Tuesday, July 11, 2006
A bad memorial
If you think the Flight 93 Memorial looks a bit too much like the Islamic crescent, here and here are good sites explaining just how similar it is.
I believe the most effective complaint against this (and sadly, it's important to focus on what will work within the entire set of what is right) is that anything even remotely symbolic of Islam whether intentional or unintentional will legitimize a link between the terrorists and Islam. Radical Islamists will be able to point to this memorial as proof that they have the true claim to Islam, since even the United States demonstrates it. The audience hearing this won't bother consulting the US officials about whether that's true or not. The result is a huge slap in the face to all moderate Muslims who already have a difficult time with those who are hijacking their religion without having the US giving aid to those hijackers.
It's similar to the slap in the face to Christians and the victims if you were to memorialize a group of Buddhists lynched by the KKK with an "Eternal Flaming Cross of Rememberance". Not only are you insulting the Buddhist victims but you are also insulting the non-KKK Christians who represent the true spirit of Christianity. It's hard to imagine doing something more insulting than this Flight 93 Memorial while keeping a straight face.
I believe the most effective complaint against this (and sadly, it's important to focus on what will work within the entire set of what is right) is that anything even remotely symbolic of Islam whether intentional or unintentional will legitimize a link between the terrorists and Islam. Radical Islamists will be able to point to this memorial as proof that they have the true claim to Islam, since even the United States demonstrates it. The audience hearing this won't bother consulting the US officials about whether that's true or not. The result is a huge slap in the face to all moderate Muslims who already have a difficult time with those who are hijacking their religion without having the US giving aid to those hijackers.
It's similar to the slap in the face to Christians and the victims if you were to memorialize a group of Buddhists lynched by the KKK with an "Eternal Flaming Cross of Rememberance". Not only are you insulting the Buddhist victims but you are also insulting the non-KKK Christians who represent the true spirit of Christianity. It's hard to imagine doing something more insulting than this Flight 93 Memorial while keeping a straight face.
// posted by Bruce @ 3:15 PM 
