National Advocacy (political science) 2 - Research Paper Example

Viral videos of anti-Muslim demonstrations race across social networks daily. Islamophobia started in earnest on September 11, 2001 for reasons that are all too clear. This condition is a reactionary response instigated and perpetuated by fear of the unknown and unfamiliar. The level of outwardly expressed hatred ebbs and flows with the day’s newscast but the underlying causes and effects remain constant. It is a shameful and unnecessary circumstance reminiscent of racial segregation battles of the South and anti-immigrant rhetoric that has persisted throughout the nation’s history.

Fortunately, technology is working in favor of reasonable thought and rational behavior. Social networking has enabled the world’s neighborhood to grow smaller and more familiar. We are entering an era of understanding between cultures therefore a lessening of ignorance and its byproduct, angry hate-filled speech aimed at disrespecting those of a different personal history. The argument for the critics of anything Islamic usually centers around terrorist actions, that Muslims commit more acts of terrorism than any other religious group therefore Islam is a war-like religion that does not respect life.

In addition, many countries with a large Muslim population are theocracies, Islamic States, such as Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Pakistan and Iran. This is unacceptable to many Americans who could not imagine living under a theocratic regime, who consider this way of life medieval in nature, backward and harsh. Of course if many of these same people had their way, the U.S. would officially become a Christian nation. Most, 55 percent, (Stone, 2007) still cannot admit the U.S. is a secular nation with a comparatively liberal democratic government and would argue, erroneously, that the Founding Fathers meant for the country to be a Christian nation.

It’s likely that those who are not aware of the Founder’s intent do not bother to investigate anything pertaining to the Islamic religion or Muslim culture so as to understand rather than fear it. The controversy surrounding the mosque near ‘ground zero’ was and is baseless. The plans were to expand the existing Islamic community center (Park 51) that already housed a mosque. Another mosque is located just down the street. The area is dotted with porn shops, bars and ‘gentlemen’s clubs’ but no one claimed any of these potentially offensive business establishments would tarnish the memory of those Americans who died in the twin tower attack.

The controversy was contrived and born purely out of fear, hatred and willful misunderstanding. “The site has been the scene of frequent demonstrations in which protesters carry signs saying such things as ‘All I Need to Know about Islam, I Learned on 9/11’" (Nachtwey, 2010). The community center is located in a building not unlike the others that surround it, plain and with no visible markings to indicate is a religious institution. It is not an imposing edifice complete with colorful, spiraling towers one might picture when imagining a traditional Middle Eastern mosque.

The outrage is disingenuous and not about the mosque itself or the pain it might cause the families of people who died on 9-11, which included Muslims as well. This false outrage is a by-product of ignorance, fear and bigotry. “