Cordoba House Revisited but not Reconsidered
Several weeks ago I wrote an op-ed piece titled “Chutzpah Redefined” in which I argued against the building of a 13 story mosque/community center adjacent to Ground Zero, the former site of the World Trade Center. I stand by my comments made then and, based upon the feedback I received; I believe I gave voice to what many of my readers believe. You can find the original piece on my blog “yaakovthompson.blogspot.com.”This week I revisit the issue in answer to a recent op-ed in the Miami Herald.
On July 21 Leonard Pitts, a columnist for the Herald, argued against what I had said and quoted passages from my original piece. I have met Mr. Pitts a couple of times and respect his work but I must respond to his criticisms of my position. Mr. Pitts accuses me of opposing the building and “condemning” its supporter. He writes “… the rabbi still demands New York tells them No. In doing so, he blithely legitimizes the idea that tribe is destiny, that you and I are each individually answerable for the crimes of those who merely look like, talk like, or pray like, us.”

To answer Mr. Pitts, my comments did not “condemn “any one. I did not condemn any individual but, rather , what I consider to be a bad idea. I do not consider Muslims to be a “tribe” with corporate guilt- I made it clear that the supporters of Cordoba House are not terrorists—I did not accuse them of anything. My argument is that the building of a mosque at Ground Zero is more “chutzpadik” than common sense can explain. Why create a confrontation that is unnecessary? Mr. Pitts wrote that the new mosque would be “unavoidably painful and provocative.” What? It is avoidable… just don’t build it at Ground Zero! Why would one advocate for an action that is, by his own words, “painful and provocative.” (To quote a phrase, “Just say No!”) In a rhetorical question to me Pitts challenges, “aren’t Muslims Americans too?” Yes they are. But as Americans can we not ask of them some sensitivity and awareness that the planned action would be (avoidably) painful?
Mr . Pitts wrote that he fears “a nation where a rabbi can blandly condemn someone, not for his crimes but for the crimes of his tribesmen. Speaking of tribesmen Mr. Pitts, what does it matter if I am a rabbi or a plumber? Am I not an American either? I am not faulting a tribe as I said before nor am I defending my “tribe.” I am merely asking, as an American, why should we allow/support an action that is simply in-your-face- upsetting to so many? Do we have to build the mosque just to prove what a good, gracious, and loving people we are? I, for one, think that America and her people have demonstrated that many times.
Mr. Pitts concluded his column with the following, “So yes, putting that building in that place might be painful… but it would be a reminder of the very values the terrorists sought to kill.” I don’t think we need a mosque at Ground Zero to affirm American values. I would appeal to the national values, of healing and reconciliation. How can Cordoba House, if built at the proposed site, contribute to those goals?