Recently (and by recently I mean I wrote this article for the Cornell Sun in August and forgot about it because they chose not to publish it or respond to my e-mail in any way) the Anti-Defamation League joined Sarah Palin and the Tea-Party, Rush Limbaugh, and other infamous pundits and individuals who have no idea what they are talking about in reprimanding the silly Muslim Americans who are planning to build a mosque/community center in NYC. The once respected rights group used a particular line of reasoning that I have noticed to be quite popular amongst these demagogues who rally against everything America upholds. The ADL appealed not to particular rational, philosophical or ethical grounds, but claimed that the issue was “not a question of rights, but a question of what is right.” I immediately remembered Sarah’s (we're on first name basis) twitter about “common moral sense” and the various internet comments I have had the unfortunate pleasure of reading—damn my curiosity and unending quest to disabuse those who are, in my opinion, “wrong.” This is a slippery slope these individuals are treading on for a variety of reasons and an appeal to such “common sense” should not be used in any context and especially not in the case of Mosque v. New York.
The problem with saying this situation is one of "common sense" is that this protest movement—whether it be in New York or Tennessee— can in no way be rationalized with common sense. Common sense pertains to things like eating when you're hungry, holding your breath when you go underwater, and Arrested Development being the best comedy series ever produced.
This Mosque (or Community Center, take your pick) is another beast entirely. I understand that some individuals are unhappy this is being built, that people are "sensitive,” and that some question the motives of the placement of the aforementioned building. However, I think everyone who protests this building should state that they themselves feel sensitive about the Mosque instead of appealing to generalizations. In place of saying "the families who have lost loved ones during 9/11 wouldn't approve of this" these protesters should say "I feel sensitive about Muslims Americans building a place of worship near Ground Zero." The former sounds legitimate but is specious beyond reproach (read: bullshit) while the other is the actual truth.
The former statement sounds innocuous but it implies a variety of exceptionally incorrect views. By saying that this is a "common moral sense" issue, you are implying that all Mosques are associated with terrorism and that you agree having such a viewpoint is both common and understandable. I can assure you with the deepest conviction that it is not at all common or understandable to have such views. Associating mosques and the religion of Islam implicitly with 9/11 and terrorism is something that needs to be stamped out completely. Just as this country is continuing to extinguish those associations between African Americans and Latino Americans with crime and drug use, we must eradicate the associations “common moral sense” innately champions. Yes, many impoverished minorities do commit crime and abuse drugs but you must not implicitly associate the two, nor can you justify such associations with vague notions of “common sense.” That is bigotry and that is exactly what protesters like the ADL support; the continuation of this prejudiced association.
I've seen someone compare this to building a Nazi museum near every concentration camp. I fear that to some individuals who have not yet formed an opinion on this debate will be influenced by such a base appeal to emotion. First, nothing in human history has ever compared to such a horrific and deplorable event as the Holocaust and comparing anything to it would be cheapening the suffering the Third Reich caused. Second, a Mosque is not a place remembering and celebrating terrorism. If I were to use such an inappropriate simile this Mosque is akin to building a German history museum near a concentration camp instead. Germany as a country does not support Nazism and when touching on that grievous part of its history, would condemn with the most passionate ardor that such actions were inexcusable and atrocious. Neither the Mosque in question nor the leadership associated with it (contrary to rags such as the Weekly Standard report) support terrorism but denounce it just as every responsible Mosque should.
In conclusion, everyone who is against this Mosque and claims that while Muslims have a "right" to build near Ground Zero, "common moral sense" compels them not to, is a bigot. There is no use affirming that you support the rights of religion and the American people when it is so clear that you do not. In this day and age we can no longer afford to let these individuals use such a nebulous phrase as a shield to ward off any suspicions of prejudice. #justsaynotocommonsense
