Mayor Bloomberg Fears Being Seen as a Bigot

On August 3, 2010, Mayor Bloomberg, in a ‘stage setting’ of 10 religious leaders around him and the Statue of Liberty behind him, presented his case to the American people on supporting the ‘Mosque at Ground Zero.’ He spoke of this being a test of the separation of church and state which must allow the building to be constructed on private property, and that it demonstrates our religious tolerance. Stopping this project “would betray our values. Our doors are open to everyone.”

(Link:www.nypost.com/p/news/local/don_play_the_bigotry_card_mike_oG2Rl3FXvV8FWbapQSHaWM)

The Mayor’s patriotic words do capture the spirit of our country and also represent one side of the emotional controversy. However, what is disturbing is the comment he made regarding ‘popular sentiment.’ He said that “To cave to popular sentiment would be to hand a victory to the terrorists, and we should not stand for that.” What a condescending remark for him to say to Americans! It seems from this remark that he does not care about the ‘popular sentiment’ of the people, because he knows what is right. This kind of remark now seems to be a common thought among many politicians. (Sounds like the Congress this past year and a half.) What an audacity of arrogance! 

Mayor Bloomberg’s comment is the opposite of what is the obvious truth to many Americans. The opening of the doors to a Mosque on the sacred grounds will be a victory to the terrorists and will be viewed by most of the world as such. Only the most liberal minds in the world will be swayed to see it Bloomberg’s way. For a man who has reached such success and admiration not to see this is quite confusing. I believe there must be another reason that he is not revealing.

It is not new information that Mayor Bloomberg is Jewish. He was raised in a conservative Jewish family, and it is reported that he attends a reformed synagogue. With that being said, one can consider whether it is his being Jewish that is the underlying reason he is in favor of the ‘Mosque at Ground Zero.’ It is important to recognize that the accusation of bigotry that has been directed at the opponents of the Mosque has been the core method of attack instead of having a real debate. The Mayor himself has been speaking to the protesters in a tone that indicates that he sees some bigotry at play.

Mayor Bloomberg really needs to consider who the opponents of this Mosque are before labeling them bigots. There are three distinct groups of people who are against this Mosque: 9/11 families, survivors, first responders who survived and Americans who sympathize with their grief; those who have suffered under the rule of Islam or are witnessing the trouble that Europeans are having with ‘Sharia Law’ creeping into their daily lives; and Americans concerned about our national security. Why are they being called bigots? The answer is that this is the simplest way to shut down all debate by pointing an accusing finger. This might be the reason why Mayor Bloomberg doesn’t want to oppose the plan. Heaven forbid, if he as a Jewish Mayor should be called a bigot and then have to defend himself. It certainly is much smarter to defend this project then to have to defend his opposition. And as a Jew, the Mayor is especially sensitive to religious persecution and will bend over backwards not to be guilty of it.

If in fact the ‘popular sentiment’ of the nation is to have the Iman and the Cordoba Initiative stop the building at Ground Zero, then the opponents must continue with their efforts to stop it. It is possible that under a greater ‘national sentiment,’ the pressure will give the Mayor the cover to avoid being attacked as a bigot. He will be able to pressure Iman Abdul Raul and his group to move the Mosque to another location and the Iman will then look like the tolerant and peace-loving person he claims to be. All parties will be winners.