After the attacks from Islamic extremists to the World Trade Center September 11, 2001, a sour taste was left in a lot of the mouths of the American people toward the Islamic religion as a whole without further knowledge of their teachings. Just 8 years after the attack, it was published in the New York Times December of 2009 that there were plans to build a Mosque used for Muslim worship just two blocks away from Ground Zero. This has created such a controversial stir among the American people some calling the construction plans ‘insensitive’ and ‘offensive’ and ‘disrespectful’ to the thousands of people killed by terrorists that were apart of the Islamic faith. Rally’s and protests took place on the proposed site. The 13 story Muslim center later known as ‘Park51’ is located in lower Manhattan, and went forth with construction after remarks from Obama insured that Muslims would not be treated any differently by our government regardless of the bitter feels from some of it’s citizens.
Obama has gotten a lot of attention on the matter some saying it’s ‘one of the most impressive and commendable things Obama has ever said, others stating that he made a mistake and ‘raised the temperature of an issue that was already on hot water.’ A lot of misconceptions about Obama and the Mosque have been represented in our Media, for instance, the project has been referred to as the Ground Zero Mosque, although the center was designed as a space for the Muslim community, creators and commentators are referring to it more as a multi-faith and Islamic Community Center. Another misconception are the beliefs about Obama being Muslim.
Here are some depictions of the controversial Mosque being built close to Ground Zero.
Team Member Name:
Publication: CagleCartoons.com Date: 2010
Cartoonist: Gary McCoy, US
Title of Cartoon: Common Ground
What action is taking place? In this cartoon, you will see that the author has highlighted some of the negative criticism that Obama and Feisal have been receiving since they commented about the Mosque emphasizing religious freedom. In this editorial, you see Obama hammering down a sign marking the spot for Ground Zero on the burial grave of those 9/11 victims killed in the attacks from Islamic Terrorists. You will also see a depiction of Feisal Abdul Rauf, an author and activists whose goals is to improve Islam relations with the western world, who is seen standing on the grave site which is a symbol of disrespect for the dead. In this time article, he encourages that this mosque will promote greater interfaith dialogue.
1.Positive or Negative framing of people of color and/or diversity issues
2.Challenges or Reinforces racist attitudes
What “reality is constructed/framed about racial minorities and/or diversity issues. The author is using this editorial cartoon to frame Obama and Feisal as being insensitive and outwardly disrespectful to the people that were killed in the events of 9/11. He influences his readers to view them in this way by drawing an exaggeration of Obama hammering down the sign about Ground Zero, and by having Rangel wearing a Hiiav standing on top of the grave. The sign Obama is seen hammering into the grave is inspired by his speech quoting, “Relations between the United States and Muslim nations have been frayed over many years. As president, I have made it a priority to begin to repair these relations,” Obama said. He said a choice must be made by both sides: “We can choose to be defined by our differences and give in to a future of suspicion and mistrust. Or we can choose to do the hard work of forging common ground and commit ourselves to the steady pursuit of progress.” The depiction of this cartoon is framing Obama and Feisal to look biased toward the Muslim community even over the victims of 9/11, when in reality, both of them are promoting peace amongst all religions and encouraging our government to remain true to the our country’s principles on American freedom.
Team Member:
Publication: CartoonDay.com Date: 15-Aug-10
Cartoonist: Bryant Arnold, US
Title of cartoon: Ground Zero Mosque
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What you see here in this cartoon is the authors depiction of most likely an American conservative redneck holding a gun next to a sign against the mosque at ground zero planted next to him. The text in the cartoon speaking has grammatical and spelling error’s which purposely influences the viewer to believe that there must be a sort of ignorance and lack of education associated with this character. Our interpretation of the gun he is holding shows the freedoms in which our country is able to express, like the right to bear arms. The text clearly shows the hypocrisy this country is faced with when it comes to controversial topics and public opinion. This character respects his own freedoms within the First Amendment in our Constitution, but when it’s of benefit to other cultures or religions, he’s shown to be contradicting our own Bill of Rights based on his biased beliefs.
1.Positive or Negative framing of people of color and/or diversity issues
2.Challenges or Reinforces racist attitudes
What “reality is constructed/framed about racial minorities and/or diversity issues. In this editorial cartoon by Bryant Arnold, the author is positively framing people of color and diversity issues by highlighting a lot of the hypocrisies and contradictions that are often stated by the American People. The example that he shows in this cartoon is about the Freedom’s that our country was founded upon. He challenges racist attitudes by highlighting the fact that there are a lot of one-sided Americans out there who respect and take full-advantage of our countries freedoms, like the right to bear arms shown in this photograph, but when it comes to people outside of the cultural community of this character, he’s using his freedoms to threaten the equal freedom’s that belong to everyone, even people of the Islamic faith that are promoting the Mosque at Ground Zero, within our Country.
A poll taken by CBS
Muslims-- The New Red Scare? 