoffed with bitter supremacy, often observed in egotistical religious leaders, when the 911 site was referred to as "sacred ground". He stated with condemning authority that "prostitutes are working there" and therefore could not be considered sacred. Very telling. We need to know more about the Sharia Law of Islam and why women seen to be treated with less value than men, sometimes cruelly and aggressively. In the Christian faith, the dominant faith of our country and the faith on which our founding fathers were supported when the constitution was conceived, proclaims all distressed individuals are part of the Divine and all have the chance for forgiveness and redemption and this is determined by Divine power alone, not human judgement. This is evolved thinking and contrasts greatly with the aspects of Islam that are condemning, aggressive and reflect dark age thinking.

History tells us that when Islam scores a victory, a mosque is built at the site. The only victory can be peace, and though Rauf proclaims this is his motive, his actions are divisive. Again if he was really reaching out, he would be more interested in an interfaith center to prove his proclamation. He would be more of an apologist for the radical wing of Islam than ready to have America host a mosque so close to the tragedy that has that stamp on it. " Those who do not remember history are destined to repeat it". We all know this quote. If Mr. Obama was to take the leadership role here, he would use the same tone he used to chastise the Supreme court members and the one he so often uses toward the American people and remind the imam that though he has the right to build his mosque on this "sacred" site, he must also be aware of the hurt he causes and that so many are still broken from the crimes perpetrated in the name of Islam. He may also remind the imam that in Moslem countries, other faiths are not so welcome. Inclusion is the American way despite the flaws and mistakes of growth.

Maybe at this time America needs to quietly close her doors a bit and do some family reflection about how leaving the door wide open can let in some unwanted guests who stay too long and ask for too much without returning the favor. Of Mr Rauf's three wives, it would be interesting to have a conversation with the first (American born) wife.

OF MOSQUES AND MEN

The best solution for deciding whether or not a mosque should be constructed at the 911 site must be decided by women. We have come a long way baby and we are not so foolish as to turn the clock back a few centuries and honor the religion of Islam in that broken ground. A confused radical wing claiming to represent Islam to be sure was responsible for the 911 tragedy. Tremendous pain still resonates in its wake, even for those not so directly effected with losing loved ones. Most of the teachings of Islam are in accordance with other religions and do not conflict with the evolutionary thought which is the foundation of the growth of the United States. Muslim women who choose to cover their heads (not their faces) are appreciated here. But other factions of the religion cannot co-exist with American norms. Here women are equal in a marriage and other partnerships. In the Muslim faith, a woman is deemed subservient and the man has the final say. According to Muslim law, a man can utter a divorce decree verbally and the couple is divorced. A woman has no such right. This is just an example of the backward thinking embodied in this faith that destroys the feminist movement that has empowered all Americans; women, men and children. Mayor Bloomberg when he speaks about his elite philosophy forgets this. Maybe his wife should weigh in.

The solution is simple: build an interfaith memorial and we can all learn from each other. Knowledge is Power for all. Islam can learn about the equality of women and other faiths may learn about some of Islam's enlightened practices such as Ramadan which serves to foster meditation and possibly bring human thoughts closer to the Divine. All religions offer the opportunity to be divisive or embracing. We may think differently about the Divine, but we as a country celebrate this. And religious freedom is lawfully protected as long as conflicts with American legal structure and norms are not transgressed.

Yes an interfaith memorial structure is the answer, but a pole determined by women alone as to the building of a mosque only would illuminate an issue that some men still do not choose understand.