Filed under: News, Politics, President Obama
Bill O' Reilly, known for incendiary remarks on his controversial Fox Network talk show "The O'Reilly Factor", ignited the simmering animosity of Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg during an appearance on "The View" Thursday, provoking them to storm off set.
Attempting to explain in his usual patronizing tone why President Obama's approval ratings are hovering around 45%, he decided to use the Ground Zero mosque controversy to illustrate the disconnect between the President and the American people:
"They see a widening gulf between the President and them, personally," the Fox News host says. "Let me give you an example. The mosque. The mosque down here, on 9/11, that's inappropriate. Sure, they have a right to do it, and it's in the constitution, but it's inappropriate because a lot of the 9/11 families who I know say 'We don't want that.' And there's the president, saying, 'Well, they have a right to do it!'"
To audience applause, O'Reilly pointed out that 70% of Americans are against the mosque. In outrage, Goldberg responded that 70 Muslim families lost relatives on 9/11 and demanded O'Reilly explain why he believed Americans were so vehement in their disapproval of the mosque.
His response? "Because Muslims killed us on 9/11."
By choosing -- whether by design or ignorance, not to distinguish the radical Islamic extremists responsible for that atrocity from the general Muslim population, O'Reilly fanned the flames of religious and racial intolerance that have left this nation battered and bruised since its inception.
His ignorance was so astounding that it left many wondering if it was a publicity stunt. The purpose of his visit was to promote his latest book, "Pinheads and Patriots"; and love or hate him, O'Reilly is known for capturing his audience's attention. He is savvy enough to realize that press -- especially inflammatory in nature, has the potential to translate into book sales.
However, regardless of intent, passive racist statements are dangerous and one must recognize that many people agree with O'Reilly's unadulterated words to fully comprehend the escalated state of hate America finds itself in today.
There are actually those who believe that all Muslims are bad. They equate Islam with evil and Christianity with righteousness, and there is nothing anyone can say to change that opinion.
We don't discuss the many atrocities carried out in Islamic nations in the name of Christianity, which have been equally violent, and spanning a longer period of time. We wouldn't expect a Catholic church not to be built near a boys' school out of respect for the sexual molestation they have had to endure at the hands of Catholic priests. Yet, we expect Muslim American citizens to forego a place of worship because of the open wounds of 9/11.
When do we realize that hatred will never eradicate hatred? Freedom of religion is a right, not a privilege, and every American citizen has a right to express themselves freely.
However, there are many who oppose the mosque that do so out of ill-founded allegiance to this country and respect for the victims and families of 9/11. To encourage those people not to be heard would be hypocritical, irresponsible and narrow minded.
The crux of the matter is to not allow the dissenting voices to become the defining voices if religious tolerance is ever to become the rule, and not the exception in this country.
I agree with O'Reilly on one point: The American people who elected President Obama based on his perceived values deserve to hear his opinion on this matter. However, he realizes that if he ventures into this debate, he stands to alienate voters that are sorely needed for the Democratic Party to keep their political leverage, and he refused to allow that to happen on his watch.
As Joy Behar said, "This is America!"
Our America is one that encompasses ambition, political games, intrinsic fears, and deep-seated prejudice, and to ever move forward as a country, we cannot continue to simply walk off the set.