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ADL Condemns, Enables, Anti-Muslim Bigotry.
The Anti-Defamation League comes out against the proposed Islamic Center near Ground Zero:
The controversy which has emerged regarding the building of an Islamic Center at this location is counterproductive to the healing process. Therefore, under these unique circumstances, we believe the City of New York would be better served if an alternative location could be found.
In recommending that a different location be found for the Islamic Center, we are mindful that some legitimate questions have been raised about who is providing the funding to build it, and what connections, if any, its leaders might have with groups whose ideologies stand in contradiction to our shared values. These questions deserve a response, and we hope those backing the project will be transparent and forthcoming. But regardless of how they respond, the issue at stake is a broader one.
Proponents of the Islamic Center may have every right to build at this site, and may even have chosen the site to send a positive message about Islam. The bigotry some have expressed in attacking them is unfair, and wrong. But ultimately this is not a question of rights, but a question of what is right. In our judgment, building an Islamic Center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain unnecessarily and that is not right.
Remarkable. An organization whose stated role is to "counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry" nonetheless opposes people building where they please simply because of the faith they adhere to. Sure "bigotry is unfair and wrong", the ADL says, but we should give the bigots what they want anyway. It is inconceivable that the ADL would argue such a position if the building in question happened to be a synagogue, and the builders happened to be Jews.
Let's be clear. This is not about the proposed Islamic Center. There is already a masjid in the neighborhood, and it's been there for decades. This is about giving political cover to right-wing politicians using anti-Muslim bigotry as a political weapon and a fundraising tool. By doing this, the ADL is increasingly eroding its already weakened credibility as a nonpartisan organization.
I learned a very important lesson in Hebrew School that I have retained my entire life. If they can deny freedom to a single individual because of who they are, they can do it to anyone. Someone at the ADL needs to go back to Hebrew School.
UPDATE: The folks at J-Street get it exactly right:
The principle at stake in the Cordoba House controversy goes to the heart of American democracy and the value we place on freedom of religion. Should one religious group in this country be treated differently than another? We believe the answer is no.
COMMENTS (20)
That is what I learned as well, but in my Hebrew school the lesson that they were *trying* to teach was something like this:
If they can deny freedom to a single individual because *they are Jewish*, they can do it to anyone.
I suspect that is the lesson the ADS learned.
Posted by: Ropty | July 30, 2010 12:11 PM
I take it you have answers to the questions raised . . . ?
Posted by: Nathalie Guyol | July 30, 2010 12:20 PM
I take it you have answers to the questions raised . . . ?
The ADL says the mosque should be put somewhere else regardless of the response to the questions.
Posted by: matt m | July 30, 2010 1:02 PM
But you didn't answer MY question.
Posted by: Nathalie Guyol | July 30, 2010 1:24 PM
When those questions have any evidence at all to back them up, people will bother to try and answer them.
Until then, it's nothing more than the rantings of kooks and Glenn Beck style character assassination:
"I don't know if these charges are true, but don't you think they need to be answered?" is the mating call of liars attempting a smear campaign.
Posted by: shma | July 30, 2010 1:45 PM
I take it you have answers to the questions raised . . . ?
Sure do:
Q: Is Foxman a political hack?
A: Yes.
Q: Is opposition to the Islamic center political opportunism or genuine prejudice?
A: It's political opportunism playing off genuine prejudice?
Q: Why is the ADL still around?
A: It's still =effective at raising money.
Hope this helps.
Posted by: calling all toasters | July 30, 2010 1:53 PM
Reminds me of the argument that we should maintain "don't ask don't tell" because a lot of folks in the military are homophobic.
Posted by: bobbo | July 30, 2010 2:49 PM
All muslim-baiting campaigns in Anmerica begin with unsubstantiated, unfounded charges that the presumed-guilty offenders must "rebut".
And all rebuttals are then deemed insufficient.
It's been this way since 2001.
