Recently, TV and talk radio have been obsessed with stopping the
construction of an “Islamic Center and Mosque” which will be located
two blocks away from where the World Trade Center used to be. The right
wing, including former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and NY
Republican Gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio, have seized on this
issue, attempting to gain political support…What Gingrich, Lazio,
Reid and other right-wing commentators are practicing is a well known
method known as “divide and rule.”
Newt Gingrich speaking at a Tea Party rally in Manhattan. Photo by ajagendorf25.Recently,
TV and talk radio have been obsessed with stopping the construction of
an “Islamic Center and Mosque” which will be located two blocks away
from where the World Trade Center used to be. The right wing, including
former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and NY Republican
Gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio, have seized on this issue,
attempting to gain political support. Even Senate Democratic leader
Harry Reid and former DNC chair Howard Dean have opposed it. Their
message is that “Islam” attacked Americans on September 11, 2001, and
therefore they should not be allowed to build a mosque on “sacred
ground.” It should be noted that if the location two blocks away is
sacred ground, a “sacred coat store” was formerly in the location where
the Islamic Center wants to build.
What Gingrich, Lazio, Reid and other right-wing commentators are
practicing is a well known method known as “divide and rule.” Like
“divide and conquer,” “divide and rule” is a way to confuse the masses,
to misdirect them from seeing who their real enemies are and send them
against imaginary enemies. The richest one percent of the population
owns more than the bottom 95%. In order to maintain this inequality,
the richest one percent must keep the bottom 95% divided against each
other and direct their anger against another target.
Therefore, they seek to pit Christian workers against Muslim
workers. The ruling class wants workers to see that their lives are
threatened by Islam, not by Capitalism. However, who is taking your job
away? Who is cutting your pay and increasing your cost of health
insurance? Who is repossessing your home? Is it the big corporations
and banks or Islam?
Of course, the politicians are seeking votes, but they do not want
to mobilize against their big business backers. They know many workers
and middle class people are angry, therefore they must produce
scapegoats, as in Arizona.
The labor movement must fight against any division of its ranks. A
united working class is strong, while a divided class is weak. This
demagogy has already led to one NYC taxi driver being stabbed by a
customer who asked if he was a Muslim. More attacks could follow if the
hatred continues to be spread.
The attacks of September 11 were a horrific event. However, we must
remember that it was not “Islam,” but specifically the Al Qaeda group
that was responsible. This group was born of the fundamentalist
anti-Soviet movement funded directly by the CIA in the 1980s.
Therefore, if they want to ban something, no CIA office should be
allowed for hundreds of miles around NYC, Washington D.C. and
Shanksville, PA.
Source: Socialist Appeal (USA)
