Hallowed Ground
2010-08-16 - by
Now, Gary, about that mosque in Manhattan you disagree with me about: It is fine and noble to talk about “freedom” and “tolerance” and “openness” but Charles Krauthamner asked a pretty fair question of his own about this mosque in the newspaper last week: ‘What makes a place sacred?’
He gave three examples of what makes a patch of earth hallowed ground: A miracle (Lourdes), a noble sacrifice (Gettysburg), or the blood of martyrs and suffering of the innocent (Auschwitz).
He continued, ‘When we speak of… hallowed ground, what we mean is it belongs to those who suffered and died there – and such ownership obliges us, the living, to preserve the dignity and memory of the place, never allowing it to be forgotten, trivialized or misappropriated’…that’s why while no one objects to Japanese cultural centers, the idea of putting one up on Pearl Harbor would be offensive… and why Pope John Paul II ordered the Carmelite nuns to leave the convent they had established at Auschwitz… he was teaching them a lesson in respect: This is not your place.’
The Governor of New York offered to find the ‘good Muslims’ you describe in New York another place for their mosque. They refused. What more needs to be said?
Hallowed Ground
2010-08-16/
Now, Gary, about that mosque in Manhattan you disagree with me about: It is fine and noble to talk about “freedom” and “tolerance” and “openness” but Charles Krauthamner asked a pretty fair question of his own about this mosque in the newspaper last week: ‘What makes a place sacred?’
He gave three examples of what makes a patch of earth hallowed ground: A miracle (Lourdes), a noble sacrifice (Gettysburg), or the blood of martyrs and suffering of the innocent (Auschwitz).
He continued, ‘When we speak of… hallowed ground, what we mean is it belongs to those who suffered and died there – and such ownership obliges us, the living, to preserve the dignity and memory of the place, never allowing it to be forgotten, trivialized or misappropriated’…that’s why while no one objects to Japanese cultural centers, the idea of putting one up on Pearl Harbor would be offensive… and why Pope John Paul II ordered the Carmelite nuns to leave the convent they had established at Auschwitz… he was teaching them a lesson in respect: This is not your place.’
The Governor of New York offered to find the ‘good Muslims’ you describe in New York another place for their mosque. They refused. What more needs to be said?