It is possible that his cowardly person realised that he had got all the attention he could get out of his outrageous call of dishonouring the holy book and settled for the less prominent role as protestor against the Islamic Centre controversy at Ground Zero. His stupid idea of course was picked up by a handful of Christian bigots but they didn't get any media time for their vile act as prominent media outlets unanimously decided to ignore them by denying air time and print space. Even Fox News abstained.

An incident that could have ricocheted multiple times creating untold violence was thereby averted. A very small consolation in the current ambience of resurging Islamophobia. Perhaps President Obama's support for Muslims in his country had something to do with it. Not that he has been very consistent in showing it - his stand down on Palestine-Israel front being a case in point. But this time it was definitely the US government's stern stance on such a hideous act which averted the disaster.

Hillary Clinton's unequivocal condemnation of the proposed act and Obama's own reprimand followed by his speech in which he urged Americans not to, “turn on each other,” and to “hang on to that which is best in us, a belief in religious tolerance...” were a show of good statesmanship.

Though one can't help but pity Obama. He is already in the midst of the controversial battle for allowing the Islamic Centre construction to continue near Ground Zero and is being openly 'accused' of being a Muslim by his opponents. Following this consent, this year's commemoration of the Twin Towers' fall was yet another trying test of nerves for the US president who will be starting his campaign for re-election soon after two very uneasy years in office.

While Pastor Jones' idiocy will eventually die down, the Islamic Centre controversy is sure to haunt him throughout his campaign. As for the Muslim populace of the world and of USA in particular, there are very trying times ahead. Muslims are being blamed ever more for making religion intrude into the public realm. It is being said with growing vengeance that Muslims have been given enough space to carry on with their rights and to practice their beliefs while the same has not been reciprocated.

A Toronto star columnist wrote in her column on 9/11, “...while many scold those who object to the Islamic Centre at Ground Zero, the fact remains that no Christian Churches can ever be built in Saudi Arabia.” I have to very grudgingly admit that she has a point. And the point is not whether the constitution of America allows the building of a mosque or any other place of worship where its followers choose, but the point is how necessary is it to make this a moot issue and create a conflict which can only bring more negativity to the religion.

Whatever were the conspiracies surrounding the September 11 incident, the widely believed reason is that it was (allegedly) a Muslim fanatic's act of hatred against Western values. And to this day Muslims all over the world are battling the repercussions of that organised crime - whether committed by Bin Laden or by those that are the players in Michael Moore's conspiracy theories which believe that the collapse of the towers was the result of internal demolition orchestrated by agencies within the US.

The sensitivities surrounding 9/11 have become something like those of the Holocaust. Almost a sacrosanct subject where all critics are looked upon as wicked brutes by the believers of the official 9/11 version.

Do Muslims really need to create more controversies at this point? Islam is one religion that allows its followers to offer prayers just about anywhere. Like other religions we do not have to go to a particular place of worship. Unlike the need of Jews for a synagogue, of Christians for a church or of Hindus for a temple, we are free to offer prayers at any available clean space. Then why create a conflict and be scorned?

Let's be honest, the building of mosques has often been used as a powerful tool on many occasions, particularly in land-grabbing cases and most commonly, in Pakistan. In Saudi Arabia, mosques have actually been demolished to make way for modern infrastructure. In Punjab also, Shahbaz Sharif razed more than a hundred mosques to the ground for similar reasons, and there was no public hue and cry.

Bigots like Pastor Terry Jones are many and they will continue to incite every hateful sentiment against Islam. But do we have to add fuel to the fire by continuing to raise conflicts instead of adhering to the charitable and peace loving teachings of Islam?

maheenrashdi@yahoo.ca