Monday, August 2, 2010

Fighting Discrimination With Discrimination

The Anti-Defamation league is one of the shittiest organizations in the universe. Adam Sewer:
The Anti-Defamation League comes out against the proposed Islamic Center near Ground Zero:

The controversy which has emerged regarding the building of an Islamic Center at this location is counterproductive to the healing process. Therefore, under these unique circumstances, we believe the City of New York would be better served if an alternative location could be found.
In recommending that a different location be found for the Islamic Center, we are mindful that some legitimate questions have been raised about who is providing the funding to build it, and what connections, if any, its leaders might have with groups whose ideologies stand in contradiction to our shared values. These questions deserve a response, and we hope those backing the project will be transparent and forthcoming. But regardless of how they respond, the issue at stake is a broader one.
Proponents of the Islamic Center may have every right to build at this site, and may even have chosen the site to send a positive message about Islam. The bigotry some have expressed in attacking them is unfair, and wrong. But ultimately this is not a question of rights, but a question of what is right. In our judgment, building an Islamic Center in the shadow of the World Trade Center will cause some victims more pain unnecessarily and that is not right.
Remarkable. An organization whose stated role is to "counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry" nonetheless opposes people building where they please simply because of the faith they adhere to. Sure "bigotry is unfair and wrong", the ADL says, but we should give the bigots what they want anyway. It is inconceivable that the ADL would argue such a position if the building in question happened to be a synagogue, and the builders happened to be Jews.
Let's be clear. This is not about the proposed Islamic Center. There is already a masjid in the neighborhood, and it's been there for decades. This is about giving political cover to right-wing politicians using anti-Muslim bigotry as a political weapon and a fundraising tool. By doing this the ADL is increasingly eroding its already weakened credibility as a non-partisan organization.
Unreal. The ADL has been a joke for years (their courageous stand calling Walt and Mearsheimer anti-Semites will never be forgotten), but this is impressive even for them. Hopefully this is at least so over the top that people stop taking them seriously.

1 comment:

  1. Also, NO NEW YORKERS ARE UPSET ABOUT THIS so why is the right so up in arms to defend them?

    ReplyDelete