The recent news that Park 51, the organization behind the Islamic Cultural Center in Lower Manhattan, has applied for funding through the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) has unleashed yet another torrent of outrage.
From Rep. Peter King (R-NY), ”It is entirely wrong for any taxpayer money to be used to fund the ground zero mosque…this is particularly true when it is being done in such a secretive way. This just further offends the memory of all those who were murdered on Sept. 11th.”
Irshad Manji has exclaimed, “The New Yorkers I speak with have questions about Park51. Requesting money from public coffers without engaging the public shows a staggering lack of empathy — especially from a man who says he’s all about dialogue.”
It is interesting that the Center’s opponents continue to emphasize both the need for public dialogue and the offensive nature of an Islamic Cultural Center being placed within the vicinity of the WTC site.
How, for instance, would the Center’s opponents characterize the August 4th Community Landmarks Committee meeting which did not confer landmark status on the site, thus removing a potential initial roadblock to the project?
What do they call the 1,000 people who took part in the Liberty Walk rally in support of Park51 and the right of all Americans to gather for worship and service?
How would they define the interfaith teach-in held at the site on October 28th, which explored and discussed the sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?
I wonder whether opponents of the Center think that all other non-profit cultural and community organizations who have received development grants from the LMDC deserve the same level of public srutiny and one-sided dialogue as Park 51? Perhaps they would have objected to the $1.5 million awarded to the National Museum of the American Indian, or the $150,000 to the New York Chinese Cultural Center. After all, we do have a somewhat uneasy geo-political relationship with the Chinese.
The point is, despite having used an existing institutional venue for dialogue, such as the Community Landmarks Committee, and a showing of support from diverse groups of New Yorkers, not to mention a broad campaign to publicize its plans and ideas which guide the project….its opponents still somehow charge that a lack of dialogue and empathy are manifest in Park 51′s efforts.
Contributed By Dave Alexander
Tags: ground zero mosque, LMDC, mannhattan community board 1, park 51
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
