Ground Non-Zero Non-Mosque and Evangelical Nonsense

If you don't believe that the ground zero mosque is neither at ground zero nor a mosque, I really can't help you. You'll need a therapist and some strong anti-psychotic medication. I was going to put a map up to show the distance, a solid two blocks from the northeast corner of ground zero, but every map I found had the caption: distance from proposed mosque to ground zero. That's a problem, because it's not a mosque. Even if you hate Keith Olbermann, watch this video if you're still confused. He uses helpful diagrams, and he defines terms, like mosque. The Park 51 building is going to be a 13-story community center, not a mosque. However, even if it were a mosque, they would still have every right to build the damn thing. There are issues that have to be considered when living in a country that has codified religious liberty into its founding documents, and one of those is that you may not like your neighbor's faith. Period. If they are acting within the law in the practice of their faith, piss off. That's not really my issue today though. My issue is with two Christian "intellectuals" who have gone on record opposing Park 51 (see how easy it is to stop saying mosque): Chuck Colson and Richard Land.

Colson, writing for Crosswalk.com, demonstrates that he doesn't know his way around logic, analogy, or rhetoric. In a bit of shameless self-promotion, I'd like to point out that I first recommended Christianity Today reassign Colson to a different job way back in July of 2006. I can't really pick on them this time, as he's writing for the utterly inane crosswalk.com. And the quality of the writing is reflective of that. This gem is my favorite:

It would be like the Japanese building a Shinto shrine at Pearl Harbor!

Mr. Colson has no gift for analogy creation. It would decidedly not be anything like his example. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor as soldiers in a foreign army, much like the terrorists who attacked the World Trade Center were working for an enemy organization, but it's not the goddamn terrorists who are trying to build the community center. It's Muslim Americans! That's a critical point to fuck up right out of the gate, Chuck. The best analogy I heard today was from a liberal caller to a radio show who asked why all the conservatives weren't trying to close all the gun shops in Littleton, Colo., as an act of sensibility in light of the Columbine massacre. Why is one amendment to the Constitution embedded in the Bill of Rights important and the other not? Perhaps it's got more to do with scapegoating and fear than it does with pleas for sense and sensitivity.

Colson's example of zoning commissions is so stupid and pointless I didn't want to touch it, but...The area is already zoned, Chuck. You can't use legitimate logistical city planning issues as an example when this issue is not being decided on city planning issues. Religious freedom (see, the word tolerance isn't necessary, and I know you hate it, Chuck) dictates that the Muslim community has the right to build that center. Period. You can argue that they should be more sensitive. I mean, how frightening is it to have a culinary school and basketball courts 2 1/2 blocks from the farthest corner of almost ground zero?! But this is the crowning jewel of Colson's idiocy, and I'm charitably assuming he's an idiot, not a political hack and liar:

Because I believe that the vast majority of Muslims are peace loving citizens who do not support terrorism, I can't imagine why they would want to tempt us to think otherwise by building a mosque at the site where their co-religionists perpetrated the most barbaric acts of modern times.

You shameless hack. Christians are supposed to pursue the truth, wherever it leads. Conservatives are supposed to be Constitutionalists. You, sir, are clearly deluded, foolish, incompetent, or a liar. How are they tempting us to think otherwise? You sound very much like the Muslims you clearly fear and loathe who insist women must wear the burqa so as not to tempt us to think lustfully. Fundamentalism always ends up looking much the same; it's only a matter of which sky god has the best sky cake. And, by the way, Chuck, it's not a fuckin' mosque.

Now to Christianity Today's piece on the controversy. Here's the money excerpt:

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), said one could be against the center while still maintaining that the group should have the freedom to have a mosque in lower Manhattan.

Speaking on Public Radio International's To the Point, Land said, "We have consistently defended religious freedom, separation of church and state. And we believe that Muslims certainly have the right to build mosques, to have places of worship that are convenient to them in their communities … I certainly defend the right of Muslims to have mosques and places of worship in lower Manhattan but not, not at Ground Zero."

Richard (can I call you Dick?), you can't support their right to have a community center, Dick, not mosque, in Lower Manhattan and then dictate where they can have it. That's not how religious freedom works. You can't say you're for it, but then create an exception list that has nothing to do with public safety, zoning, or other logistical issues. You're either confused about what religious liberty is or you're just lying because you don't want to say, "I hate Muslims." And by the way, Dick, the goddamn thing is not at ground zero.

