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Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf speaks with Alan about the controversy behind the so-called 'Ground Zero Mosque'
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Mom myself -- -- moving the -- -- your new book you staying away from the and in Europe at the height of the controversy.
Everybody wanted a piece -- you didn't.
Yes indeed -- -- -- to piece of me and it's a very very difficult time it was the you know in.
It was that the best of times the west of what was the worst of times about it.
The worst of times -- I was was being and being being flogged in the media being accused of that which I'm innocent of you know and and and seeing.
People who are friends being afraid of the media.
People who we don't really maybe.
-- they coupled with you know wanting to come close to -- the media was very very very weird time in that respect.
And and and making decisions was very difficult because there were a lot of pressures upon me from -- of in opposing directions.
This mosque had been in play for quite some time and only I think when one particular.
Longer perhaps got a hole -- one anti Muslim blogger and made a big deal about it and made a splash event and only then did it become an issue controversy it has existed for -- -- with nobody.
We think about.
Yes indeed it was was first covered in the New York Times front page news in December of -- 2009 not a blip.
It wasn't until the midterm elections Begin began to happen and that was uses a wedge issue.
By extremist rightwing.
Politicians against the you know the Democratic Party you know -- -- candidates.
And and and and you know at fourth and in this country didn't you know it didn't in and the state -- of new York at didn't impact.
Andrew Cuomo is them.
Run for a run from governor -- for office but did it did have an impact in other parts of the country when -- Don't understand -- an in I know that the EU and Bill O'Reilly -- Bill O'Reilly earlier tonight -- saying well.
Just -- a couple of blocks will be fine was already ten blocks away from ground zero useful like okay fifteen blocks a mile a different city.
I -- you have Herman -- running for president saying.
We shouldn't have mosques and reach people that say there are no -- wondered just on a mosque in Murfreesboro Tennessee.
What's the appropriate and I don't know what the answer is I never get an answer.
Well I mean the the effect for the mattress that you know on that block and all kinds of other activities the which which -- -- You know that's pure if you say -- Netherlands and then religion and then religion yeah.
And and I I believe but again my vision was -- to have a space to build a multi faith center.
Where people of all religions Muslims Christians Jews can come together learn about each other.
And build.
Community.
That that focuses on peace.
On justice.
And understanding and mutual respect and wasn't there for room already in that building or we have -- -- -- -- yes I mean I've been I've been -- an imam in that neighborhood for twenty years so all of a sudden it's a problem yes this this is what happened.
Was that the fault you have a falling out with the other partners here which -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- have to do with your vision of -- multi cultural center review was they wanted to yes my my vision was a multi faith and then division is still alive I'm still hopeful of but not an application and any location I mean I mean I don't wanna I tried to by the human -- -- -- -- and eighth back in the nineties in 19992000.
And couldn't you know what what was the issue is that separating you from this project presented in Europe that was that was -- -- separation of difference depreciation of vision of what a vegan community just gonna have a mosque there we don't know it what's what's going there but the more important thing which is my idea.
I've written this book is how and this is what what the crisis really.
Heightened both was how -- America deal with -- slam.
And Muslims.
Both domestically and internationally.
America has enormous.
Interest in the Muslim world.
We have troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have interest in that economic interest we have military bases in the golf in many Muslim countries.
We have economic interests and therefore how America engaged with the slam is is public news and huge news all over the world.
It's very important that we that we get this right there's so much ignorance when you hear people say.
Even politicians again against the back up -- the presidential race.
You guys wanna come and you -- institute is it's a real -- on the united I mean you've heard all this ridiculous.
Ignorance.
How do you cope with that I'm -- -- and how we straighten it out which is to get the right -- that for the book that's by the reverend that book I've I've explained now a law.
Shares with with -- in law and Jewish -- the ten commandments.
That all of these smallest include the ten commandments are based upon that to me it's important commandments Wendy's was honest and he said to love the -- and thank god.
The love your heart you know mind -- -- -- strength.
To love thy neighbor as myself and he said enough of that which most Christians don't even know.
Draft that he set upon these to -- mom and hangs all of the law and all of the profits so -- law is the same as -- most famous Jewish law.
And and you know this is this is always thankful we simple piece -- stand for compassion -- -- -- which would respect why do you think there's so much miss understanding.
About what Islam is.
-- a couple of reasons one just people don't know -- who don't know massively even know their own religion -- and another religion.
I'm not the issue is that there isn't has been the deliberate attempt and the council for American progress has even identified with the names of individuals and foundations last fall.
Who have -- been involved in in making Islam the Bogeyman.
And and this is really something which is against our our national security.
As I've pointed out because it is in our interest to have the best of understanding best of relationship with the Muslim world.
Both presidents Obama and even bush -- make it very clear that the war is not against Islam.
And against terrorism and this and this war is something we all have to fight together and listen -- there's just this.
Threat of a bombing yesterday yes who are the ones who get -- tip off on that the saudis.
The threat -- the ones.
Who -- who was the one who tipped after the police on the on the at times Obama a Muslim vendor.
In fact be the trying the report has a report that 40% of all the tips.
That have them that have come -- have come from the Muslims there now on what we want to do want to see this percentage stumpel who want 80% of the of the pit and come home.
Now we have Americans dying good patriotic.
Americans families military families giving up -- paying a lot of sacrifice and Muslim countries.
Afghan Muslims serving.
We have Muslims who died on 9/11 -- first responders and -- -- -- and we have Muslim soldiers who have popped -- I have I have -- niece who was in The -- -- in the US -- And who and who who went to good to -- -- -- and I'm an outrage if not most of it must drive you nuts to see the bigotry in the people saying stuff that is just.
You know.
And ended and intensify after 9/11 when it hasn't always been like.
Think that was after 9/11.
Islam became seen as a potential.
A national security threat.
And and people began to talk -- -- -- that I as a press has been reading about business spending and saw it happen right after the end of the Cold War.
When Sam Huntington wrote his book but facets of -- stations and basically predicted that Islam is annexed it the next enemy of America.
And by doing that you create the reality in this what I -- about my book is -- so how.
How the the dialogue of the dialogue of all of accusing each other.
Creates did the -- extremists and and I have a whole -- them how we can combat extremism.
Concretely.
I told somebody and I won't say who.
If you don't know them -- was an interview you today it's -- -- like him you know he takes terrorist money.
The -- build that mosque terrorist money this again you've heard this is all an absolute lie via an absolute.
I'm -- I mean no one has a -- I have not received any money from any.
Any terrorists -- anything like that whatsoever my point is that the irony of it because.
You became the focal point of this controversy when the word got out about the mosque and became a right wing they grabbed onto it you know during election.
And a couple years ago and -- you have spent your life.
By -- -- State Department which is going around the world and preaching harmony I'm absolutely our own State Department -- had you do that.
Absolutely I have done that have several times about half a dozen times to various parts of the world and we'll continue to do that.
God willing.
Two to promote these these ideas because I believe.
That what America stands for.
America's principles America's declaration of independence -- -- social contract.
America's.
System of governance which takes care of the poor has a social safety net other very at how principles of democracy.
These are the principles that Muslims all over the world once and right now the Arab Spring in my own home country of Egypt and neighboring Libya and -- yet.
People are grappling with this and and and -- I believe is that our system expresses the values about faith.
Better than any other system of governments what is the status of the multi cultural center at this point.
It's still looking progress their dream is still alive and and and I'm hopeful that Monday we can actually -- -- have a location it.
I am I'm back no not yet the -- The book is -- moving the mountain you -- Faisal Abdul right thank you so much for being here today Allen very much.
My pleasure indeed -- and pleasure to be replaced.
