A mosque at Ground Zero

I have been watching this story unfold.

Some wealthy investors who happen to be of the Muslim faith are proposing before the NYC Landmark Commission that a mosque be allowed to be built at Ground Zero.

I have conflicting thoughts on this issue. On the one hand, I completely respect that people should be able to worship how and where they may. Be that a Jewish temple or synagogue, a Mormon temple, a Catholic or Protestant house of worship or not to worship at all.

That stated, to build a Moslem mosque at Ground Zero is raising voices on both sides of the issue in this town that I love. This town that experienced the horrors and ravages of 911 and lost thousands of police officers, firefighters - life will never be the same in the greatest city of the world - security officers are all over - police and soldiers patrol subway and rail stations and bus depots. It is a small price to pay - vigilance comes at a price that we should all be willing to pay.

To be against the building of the mosque does not necessarily a bigot make, but some sensitivity on this issue is needed. This is time for a candid discussion on interfaith issues and how we treat each other based on religious beliefs.

There will be a special meeting of the Planning Commission in NYC later on today - I hope that wisdom and cool heads will prevail in this instance.

Italian magazine tries to narrow gap with Muslims

It was heartening to read this story in the NY Times on Sunday. Italy has 1% of its population who identify themselves as Muslims and it has been a difficult adjustment for many of them, both first and second generation - to assimilate into a culture that is far more liberal and open minded than anything their religion allows them to align themselves with.

"Yalla (the Arabic word for let's go) Italia" or "Let's Go, Italy" - is the name of an Italian magazine that is run by young students, most of whom have struggled to assimilate into Italian culture with varying degrees of success. Some are in interreligious marriages, others devoutly Moslem, yet others trying to find a place for themselves in a foreign country

Here is an excerpt from the article: "The message behind articles and blog posts like “To wear or not to wear a burkini?” and “How to match kaftans with jeans” is clear: it is possible to assimilate without losing a Muslim identity.

“We’re separated by 10 meters, but culturally we’re centuries apart,” said Martino Pillitteri, Yalla Italia’s chief editor. He said he saw the differences between his mission and that of Muslim conservatives as symbolic of the divide in Italy’s Muslim population — “one vision driving toward the past, the other driving toward the future,” he said.

I have lived in 3 countries and 5 states. Each time I move, I realize that once more, I will have to assimilate into yet another way of living, same language, same country, different morees and nuances, sayings, cultural expressions etc. While living in Germany, I was called a "Gastarbeiter" or "guestworker" - not good enough really to do much more than be a worker bee and register with the police department every time I moved to another apartment in my younger years - little wonder then that I did not marry the German man with whom I was in love all those years ago - the country and its way of treating foreigners just didn't sit with me.

Here is another excerpt: "The magazine’s articles are rarely political, although it has taken on some causes, including championing changes in laws to make the children of immigrants citizens automatically if they are born in Italy, rather than requiring them to apply for citizenship after 18 years of residence.

Most of the articles focus on how Italy’s Muslims live and interact with non-Muslim Italians, covering such topics as mixed marriages and the conflict between the older, less assimilated generation of immigrants and their often more open children.

Mr. Pillitteri likes to say that Yalla Italia’s staff is the medium as well as the message. Most of the reporters are women, some of them traditional enough to wear head scarves, and nearly all work during the few hours a week they snatch from their university studies or day jobs. Some came to Italy as children, others were born here of mixed marriages, still others came to study and married."

I love this magazine - I wonder whether I could get an English version of it online - it speaks to so many topics du jour that are expedient to discuss. Here is the link to the story: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/world/europe/05muslims.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=muslims%20in%20italy&st=cse

The world is becoming increasingly smaller and America is no longer the center of attraction. It behooves all of us to learn another language, travel to other lands and learn of others and their cultures so that we can truly become one world.

Islam is the fastest growing religion and not all who practice it are terrorists, just as not all Mormons (second fastest growing religion) are not polygamists.

Does religion cause violence?

I saw this article in the LoHud newspaper yesterday. Here is a link to the story: http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812060364 Please take time to read the story - it is thought-provoking.

Years ago while still living in London, I left my church because of the "troubles" in Ireland - that would be the was between Catholics and Protestants - later on, while living in Germany, I became disgusted over the conflict in the Middle East and stayed away from religion even longer.

I am now what I call spiritual, not religious - I love being a spiritual person - I love reading the scriptures, attending services, praying, singing hymns and everything about being spiritual. I am not a religious person - while I attend Episcopal services, I am not calling myself Episcopal. I attend service at a Baptist Church in Harlem, pray most days in a UCC Church and find myself to be a better person because of it.

The recent attacks in Mumbai have led people to have the discussion over religious extremists - in this case, they are perhaps Islamic fundamentalists, but could just as easily be from another denomination of any of the world's religions.

I abhor violence in any manner. I cannot imagine why anyone would commit heinous acts of violence in the name of God, Allah or any other name under which one calls their higher power.

The Mumbai attacks were reprehensible, abhorrent and caused the loss of life - worst of all. I pray that those responsible will be found and brought to justice. I think that the God whom I know and love would be sad to see his name being used to wreak havoc on any of his children.