The Park51 controversy can only be solved through compromise and as the 'Liberal Muslims' building the mosque refuse to speak with the New York city administration the only answer is that those who oppose the mosque must make the difficult choice of caressing their emotional wounds at the cost of changing America forever or rising above the controversy, inject anaesthesia in their emotional wounds and try to forget it.
Demanding that the mosque or cultural centre be moved inherently suggests that those who oppose it hold Islam - the religion responsible for the act of terrorism by some fanatics. This suggestion in turn makes all Muslims - liberal or not very-very defensive making it impossible to negotiate with them or trying to make them understand the viewpoint of the other side. This is something that the American who has come across the "Minority Defensiveness" for the first time, simply has to accept.
The alternative to not understanding the defensiveness of Muslims and allowing them to build the Community Centre close to ground Zero is opposing the same (obviously). However, continuing the opposition has following risks:
1) If the Mosque is built despite the opposition, the thought - "Muslims are insensitive to the emotions of their fellow citizens who lost their loved ones at the hands of a Terrorist attack in name of Islam" will cross the mind of every non Muslim American. this is dangerous because it's a thought that will stay in the subconscious of the citizenry and will act as the first small scratch in the mirror after which every small blow creates a bigger and deeper crack. The thought that "Muslims" per se were insensitive towards 9/11 victim families will erode at the Secular nature of the American Civil Society.
2) If the Mosque is shifted to another place, the incident will become fodder for encouraging more anti American sentiments all over the world. This incident can be and will be used by terrorist groups to poison the minds of "Educated Muslims" who respect the values of Democracy and Secularism.
American Society today stands at the brink of making a historical decision that will define the shape of its Civil Society in future. India is a good example for America in this scenario. The tensions between Hindus and Muslims have always been strong in India considering the violent history of plundering and acquisition that Muslims had in the primarily Hindu India. Yet, the biggest blow to the Indian Civil Society came when Bhartiya Janata Party raised the issue of Ayodhya - A mosque had been built at the site of a destroyed Hindu temple in the auspicious city of Ayodhya. Ayodhya controversy was definitely the most damaging event for the unity between Hindus and Muslims in India after partition of the country. It is an issue that is still brought up and thrown in the face of a moderate - Hindu or Muslim when he / she begins to talk about Hindu-Muslim unity.
One hopes that the Park51 controversy will not become the Ayodhya issue for non-Muslim and Muslim Americans.
