This blog post is to be done in class on Tuesday. Read the following articles, try to watch the embedded videos (you probably won't be able to if you're in school), and answer the following: What do you think will happen in the next six months regarding the Park51 Initiative?
http://news.feetintwoworlds.org/2010/10/29/park-51-controversy-leads-to-political-engagement-by-muslim-new-yorkers/
http://news.feetintwoworlds.org/2010/11/01/muslim-voters-face-difficult-choice-in-tuesdays-election/
http://www.dnainfo.com/20101011/downtown/ground-zero-mosque-founders-blast-firefighters-lawsuit-as-blind-bigotry
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/10/13/2309347/aclj-amends-lawsuit-to-stop-ground.html
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
It didn't let me type this in class. This message came up: Internet Explorer can't dispaly this webpage.
I think that in six months the Park51 intitive will be exactly wher e we ae now. Meaning that the mosque/community center will not be up and running or it will sort be built. I think that because in one of the articles it talked about how New York Muslims celebrated Muslim day on Sept.26th. That is good that means that NY is respecting the muslim community, which is good in this controversy. Another reason that is since today is election day people running in NY are against it, which will make more voters think it is bad. That means that NY is trying to respect the Muslims, but at the same time they aren't. Those are the reasons why I think that we will be exactly where we are now,with two different sides aguring over a the controversy.
I think that the Muslim community center proposed to be at 51 Park Place will get built in the future and, even though it might soon fade from the press, the Muslim communities will have a larger presence as units. I think this because the building area is private property and has religious aspects, so the proposal is legal and constitutional. Even though, as it mentioned in one of the articles, one may oppose the project by gathering signatures for a petition protected under free speech and the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government over the redress of grievances, the government does not necessarily have to make changes based on the petition. Also, if the government were to ban the building of this community center, the Islamic aspect of it would protect it from government interference because of the "separation of Church and State" derived from part of the First Amendment. I think that the Park51 controversy will fade from the press because in many articles it was used as a campaign topic for candidates for the mid-term elections. Since the elections are over, I predict there will be little more mention about this subject in the press. I also agree with Kristine K. that there are so many proponents and opponents that no perfect compromise or relevant continuation in the press will be made due to each side being adamant in their beliefs. I think that the Muslim communities will have more of a presence because as the first and part of the second article/audio stated that, "a couple thousand Muslim Americans gathered to demonstrate their unity," on September 26 (Annual Muslim Day Parade). These topics demonstrating Islamophobia both define the Islamic communities by theologically separating them from the rest of the American populace and spur these Muslims to unite and take a stand against this prejudice and discrimination. This story of a building being opposed because of opposing beliefs is rather like the story of the Synagogues being destroyed in Nazi Germany. These stories are similar because in both, one group is acting upon their views that directly negate the beliefs of the other group, and vice-versa. They are also similar because this contradiction of views is taken out on the symbols and buildings of the opposite religions. These two events are different because one involves the peaceful opposition of a proposal, whereas the other situation involves the buildings being vandalized, burned, and destroyed. That is how the Park51 Proposal and the Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) are similar.
Post a Comment