The shame of ground zero

That is not the message that comes to mind, however, with the 13-story mosque and Islamic cultural center that is planned for construction a stone’s throw from the World Trade Center site. Regardless of intent, the visual of a minaret rising from ground zero is like that of a foreign flag planted on American soil. It is a strike against the American psyche. Wars are fought on many fronts. Military campaigns may be conducted effectively abroad, but unless we can rally American morale here at home for a hard fight, our war against radical Islam will be lost.

Those behind the construction of the mosque, known as the Cordoba House, state it will "serve as the platform to launch a broader vision of Muslim-West harmony and interdependence” (www.cordobainitiative.-org). Their good intentions may be admirable, but we all need to think strategically. Secular Muslims may see this juxtaposition of a mosque at the World Trade Center site as an olive branch, but radical Islamists can only see this as a triumph. The symbolism of a mosque rising from the rubble of ground zero is enough to make anyone question our resolve as a nation. The Cordoba House is also supposed to "promote tolerance, self-awareness and self-recognition” (Ibid). I do not doubt that is its creator’s dream, but how about some self-awareness and recognition on his part? Be aware that this will anger millions of Americans who still remember what it felt like to watch the towers fall and recognize that a 13-story mosque at that location can only help our enemy in a propaganda campaign.            

When it comes to this war on terror, our government also is culpable in its failure to marshal the indomitable American spirit. Instead of showing a strong, determined attitude, our government seems eager to prostate itself in public so as not to give offense. There is a clip on YouTube of Attorney General Eric Holder being questioned in the House Judiciary Committee. He is asked if radical Islam could be a reason behind the latest bombing attempt in Times Square. He dances around the question for two painful minutes and just cannot seem to bring himself to say those two words: "Radical Islam.” This is a man who accused us of being a "nation of cowards” for not addressing race relations. I suggest he take a look in the mirror. The government is also trying to airbrush the language we use. The "war on terror” is now an "overseas contingency operation” and "terrorism” merely "man-caused disasters.” Has radical Islam become the Lord Voldemort of the modern world, one who shall not be named? If we are too timid to even name our enemy, what are our chances of fighting it? The two canards repeatedly bandied about as an excuse for such delicacy in our official language — either that we want to avoid a backlash against American Muslims or show the world’s Muslims that we are a welcoming, diverse nation — have worn thin.  In the nine years since 9/11, how many retaliatory attacks on Muslims in American have there been? I cannot remember any. And it should be obvious by now that our multiculturalism does not endear us to Islamists.               

In past wars, the American government worked to rally Americans’ hearts and minds for a common defense. Maybe we have evolved past propagandizing Americans to support war efforts, but we should not race to the opposite end of the spectrum, sending out feeble, confused messages that can only embolden the enemy. Radical Islam is a threat to America and tip-toeing around that reality is nihilistic. We need our government to name our enemy. We need our government to stop searching for every other possible reason for an attack rather than acknowledge the obvious one. (Mayor Bloomberg theorizing that the Times Square attempted bomber may have been unhappy with the health care bill comes to mind as an example). We need to stop being afraid of offending American Muslims when we discuss radical Islam. They are targets of this jihad as well, and a strong, open discussion will help protect all Americans. If we are going to ever win this war on terror, appeasement is not an option.

Alice Weiss is a tax and estate attorney. She is a longtime resident of San Mateo.