Saturday, June 30, 2012
The Question of Morality
Ever since the attacks on September 11, 2001, Muslim Americans live as a target for blame and critizism for their religion. I personally have watched Muslim Americans go through rigorous pat-downs at airports, witnessed Americans pointing and staring at women clothed in traditional Muslim headscarfs, and seen the discrimination Muslim Americans face when they bare the name Mohammad or Aamir. Amy Waldman's novel, "The Submission," uncovers the prejudice Muslim Americans faced after the horrifying attacks. After submitting his design in the anonymous contest for choosing the memorial for the September 11th attacks, Mohammad Khan won. Well, kind of. After the selective jury, who picked Khan's design, "The Garden," learned the name of the Muslim winner, everything went haywire. The American public did not want a Muslim American designer to build the memorial for the thousands of lives lost in the tragety caused by Muslim terrorists. Khan, urged to drop out of the contest and abdicate his win, stood strong. I believe that Khan's actions remained morally correct. Winning the contest fair and square due to his astonishing design, Khan deserved to win the contest. Background check after background check, interview after interview, Khan remained an innocent, clean-cut American. Although the news of a Muslim designing the memorial caused the families of the deceased great alarm and hurt, the true nature of a contest already ran it's course and chose it's winner. Now, the question of morality begins.
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I questioned the morality of Mo, the contest, and the outcome of the novel constantly and wondered whether principles are the most important idea. Mo argued that he won the contest so his memorial should win, but if the majority of people disagree, regardless of their reason, is the process still the most democratic? The governor of New York ensured that wealthy, upstanding citizens made up the jury, so while I agree with you that the people should not stop the memorial on the grounds of religion, I can understand their frustration with the process of the jury because most people had no say in the decision.
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