The controversy about the construction of a mosque near Ground Zero "has highlighted the inner strength of America's pluralist society as well as the raw sentiments of some politicians," according to Srinagar-born Professor Sayyid M Syeed, national director of the Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances of the Islamic society of North America.
The director of the country's largest and most influential American Muslim organisation said that New York, "Mayor (Michael) Bloomberg's passionate support was an inspiring lesson in the long struggle for religious tolerance in New York."
Syeed, who for many years was president of ISNA and earlier a professor at Indiana University, philosophised that "the long journey from intolerance and rejection of other faith groups and intolerance of their places of worship has given America the strength of spiritual diversity. It has not been an easy journey but we need to be on the guard that it is irreversible."
"President Obama, as a professor of the US Constitution, did the same thing," he added, as had Bloomberg "in his courageous speech both a few weeks ago and again last week at the iftaar reception at Gracie Mansion."
Syeed, a regular at White House inter-faith functions and national prayer breakfasts through the administrations of Bill Clinton, George W Bush and now Obama, said the President's "powerful remarks at the iftaar party in the White House placed the proposed Islamic Centre Project in a positive perspective."
He also pointed out that "the religious leaders from different faith groups have endorsed the project with full strength, and they include the national Council of Churches -- an umbrella organisation of Protestant churches, which has strongly supported the project and warned against
Syeed acknowledged, "Fear mongering demagoguery by politicians like (former Republican House Speaker) Newt Gingrich and Congressman (Peter) King (of New York) play on the sentiments of mistrust of some people and the hate-filled bigotry of others and vitiate the atmosphere."
He said the stabbing of a cabbie in New York after being asked if he were 'a Muslim', and the continued desecration of mosques around the country were a manifestation of this hate-filled bigotry exacerbated by the comments of people like Gingrich and King.
"We hope and pray that these promoters of religious bigotry will not be able to hurt this beautiful project," Syeed said, and recalled how "we know how a similar kind of raw sentiment of fear was promoted in India against Babri Mosque and how a negative movement was built by the right-wing parties that finally robbed India of a precious historical monument."
Syeed said, "It took a generation to regain trust and confidence between communities that was destroyed in frenzy over a few days."
He reiterated, "The short-sighted politicians can create suspicions and mistrust by misinterpreting and misrepresenting the very symbols of peace and harmony," and explained that "the proposed Islamic Centre is a project put together by people who are great admirers of religious pluralism and democratic values."
"One can go to the writings of Imam Feisal Rauf (the organiser of the proposed New York Community Centre cum mosque) and see how he is clear of the role of Islam in reinforcing the values of tolerance and cooperation," said Syeed.
