Park51: Islamophobia

"Mosque Hysteria." America 13 Sept. 2010: 4. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 7 Nov. 2010.

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In the article, Mosque Hysteria, it talks about Michael Enright and his act of hatred on the Muslim community. On August 23, 2010, Enright slashed a taxi cab driver’s neck with a knife after finding out his religious background was Muslim. The act of hatred shines a light on the people who disagree with the Park51 mosque building proposal. Many people who disagree with Park51 disapprove Enright’s acts as well, but with the debate heating up, people cannot help but to turn everything Enright has done to the closed minded people in America today. There is no proof that Enright’s thought process was triggered because of Park51, but the people who do not approve of the construction are fueling the fire to racial debates of Islam influence in the community today. The people who disagree with Park51 have proven the ignorance of America brewing today. We are trying to tell somebody not to practice religion because of who they are? This article states behavior like this should not be promoted in time’s like these, when America is supposed to be the “Melting Pot of the World.”

This article is important because it talks about an event that strengthens opinions about the topic of Park51. Enright’s actions have now made anyone opposing the Park51construction look worse. The article is beneficial because it is giving a real example of the effects of racial controversy. It also helps put in perspective the ignorance America is showing today. Because of Michael Enright’s actions, many people that agree with the construction have strengthened their opinion, making them feel like having more diversity will help America understand that Muslims in general weren’t the cause of the terrorist attacks. This article is also beneficial because i helps the reader see that the debate of Park51 has gone from a “home grown hate to a national phenomenon.” In May, there was a pipe bomb outside of a mosque in Jacksonville and a mosque in California was vandalized. This article proves that this matter isn’t just a little disease, but a growing pandemic.