Aug 12 2010
Why Americans Are Terrified of Mosques and Muslims
In the on-going controversy over what has been dubbed the “Ground-Zero Mosque,” New York Governor David Paterson has offered state-owned property far away from where the Twin Towers once stood to the Muslim group in question. The original plan to build a Islamic Cultural Center two blocks from ground zero turned into a firestorm generated by the right wing, Tea Party groups, and Fox News. Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin took to tweeting misspelled pleas to not build. Even though the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission gave a green light to the building of the Cultural Center, and the majority of residents in the neighborhood support it, right wing protests continue to characterize it as the Ground-Zero Mosque or even the “9/11 Victory Mosque.” Mosque controversies seem to be springing up all across the US including in Temecula Valley, California in a story we recently covered. But why is there so much hysteria, and why now? According to journalist Stephan Salisbury, government policy and actions since the attacks of 9/11 have laid the ground work for a widespread, decentralized sense of mass panic over Muslims and their places of worship. Salisbury, in a recent article on TomDispatch, reminds us of the historical analogy of McCarthyism that gripped America in the 1950s, and the lessons that can be learned from it.
GUEST: Stephan Salisbury, cultural writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, author of Mohamed’s Ghosts: An American Story of Love and Fear in the Homeland.
Read Salisbury’s article here: http://www.tomdispatch.com/dialogs/print/?id=175283
One Response to “Why Americans Are Terrified of Mosques and Muslims”
I am perplexed that David Paterson would suggest state land for the site. Whatever position one stands on the mosque issue, state land must not be used for its site.
Once again the incompetent Paterson proves he can not govern. But, then again Paterson could never really govern. “The Democratic Conference: Organizational and Operational Structure Report” is an eyewitness account of Paterson’s DYSFUNCTIONAL governing nature while Senate Minority Leader.
http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_demreportfinal.html
Paterson’s office was criticized for PATRONAGE, LACK OF LEADERSHIP, INDECISIVENESS and INFIGHTING. Those interviewed in the report indicated that its chief of staff the disorganized Michael Jones-Bey had no management skills, would booze it up with staff, often coming in the office with a hangover, and should be fired.
Amazingly, for running such a DYSFUNCTIONAL CHAOTIC office, the disorganized Michael Jones-Bey was picked by Paterson to mismanage the Division of Minority & Women Owned Business Development (MWBE) at Empire State Development Corporation.
Now, that’s the Paterson way, being rewarded for your incompetence.