Posted by: Ikram | July 30, 2010 2:51 PM
The ADL's downfall is really a tragedy. They lend their credibility not only to anti-Muslim discrimination, but to all religious discrimination, including against Jews.
The responses still fall short, including the quote from J Street (I did not read the rest). The attitude seems to be that 'they' should have a right to build 'their' mosque and practice 'their' religion.
Too many Americans still treat Muslims as alien outsiders whom they are willing to tolerate. They are our fellow Americans, like anyone else, and we should be actively supporting their freedom to practice their religion and enjoy the blessing of liberty -- we would expect the same of them. Instead of talking abstractly, we should be actively supporting our fellow citizens, in donations, on the street, and in our words. If some citizens rights can be denied, so can the rest.
It would also put the lie to divisive, hateful bigots who claim there is a cultural war of religious and racial identities. If the American Prospect would actively push this issue, it would make a statement for Americans, for Muslims worldwide, and for the magazine.
I know the political trends, and that tolerance is almost embarrassingly old fashioned, but that's all the more reason to speak up loudly.
Posted by: guanxi | July 30, 2010 3:09 PM
Isn't the issue that we don't see "good" muslims in the United States? At the end of the day, all muslims would rather side with Osama bin laden and Hitler before they would sit at a table with jews and discuss the issues of the day.
In my neighborhood, you can't even get the local mosque to let a women in the door when all we want to do is get them to move their cab that is blocking us in. They are not good neighbors. They are only interested in one thing, total submission to Allah. If you think they want to be your friend or neighbor you are very misguided. The ADL didn't fly the planes into the buildings. They are just standing up for their beliefs which protect me.
Posted by: mark | July 30, 2010 3:38 PM
I have had disagreements with the ADL over the years, but this is absolutely the last straw. Whatever good they accomplish as an organization, let someone else do it.
Posted by: Steve | July 30, 2010 3:50 PM
Ummm... not for nothing, but didn't the ADL help the South African state spy on anti-apartheid activists during the 1980s? I think that tells you everything that you need to know about their commitment to human rights.
Posted by: justaguy | July 30, 2010 4:22 PM
Adam,
The ADL just now said, "I don't if they come to take away the Muslims because I am not Muslim."
Posted by: Anonymous At Work | July 30, 2010 6:14 PM
I think we can safely say that what the readers of Prospect know of Islam couldn't fill up a dixie cup.
Astoundingly naive. Astoundingly knee-jerk.
At what point will you reassess your opinion of Islam?
Europe has.
Just today Pamela Geller got death threats on Twitter. Why Pamela Geller? Oh, that's right, because she opposes the Mosque. Well then, kill her!
Posted by: The Naivete Astounds | July 30, 2010 9:13 PM
Naivete: Your name fits. No doubt you oppose building a Christian Church near Ground Zero too, because Christians have a habit of murdering doctors who help women.
Posted by: bootsy | July 30, 2010 9:25 PM
mark:
You are wrong. 19 men flew the plane into the building not the religion and besides the ADL & to some extent conservative Jews don't have a clean hand when it come to their negative treatment toward Ethiopean Black Jews.
Posted by: Alistair | July 30, 2010 9:34 PM
Shouldn't this sort of talking around a subject, ignoring the vast depth and breadth, be a discussion be on the JOURNOLIST?
200 years ago we refused to pay the moslems tribute and instead went after their piracy, their slavery, their evil. Now we have them spending oil money to build their bases on our soil. When will we refuse to pay them tribute, of the intellectual sort, and fight for the supremacy of the individual over the caliph? How many more must be devoured? How dark must it get?
Posted by: Fritz | August 1, 2010 10:56 AM
anyone, muslim or not, who unironically uses the word "caliph" or "caliphate" is a loon.
Posted by: DSM-V | August 1, 2010 2:43 PM
Did it just get crazy in here?
Posted by: Awkward Silence | August 1, 2010 11:31 PM
I totally agree. I don't know why the ADL hasn't apologized yet. I referenced you here
Posted by: Sora Ryu | August 11, 2010 2:12 PM