- "The historic city of Cordoba, Spain was originally Christian, but was overtaken by Islamic marauders and turned into an Islamic stronghold in the 8th century CE. The Islamic seizure of Cordoba began in the year 711 CE by Berber tribesmen who had recently converted to Islam. They crossed the 14 mile stretch of ocean between North Africa and Europe into what was then called Al-Andalus, which is now modern day Spain.Grand Cordoba became home to what was known as the "Caliphate," an Islamic political paradigm wherein the leader is regarded as a direct successor of the founder of Islam, Muhammad (570 - 632 CE). Emir Abd ar-Rahman I--who arrived from Damascus, Syria--took control of Al-Andalus. It was under the rule of he and his descendants that the Caliphate reached its peak based at Cordoba. Under various successors, there was always a part of Spain which remained under Islamic control until the year 1492.To radical Muslims of today, few symbols are as resonant as the downfall of the Caliphate at Cordoba, Al-Andalus. In the same way that Americans remember their defeat at the Alamo and use its name as a rallying cry in battle; Cordoba, Al-Andalus is a rallying cry for Islam."
Saturday, August 21, 2010
What's in a name? The Cordoba Institute
The Cordoba Institute is in over under around and through the plans to build a mosque at the site of Ground Zero, where a group of Islamic fanatics bombed the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Presidents Bush and Obama assure us that Moslems are peaceful, loyal Americans, and we should not fear them. If so, why when they could build a "cultural center" and mosque anywhere, do they chose this site? This is about symbols, not reliious freedom guaranteed by our Constitution. This is about rubbing the face of America in Islamic mud going back centuries.
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2 comments:
I find the determination to build a Mosque on that site to be very troublesome, but my commitment to the U.S. Contitution is over riding my concern.I simple cannot find any rationale for preventing any religion from contruction a site through which that religion is practiced. I heard a rant on the Radio about the decision of those Muslim clerics to begin construction on Sept. 11, then I considered what I know to be true; that Ramadan begins about that time, and the beginning of Ramadan is a logical time for Muslims to construct a place of worship.
I am torn with an emotional anger about the Mosque, but this anger is not as sharp as the anger toward those who would prevent the free worship of anything or any faith in our country.
Well said, and thoughtful as usual, however, I haven't heard a single objector say the Muslims don't have a right to do this. But how odd that liberal Christians and Jews who normally find sneaky religious symbols in posters, school events, and Christmas trees, even green and red cookies in December, suddenly are so gung ho on religious liberty. And prayer? All of a sudden they are for it!
And would you as a Mormon, really want an anti-mormon organization promoting lovey dovey relations building next to the temple in Salt Lake City (I doubt the city gov't would allow it), or would you think if they were really interested in better relations they would pick another spot? This is about symbolism, both of a "sacred" site, and their rubbing our nose in the 9/11 attack. This is intended to inflame, and boy is it working.
You'll find yourself in odd company, as I've checked some of the comments in the NYT and WaPo on this issue, and they manage to throw in anti-Palin, anti-Bush, pro-Obama budget comments.
They do seem to travel in packs, so watch your backs.
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