Category: Culture
Meacham’s Last Newsweek Words
John Meacham is one of the thoughtful reporters in the print and TV media today. His last article for Newsweek is a good example of his writing, thinking, and belief that our nation will live through this anxious time. His understanding of history informs his hope and belief in people and the ideals of America.
Let Reformation Begin at Ground Zero
by Jon Meacham | August 28, 2010 | NewsweekThe debate over the Islamic center in lower Manhattan—the mosque with a pool and a prayer room—is not a matter of being for religious liberty and thus for the center, nor is it one of being against the center and therefore a bigot. Sometimes life offers such stark moral crises. This is not one of them.
The families of 9/11 victims and other people of good will would like to see the center moved to another location, farther from Ground Zero. That is not an outrageous thought, and it is not a bigoted one. In the end, the right thing to do, in my opinion, is to build the center on the site its organizers and the mayor favor, and hope that those who go there to worship (and to swim, for that matter) do their part to reform their religion. There is little more important in the war on terror.
God’s politics by Jim Wallis
American Muslims Are Not Responsible for 9/11
by Jim Wallis | Aug 23, 2010For the sake of resting my soul, while I was on vacation with my wife and boys, I was sure not to watch any cable news. We chose beaching, biking, reading, baseball, clamming, crabbing, (and watching the Little League World Series Tournament) instead. So, this Sunday morning was a jarring return to the media realities of the religious and political wars. I got home from vacation late on Friday night and was soon asked to join in the fracas around the planned Cordoba House two blocks from Ground Zero. In less than 36 hours after getting back to Washington, I was walking into the Fox News studio on Sunday morning. Welcome home.
They asked about a letter that I had just signed supporting religious freedom for Muslims. I said we should ask three simple questions:
- Should we as Americans be able to worship and pray when and where we choose? Haven’t we fought for that?
- Are American Muslims … Americans?
- And, for those of us who are Christians (and I am an Evangelical Christian), are we obeying the commands of Jesus to love our neighbors? Aren’t Muslims our neighbors? So what might Jesus say to this controversy?