:: Running from the Thought Police ::
Reality-Based Thoughts, Ruminations, and Unsolicited Opinions of a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
:: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 ::
Can You Say...
Cryptoracism?
A handful of local doctors who want a closer place to pray than Bridgeview or Frankfort proposed the 22,000-square-foot Orland Park Prayer Center at 16530 S. 104th Ave. The 5-acre site, part of which was donated by a local dentist, is in unincorporated Orland Township and would need to be annexed by the village.
A crowd of about 200 listened to the plans, with the speakers evenly split between supporters and opponents. Those against the proposal, some of whom have begun circulating petitions, cited concerns over increased traffic, lower property values, who is funding the facility and the kind of worshipers it would draw.
"I've spoken to a lot of people and there's a lot of hesitancy from the community," said resident Valerie Jadin. "The world is a different place. We need a sense of security and a sense of confidence before we accept this project."
... Opponents say they fear some of the organizers may be linked to Bridgeview, which has faced controversy over its ties to hard-line Islamic leaders.
"There's a new crime in town. It's called terrorism," said Mary Nolan, an opponent. "We don't know who is funding [the Orland Park] project. We don't know who they are. I don't think we're being unrealistic."
The reaction in Orland Park is the latest in a steady stream of opposition to proposed Islamic centers across the nation following Sept. 11, said Kareem Irfan, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago.
"We see this type of opposition coming in from across the country," Irfan said.
The Orland Park protests, which include letters claiming the facility would draw Islamic terrorists, appear more strident than those aimed in the past at planned prayer centers for Morton Grove and Palos Heights.
I'm amazed at how well the media/right wing has encouraged fear of muslims as "The Other." To steal an analogy from the West Wing, just as Christianity has the KKK and Christian Identity nutjobs, so too does Islam have its fundamentalist wackos. Most Muslims are decent people, just like most Christians are decent people. If you can't deal with that, don't go holding your irrational fears against other people.
:: The Squire 11:21 PM :: email this post:: ::
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