Do all these religio-political pundits get their talking points from the same evil cabal of conservative handlers? Why do they all sound like Newt Gingrich with a peppering of Jesus talk when it comes to this issue? You're supposed to be Christians, and as such, it's sort of your duty to tell the actual truth, not the one you've manufactured in your ill-disguised ploy to use power to manipulate and maintain control. One of the reasons these people hate Continental postmodern philosophy is that the linguists exposed their use of language for what it is: a raw power grab.

Comments

[Leighton]

Do all these religio-political pundits get their talking points from the same evil cabal of conservative handlers?

Pretty sure this is a conscious Republican strategy. They know they can't win on policy or positions, so they gussy up some symbolism to win them seats, because in this economy, media outlets are too beholden to their advertising interests (senseless conflict = ratings) to call bullshit on bullshit.

[Eddie]

Thank you. My thoughts exactly. Only more smart. :)

[Jesus Reyes]

Not only should there be a Sufi Community Center in lower Manhattan, complete with hundreds of whirling dervishes chanting Rumi verse, but Larry Silverstein should pay for it. Here's a man who pays $124 million for a seriously screwed up piece of property and sells it the the insurance company six months later for $4.5 billion. 4,500:1. Which one is more outrageous? Triple Larry's return and give the rest to the families who watched their loved ones jump out of Larry's windows.

[Jzzbassman]

Ughh...brought up this point with someone yesterday and today she came back with "the landing gear from the suicide plane landed here so it is part of Ground Zero". I guess this is the new spin. Sigh.

[Greg Horton]

So wherever the exhaust from the plane and the ash/rubble from the explosion settled is also ground zero? Idiots. So tired of idiots. 

Sent from my iPhone

[Cammie Novara]

"I was going to put a map up to show the distance, a solid two blocks from the northeast corner of ground zero, but every map I found had the caption: distance from proposed mosque to ground zero." I can really relate to that quote from my own experience. There's a really wild debate that I thought would be of interest on evolution vs. intelligent design going on at http://www.intelligentdesignfacts.com

[Greg Horton]

did i just get spammed by an id'er? flat earth society will be along soon, folks. just be patient.

[Leighton]

Flat earthers are heretics deceived by Satan, since they think the earth is the only thing that is flat. The so-called "third dimension" is a liberal fascist atheist papist conspiracy to get people to focus on things other than the blessedly two-dimensional pages of the Bible.

[micah]

The Daily Show had a great point too, that we still allow Catholic churches to build right next to playgrounds and no one seems to have a problem with that.

[stephy]

This is my new favorite blog. This piece was amazing. Can I call you Dick? HAHAHAHA!

[Jzzbassman]

Stephy! Love your humor blog.

[Mike]

Well said Greg... keep telling truth.

[Greg Horton]

Welcome, Stephy. I, like Monte, love the humor blog. Thanks for stopping by. And thanks, Mike.

[Stephaniedrury]

Thanks...it's not really supposed to be a humor blog, but when Beliefnet picked it up and made that Reality-Bites banner they put the word humor in it and now people expect the funny. Sometimes they're disappointed, but thanks for saying you like it!

[Mark]

I'm having this same conversation on Facebook right now. My friend assured me he was all for their religious freedom to build the mosque (I didn't even attempt to redirect the notion that it is a community center instead of a mosque) just not at that site as it was insensitive. WTF So he's for religious freedom as long as the religion is his own. He then went on to tell me that it was anti-American, anti-Christian and as such he was compelled by God to oppose it. His worldview is so different from mine that it is too difficult to have a conversation with any outcome other than for him to feel so much better about himself for rightly proclaiming the truth to someone as deceived as me. I should also tell you he is the worst kind if fundamentalist 5 point Calvanist.

[Streak]

Damnit, I had missed this post too. Greg, don't you know you are supposed to post this on Facebook for me to see? :)

The stupidity on this issue has made me want to poke out my eyes. Had a student in class the other day say that it was a "mosque" at "ground zero." Of course, since honesty is not an issue, we can recognize that "cultural center close to the WTC site, but not as close as strip clubs and porn shops" is just not as good on a t-shirt.

[Greg Horton]

I did post it. Got a huge response. I walked one of my classes through the issue on Wednesday as a critical thinking exercise. It went much better than I expected

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