Forget About The Mosque, Focus On The Floods

Susan notes: This is a guest blog post by M. V. Thompson, a Christian American who worked in Pakistan as a missionary for 17 years (find out more about her and why she wrote this article at the bottom of the piece). The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author, and not necessarily mine or those of Amazing Woman Rock.
 
A debate about building a mosque on the ground where the Twin Towers were destroyed is going on in the US. As is usual in such situations, people are divided in their opinions.

I have an idea that should settle the issue.

To those who want to build this costly Cordoba Mosque in America, on ground considered hallowed by most Americans and especially by those who lost relatives there, I have a better suggestion for using the millions it will cost: USE THE MONEY TO RESTORE PAKISTAN, and help the suffering Muslims in that devastated country.

Muslims throughout the world should stop to consider how they would feel if this were their plight.

They should take into consideration how their Islamic brothers, sisters
and children are facing a very bleak future that will no doubt devastate
them for many years to come, if indeed their country can ever make a
comeback. They desperately need help.

A mosque at, or near, “ground zero” in America is unnecessary; there are
already a hundred mosques in that area of New York. In the meantime,
the “human condition” of Muslims in Pakistan are very literally at their
“ground zero” right now, grabbing for a bottle of water or a bit of
food.

Those who survive the flooding will have to try to eke out a living with
absolutely nothing to go on. The pictures we are seeing show their
land, their homes, their earthly possessions and their cattle all being
swept downstream, along with hundreds of lives being lost.

They are eating the bitter fruit of hopelessness with nowhere to turn
unless someone steps in to help. It seems logical to me that the first
to help should be the Islamic nations. The Pakistan military is doing
the best they can, but they cannot do all that is necessary. They could
use many more volunteers.

So far, not many Muslim countries seem to be responding. Instead, as is
so often the case, from half way around the world the non-Muslim US
through its taxpayers, backed by the love of God and a hand outstretched
to those in need, seems to be the biggest contributor.

The Virginian Pilot article on August 19, showed the figures of only two
specific Islamic countries who were donating to these needs.  Saudi,
with its billions in oil revenues, is giving only 44 million dollars.
This is the month of the fast. Why not give the money they would be
spending on food or iftar parties to ensure Pakistanis have a chapatti
(bread) and water? Turkey, not so rich, is offering 11 million.

The United States, not a Muslim country, was the largest giver; it has
pledged over $75 million dollars, with perhaps twice that now being
offered. We know that help is being received because of the American
flag printed on the large bags of wheat and rice and American military
in uniform distributing the foodstuffs. Thankfully, NGOs from various
countries are also working in those flooded conditions, but the job is
so gigantic much more help is needed.

Pakistan–pak  (“pure” or “holy”), i  (the possessive, “of”) and stan
(“land”), born when India was divided in 1947, has battled in one
struggle after another since its inception. It desperately needs help to
overcome the current tragedy. It needs the help of Muslims from all
over the world.  It is beyond my comprehension why they have not come
forward to aid their brothers. I do not doubt that some of the millions
of dollars for the Cordoba Mosque will come from the pockets of the
American taxpayer, poured into a mosque that is deemed unnecessary by
many people.

It is the Islamic community which should unite, empty a large portion
from their bank accounts for its brotherhood and help Pakistan to
rebuild their country instead of building another mosque in America,
especially not on this hallowed ground.

I have little respect for people who have the ability but are
unwilling or uncaring, who see a calamitous need and do not immediately
respond fully and wholeheartedly to it, who can watch suffering and not
stop everything to help, who expect others to take care of people of
their own religion in such a desperate condition. Another mosque will
not make us more aware of the needs of others, but restoring and
rebuilding the heart and soul of Pakistan and its people will tell the
world how much Muslims care for their own people.

M.V. Thompson notes: I have written this commentary because of the deep
sadness my husband and I feel for the Pakistani people.  We lived in
their country as Christian missionaries for over 17 years, from January
1951 to June, 1968, in both villages and in cantonment areas. We found
most of the people were hardworking, religious people. They knew who we
were and what we stood for. They helped us many times and in many ways.

Related links:
15+ Ways To Support Relief Efforts In Pakistan Today
To Mosque Or Not To Mosque? Asks AWR Guest Blogger Susan Corso
More About Pakistan on AWR